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Since we're only a week away from opening day of the 2003 preseason, I do believe that it's time for a readers' survey. I'd like to see everyone's predictions on how the SAINTS will finish up the regular season this year. Will they be 6-10, 8-8, 10-6 or maybe 16-0.

Let's here your prediction and a short description of why you believe they'll finish that way.

Go SAINTS!!!!!

P.S. Hey Pak, Gator and all the rest of you dedicated posters out there. Sorry it's been so long since I last posted. I'm glad to see that B&G is still growing and going strong.

David in Houston

[Edited on 5/8/2003 by daviddrake2]

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11-5 -- If the offense can produce like it did the first half of the last season throughout this season. IMO the reason for the let down at the end of last season is the injury to deuce. Deuce says that if he plays every game this season uninjured the saints will get to the super bowl. With the revamped and better(?) defense I think is enough for two more wins than last year. If the saints do win the super bowl, remember LSU\'s Earthquake game, it will seem like a fart in space after the celebration of a saint victory. More like that thing that killed the dinosaurs. The earth will shatter.

Wow. My first post. Another thing to scratch off my list of things to do before I die. :cool:

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I think the Saints can beat any team on their schedule, but the problem is the last couple of years they have have shown they can be beaten by any team.

Great offense, best special teams. I\'ll give the defense the benifit of doubt and go with--13-3

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11-5
4-2 vs division
2-2 vs NFC East (lose to Giants Eagles, Win over boys, Skins)
3-1 vs AFC North (lose to Titans, win over Colts, Texans, Jags)
2-0 vs Seahax, Bears

10-6 at worst, maybe a split vs division, or the Seahax worry me (Shaun Alexander in particular)

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Sep. 7 @Seattle 4:15 PM ET L
Sep. 14 Houston 1:00 PM ET W
Sep. 21 @Tennessee 1:00 PM ET W
Sep. 28 Indianapolis 8:30 PM ET W
Oct. 5 @Carolina 1:00 PM ET L
Oct. 12 Chicago 1:00 PM ET W
Oct. 19 @Atlanta 1:00 PM ET W
Oct. 26 Carolina 1:00 PM ET W
Nov. 2 @Tampa Bay 1:00 PM ET L
BYE WEEK
Nov. 16 Atlanta 1:00 PM ET L
Nov. 23 @Philadelphia 1:00 PM ET L
Nov. 30 @Washington 4:05 PM ET W
Dec. 7 Tampa Bay 1:00 PM ET W
Dec. 14 NY Giants 8:30 PM ET L
Dec. 21 @Jacksonville 1:00 PM ET W
Dec. 28 Dallas 1:00 PM ET W

10-6 is my prediction.

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I think the Saints will go 12-4 with losses only to Tennessee, Philly, Tampa and Atlanta once. I dont think we will lose to Seattle or the Giants.

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12-4? I think you give our defense too much credit. With 7-8 potentially new starters, they won\'t have enough time to put it all together to churn out a record like that. I thought I was being generous....

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Sun. 9/7 @ Seahawks Win
Sun. 9/14 Texans Win
Sun. 9/21 @ Titans Loss
Sun. 9/28 Colts Win
Sun. 10/5 @ Panthers Win
Sun. 10/12 Bears Win
Sun. 10/19 @ Falcons Loss
Sun. 10/26 Panthers WIn
Sun. 11/2 @ Buccaneers Loss
Week 10 off week
Sun. 11/16 Falcons Win
Sun. 11/23 @ Eagles Loss
Sun. 11/30 @ Redskins Win
Sun. 12/7 Buccaneers Win
Sun. 12/14 Giants Loss (letdown after Bucs)
Sun. 12/21 @ Jaguars Win
Sun. 12/28 @ Dallas Win

11-5 thats my hope. Could easily see us at 9-7 (we usaully blow a couple) but no lower unless injuries hit a few key spots.I\'m giving most of the defensive question marks the benefit of doubt in this call . I\'d like to do this again after preseason and a chance to look over the team and the competion more.

Dave you started this, where\'s your call?


[Edited on 8/5/2003 by saint5221]

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We went 9-7 last year, with a terrible defense. We should be good for a few more wins if the defense works out.

[Edited on 5/8/2003 by BillyCarpenter1]

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Barring major injury in preseason, I feel 10-6 is a realistic finish.

Strictly a hunch prediction I see our first loss coming week 5 in Carolina, with losses following in week 7 @ Atlanta, week 8 @ home to Carolina, week 9 at home to Tampa, and then back to back losses off the bye week to Atlanta and Philly.

Yeah that\'s right, I see a 5 game losing streak split apart by the bye week in the center of our schedule. I\'m hunching a mid-season collapse due to some signifigant injury and then a late run when a revitalized team pulls it together and makes a run for a spot.

Hopefully my predicted 1-5 division record doesn\'t kill our chances for a tie breaker spot.

Don\'t bash this apart, it\'s strictly a \"dice roll\" hunch on the season, there\'s nothing to back it up.....

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Alright. I think I might be a little overly optomistic here, but I\'m predicting a pretty good season, with our boys finishing 11-5. Of course, that is if Brooks, McAllister, the receivers and at least a few linemen can stay healthy and be productive all year.

From everything I\'ve read, we seem to have a lot of new, albeit a lot of it young, talent on both sides of the line. I really like the fact that the O-line is beefed up so the Brooks should be able to hang longer in the pocket this season (we all know what happened last year whenever he was pressured).

The receiving corps seems improved as does the secondary. Even special teams got a boost with our new kicker. All in all, at least on paper, the SAINTS should be a better team this year than last. But, this is nowhere near the first time that we looked markedly improved before playing a down only to find out later that very little played out like it was supposed to.

Still, I am optomistic and think that we are getting all that much closer to our year.

So I\'m sticking with 11-5, but I won\'t be too surprised to see anywhere down to a 7-9 finish.

Just my thoughts...

Go SAINTS!!!!!

David in Houston

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My Take:
@Seattle 4:15 PM ET W
Houston 1:00 PM ET W
@Tennessee 1:00 PM ET W
Indianapolis 8:30 PM ET L - Archie\'s boy will haunt us
@Carolina 1:00 PM ET W
Chicago 1:00 PM ET W
@Atlanta 1:00 PM ET W - For some Reason, we seem to play better on the road.
Carolina 1:00 PM ET L - We\'ll probably split with Atl, Car, & TB Losing at home winning on the road. Go figure
@Tampa Bay 1:00 PM ET W
Atlanta 1:00 PM ET L - We don\'t play well against Atlanta
@Philadelphia 1:00 PM ET W
@Washington 4:05 PM ET W
Tampa Bay 1:00 PM ET L - Good Dec. Team
@Jacksonville 1:00 PM ET W
Dallas 1:00 PM ET L - Parcells will finish the season

10 - 6

I\'m worried we might get swept by both Atl, and Car. But I\'ll be optimistic and predict the split. Dallas is another one, we should win, but I\'m cautious give both our history and Parcells.

The big difference this year, I think is Dec is going to be relativly tough compared to last year. So we might actually be more prepared mentally going into Dec than we were last 2 years. \'Knowing\' you\'re facing TB & NYG in Dec all year, doesn\'t allow you to take anything for granted.

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The season predictions can and should be based solely on the games we should win and the games we should lose. Injuries to all 32 teams makes it impossible to speculate, other than giving deeper teams the benefit of the doubt come late season.
With that being said, we
SHOULD split in the division
SHOULD split with the NFC East
SHOULD go 3-1 vs the AFC South
SHOULD beat Seatlle and Chicago

WE SHOULD BE 10-6.
Less would be disappointing, more would be surprising.

I\'m thinking we steal 2 we SHOULD lose, and lose 1 we SHOULD win.

11-5

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I\'m thinking I don\'t know what the hell they are going to do this year, but everytime I sit down to watch a game this year, I will be expecting them to win each and everyone.

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Expecting? or Hoping.
When we played Tampax, I wasn\'t expecting a win, but I thought we could and hoped we could, but honestly wasn\'t expecting it.

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Honestly, I think it is realistic to think that the Saints can beat any team on the schedule. While it\'s not realistic to expect them to win every game this year, I promise you I will not sit down to watch a game this year and say \" I don\'t expect the Saints to win this one\"

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10-6
split division
losses to philly, NYG, and Tennessee

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Welcome back David, good to have you back. My prediction is.....10-6. I see the defense as better but not sure yet how much better. If you asked me later I\'d probably give you a different answer. LOL

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It\'s a little early, but even I can put my wish list together in advance. Close losses on the road to Tennessee, Tampa, and Philly, are the only blemishes on an otherwise fantasy like season as we take our division with a league best 13-3 record and breeze through the playoffs, winning our first ever Super Bowl appearance.

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I predict 10-6 like most people. However, one thing is certain(almost), we will lose to the Falcons the week after the BYE. Check back in history and correct me if I\'m wrong. But as long as I can remeber, we have lost the first week back from BYE.

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now let\'s not be afraid to fall on our faces............as long as we can get up and go to the doctor......let\'s start at the beginning.........only pre-season you say.......well the big one in my mind is philly........i want to see what 1st string can do, cause this is what we\'ll see all season.....but most importantly, i want to see 2nd and 3rd, because this is what we\'ll rely on come injury time.......if we beat philly, i say we go 5-0..........(in reg. season)after that, i\'ll make future predictions.......(yes, i have enough drugs for everyone) of course, we could fall to seattle in the opener which mofo\'s my prediction......but until that time, i stand pat........(wobbly) but pat.........smitty p.s. i\'m really hoping that bouman plays in at least 2 quarters to see what he\'s got, and to show haslett he need\'nt be afraid to go with the backup.............

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Did I hear Gator say 9-7? 9-7!?!?! *****. ;)

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I don\'t know how much of the meltdown the last two years was because the players weren\'t ready mentally. But they also weren\'t ready physically, tired, their fitness had peaked in October after the coaches got them into great shape in training camp.
The physical letdown will be less this year. All the hype about the new indoor facility is partly due to coaches (consciously or not) trying to admit that they played a part in the slide when they couldn\'t adjust on both sides of the ball. But I believe it will be a substantial plus that they can get away from the heat and humidity during practices.

And by the way ... Gator 9-7? Shame on you.

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Man I am super psyched for this year, let\'s go 12-4 and kick the Falcons in the teeth. Man I hate that team!!!!!! Anyway, good to be back and look forward to the discussions.

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Well, at this early stage in the game (still a week or so before the the first preseason game), most readers seem to think a little better than 500 is where we\'re headed. Most are predicting a 10-6 season*, with a few (me included) going a bit further with 11-5 or even 12-4 or an amazing 13-3 commencing with a Superbowl win. Let\'s hope that last one is right!

* Gator was the most conservative of the prognosticators thus far with his 9-7 prediction. It could happen, but I sure hope that it\'s more like SaintNik\'s 13-3 Superbowl champ team.

Thanks to all who participated in the survey so far (it\'s not too late to jump in with your thoughts). I\'ll keep reading ad look forward to hearing revised predictions as the season progresses.

Gator, glad to be back. I am also looking forward to the lively conversation here at B&G again this season and to sharing all the SAINTS\' ups and downs with y\'all.

Go SAINTS!!!!!

David in Houston

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I\'m going to say that the Saints will go 10-6. I think that the defense will be better. I think that the Saints will do better in the month of December.

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Normally I hold off making predictions until the last game of the preseason. But seeing as how most of yall are throwing out your thoughts I figure I\'ll just dive in also. I tend to feel 12-4 is where they will land. The four games that I feel we may loose are: both Atlanta games (they just have our number), split with Tampa, and as much as I hate to admit it Philly. Out of all of those hames the team that worries me the most is Atlanta. They just seem to have thier way with us every year. I really want to beat the hell out of Philly but would not be surprised by a loss there. Yep 12-4 is my bet!

I also believe Tampa will be close. This will be our biggest threat for winning the division. We just have to win within our conference more than they do.

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Please don,t misunderstand me but as a long time Saints fan, since 1969, I have consumed a lot of Rolaids and Tylenol yet I pull for the Saints as hard as anyone.
I would love to see them go 16-0 and would be happy with a 10-6 record but looking at the schedule I can\'t find more than 5 victories. It appears that we won,t have to worry about a late season colapse.
Hope I\'m wrong but with the Falcons and Tampa around and Carolina (the team that put the final nail in the coufin last year) on the upswing the NFC South looks like a hard place to be.
We were asked to make our prognostications so don\'t be mad. There is a bright side to my picks, I\'m usually wrong about everything. LOL

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Wow, there actually is someone more negative on this board than me. I\'m sticking with my 8-8 prediction from May.

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quoted by gatorman
Link:
http://www.blackandgold.net/site/mod...d=1655#pid6530

Just for WhoDat\'s enjoyment. That and I\'m currently bored. ;)

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JM,

For all our sake or should I sake for the sake of our mental health, let\'s hope your prediction is more pessimistic than it is realistic. In the backs of our minds we all know that our boys are more than capable of crumbling at any time, but we just have to hope that they are finally able to put all of the pieces together and have that dream season that we know will come sooner or later.

Go SAINTS!!!!!

David in Houston

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You guys haven\'t learned anything from last year.
I predict 5-11!

a. because the saints play better as underdogs
and
b. because I won\'t be disappointed

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LOL :P

My reading comprehension skills haven\'t deteriorated yet. I was merely curious if you called your fiance\' a ***** when she stated a 9-7 record.
One day I\'m going to send you a \"Jump to Conclusions Mat\" ;)

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LOL

I thought about asking Gator that very question-then I thought better of it, because gator is probably reading for a good war about now.

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I\'m going with 13-3 with losses to the Texans, the Bears, and the Cowboys.

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After much deliberation, I wanted to declare a 16-0 season. Okay, so I thought better of that and did what I always do in situations in which I am confused and have delusions of grandeur... I asked my wife. We went through each game, discussed home field advantage and key match ups. She came up with 12-4 for the season and 3-3 for the division. She determined that we will split with Atlanta, be swept by Tampa, and lose an early one to Tennessee.

She did add the caveat that we could easily collapse and lose the last three games to NYGiants, Jax, and Dallas.

I locked her in the basement for the rest of the night.

Can\'t wait til Monday.

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I wish I felt better about their defense. I wish I felt better about Brooks\' health. Each year I expect so much, so this year I will be cautious and say 10-6 and a wildcard berth. However, if Brooks can stay healthy and the defense is solid, then 13-3 or even 14-2 is very likely.

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saints 12/4 for the year going to the S/B!!!