Who wants to talk football?
 

I'm looking to discuss Monday night's game with some Saints fans who want to talk without the trash back and forth that some fans feel is necessary for a conversation.

My son and I have been Season Ticket Holders for the Patriots for a while now, this being our 18th season. Do I have all the answers, of course not. All I'm looking for is a discussion about the game with fans who feel that Monday night is going to be a great game between two great teams. I will be on and off this MB a few times over the next few days looking for some intelligent, informative discussion.

If you want to talk, let's talk.

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

This will be a great game as the Patriots' offense matches up against the Saints' offense. I'm sure it'll end up being a shootout, with the winner being the team that can stop the other team more on defense. I have a feeling it'll get close and one good stop may decide the game.

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

It really doesn't matter if the offenses match up. I don't know enough about the NO Saints as a team - that's why I'm here - , but the NO defense - how young (inexperienced) or veteran (experienced) is it? The Patriots have some young players in the D backfield who are finally beginning to develop. The Patriots front 7 is better than most, so I'm really not concerned there. I just don't know if the DBs and Safety's can handle an O like yours, yet - see the Colts game. No, I'm not giving up, but until Monday night, and probably well into the game, we are probably just guessing which D will have a problem with the opposing O. Any insights?

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

Welcome 71 and yes we too love to talk football without all of the trash involved. I really think the game will be alot closer than any final score. If the Patriots play true to form they will let down in the 2nd half and if the Saints play true to form they will start slow and finish with a bang in the 2nd half, specifically the 4th quarter. That could spell trouble for the Patriots when combined with the homefield advantage. I really wish we were playing someone else.

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

We have several players in the Defense Backfield who are hurt. Pass rush by Grant and Smith and interior will determine the game. If Brady has time,no one can cover Randy Moss and Welker an entire game. Maroney looks like he is running extremely well.

Close game, the team with least amount of penalties, fumbles/interceptions and best special team play wins.

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

We will win

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

I still think the Pats are the class of the NFL. This will be a litmus test for the Saints. If we win I think we have arrived at the doorstep of elite.

Its kinda hard to talk trash as a Saints fan since we have a 40 year history of sucking beyond suck.

It should be a great game, I hope.

I think our secondary will limit Moss and Welker (at least as much as any team really can).

Brady is excellent at finding that mismatch and exploiting it. I can see him working the middle/intermediate routes against Harper and our LB's. They're pretty good, and they're playing very well this year, but have yet to face any QB as good as Brady this season.

This may be one of those games where we bend but hopefully don't break.

I look for the Saints to play balanced on offense. As long as we take what your defense gives us we'll light any team up.

Once again, I know its a cliche, but turnovers will decide this game. The team that makes the least mistakes walks out a winner.

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

:stupid:

Welcome, 71.

I think I speak with everyone here in saying we can't wait to see this game. Here's another cliche:
"You've got to beat the best to be the best! ... Or ....If you want to be the best, you've got to play and beat the best!"

btw ... what's up with Brady's unsportsmanlike 'tude after a loss... it seemed as though he dissed Manning's post-game handshake?

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

I agree with Danno, this game determines whether the saints join the elites. While 10-0 is impressive, no one will claim that we have beaten an elite team at he top of it's game. The Pats are as good as their press. They don't beat themselves and they dictate pace and direction of their opponents. It can only be a team with supreme will that will be able to be disciplined enough to exploit the weaknesses in the secondary, the lack of effective rushing and their late lack of energy on d in the 4th.

The saints d is the key to this game. If Ellis doesn't play and Greer is limited, this game will go the pats way

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

Welcome 71. This game should be as great as all the hype leading up to it. As Drew Brees said The Pats are a team we are trying to emulate. To build a team like you have been through this decade with free agency is quite amazing. This game should come down to the final second. The team with the fewest mistakes will win this game. Really profound but this is one game where we can't make the mistakes we made against Carolina or St. Louis and expect a win. If we play mistake free I think we come out on top but if we turnover the ball and commit too many penalties it will be a long night for the home team. Are you making the trip for the game? If so enjoy our great city.

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

Welcome to B&G! Glad to see opposition fans that swing by with some intelligent conversation towards the gameday.

Some great points already. Turnovers, penalties, preventing the big plays....most disciplined team wins.

As of late (prior to the Bucs game) the Saints had been playing sloppy ball and eeking out wins. I think a clean and crisp game versus Tampa was just the right medicine. Hopefully we can build on and continue that trend. Getting healthy on defense has been a struggle and it will be a supreme challenge for Gregg Williams to scheme against one of the best teams in the game.

I was hoping the Pats would knock off the Colts, not just so we would be the lone undefeated team, but because I now see that loss for them as a chip, a challenge that will make them tougher as the season progresses. We can expect 60 minutes of their best ball for sure.

May the best team win.

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

Pass rush. On both sides. Whoever gets
to whoevers qb first, wins this game. Two
great qbs, that can take over a game, and
decide who wins, just by leadership.

Its going to be a barnburner either way, but
I just see this as brady vs. Brees, and belichek
vs. Payton. I can't wait!

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

The offenses match up well. Brees vs Brady. Moss vs Colston. Pats o-line vs Saints o-line. I think the Saints and Patriots have weapons all over the field.

The real question to me is the defense. It is no secret that the Pats front seven is better than alot of teams in the league. I think they have the edge there, however if Greer, Sharper, Harper play, I think the edge in the secondary goes to the Saints.

You have two very confident headcoaches and aggressive defenses. The Saints do have the most takeaways in the league, but the Pats have allowed less points.

I am really excited about this one and hope it's going to be a good game, but to say that I'm not nervous would be B.S.

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

Since you're here perusing the board, may I suggest you read a couple of the articles that have been threaded here for more info on our team. The one "Don't Sleep on the Saints Defense" was very insightful. As far as the way I see the game going, I think it will be a shootout. High scoring with turnovers and special teams play being the key factors in the outcome. I'll be there in the dome cheering our Saints on.

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

If i take my homer glasses off, i can honestly say i think all of our troubles with injuries in the secondary are going to cost us the game...for one simple reason.

They run alot of 4-5 wide which is going to put our back ups in one on one coverage all night, dont like any matchups in that scenario. There is NO WAY MM and Cmac are going to step in and make an impact against brady and the WR corp of the pats. I pray im wrong and would love to eat crow with the fellow whodats..but Im not seeing it. Unless we have amazing pressure on the DEF Line all night they can pick up them third downs all night when spreading us out...JMO

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

Welcome to the forum...

Being a realist, I honestly think it'll be either a blow-out win by the Pats or a squeeker to us...the blow-out comes at the hand of the Saints making early mistakes and the Pats capitalizing, and we all know the Pats always keep the pedal to the medal with a lead. However, if we don't make early mistakes, we win it something like 27-24. Your HC has great defensive schemes, and I see Brees and Payton having problems with it early. If it's close at half, the Saints win it.

Of course I want a win, but considering it's not a division game or even a conference game, this could be the least important game we have the rest of the way. I know, I know...every game is important...I'm not naive. A win Monday night puts us into the NFL elite column. But I've enjoyed staying under the radar, plus I've been following this team since the crib some 34 years ago, and I'm still a bit pessimistic...yes, even at 10-0. But I'm gonna keep enjoying this ride.

Good luck to your team and may both teams come out of the Dome injury-free. Geaux Saints!

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

I think the Pats defense is under rated against the run. We won't be able
to line up and gash them for 4-5 yards. We'll have to spread it out and
run draws and screens.

Our best chance is to harrass Brady all night. Easier said than done. We
will also have to punish Welker, or he will light us up.

Can we accomplish the above? We will have to tune in Monday night to
find out, because nobody knows.

This win is the most important of the year for the Saints. That's because
losing streaks always start with the first loss.

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

It will be a very good game unless the Pats play up to their full potential, which they haven't all year. Defensively I just can't see us keeping with with Welker and Moss... I expect each to have big games with 10+ catches a piece. Offensively, we're just as lethal and the Pats secondary is still pretty young. Bodden has been a great find this year but I think we can exploit their two other young corners. Besides Banta-Cain this year, they seem to have no significant pass rushers and I don't see us having a problem scoring points on their defense.

I've noticed that the Pats has been stalling in the second half of a majority of games lately which certainly plays to our favor. We've been able to score plenty of points after half time and if we don't turn the ball over, I can see us squeaking out a victory. With that said, if the Pats play two full halves of football, I see the victory going the other way. As many has already pointed out, turnovers obviously will determine how this game will turn out... which is always the case.

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

Morning everyone.

I think this game will be a benchmark for both teams. As far as "joining the elites", I think being 10-0 indicates that the Saints are no fluke this year and are one of the few 2009 teams that can be deemed to be elite. As a Patriots fan, I do believe that this game finds NE in a very precarious situation. Are we an elite team this year - maybe yes, maybe no. The three losses were at the JETS in week 2, at Denver in week 5 and at Indy in week 10. All 3 opponents were undefeated at the time and all 3 were on the road - Does that scenario look familiar? Elite teams can win on the road and although their road record is only 1-3, their only win was in London against the Buccanneers (BTW, my wife and I were there and what an experience that was). I've never been to NO so I really don't know what the effect on opposing teams is from the crowd noise, and I'm sure the noise will be quite deafening on Monday night. I never discount "the 12th man" at any venue, especially indoors.

From the Patriots O, this is what should happen. The running game will be used but on a limited basis. If the Patriots OL gets the push on your DL, expect to see a lot of Maroney/Faulk. If that doesn't happen, expect your LBs to be very busy with the short passes to both Welker and Edelman (some of us call him mini-Wes). Your DBs and Safeties will have to be pre-occupied with Moss and Aiken/Watson/Baker/Stanback. I also wonder if any of your DBs can play Moss 1-on-1. If the Patriots OL can control the Saints DL, and can give Brady the time he usually gets in the pocket, watch out. The more Brady can play 5 wide, the better he likes it. Brady reacts very quickly to coverages and has successfully been able to find his 3rd/4th option when given the time.

My discussion of the Patriots D later.

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

Brees and the Saints can easily match Brady in the passing game. Our receivers rarely drop passes and we've proven we can play pitch and catch last year.

http://www.kerncoon.com/assets/image...e_cat_tree.jpg

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

How have opposing teams teams generally approached and set their game plan to win against the Saints so far ? Answer Run the ball effectively enough to keep Brees and the quick strike offense off the field with an early lead to force us to play catch up through the air. This allows them to send three/four and play shutdown in the passing game against the Saints and they have almost been successful and caused Brees to make some near costly errors.The way we have been able to run the ball this year has offset this approach somewhat. No matter how good Brees is I do not think the Saints can allow the Pats to make them one dimensional. The Saints need to use the same game plan other teams have used against us so far to keep Brady off the field. Our linebackers are going to be challenged to break up the short stuff across the middle of the field and short sideline to Faulk which is really all he is good for shut that down and Faulk has no game. Not going to be able to stop the Pats completely with Welker and Moss but the Giants have submitted a blueprint for containing Brady the D-line will have to get to him quickly to limit his looks down field. This is not a test for the Pat's they have established themselves as winners year in and year out. This is a challenge for a Saints squad to see if they can answer the bell in a big time game.

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

I think think your post is a one to hit item by item to see if I can give you some insight that is as good what you've provided. Please remember that this is just my opinion, and some here might disagree. That's the beauty of this board, we can disagree without being rude or trash-talking.

To start, I'll address the "12th man". There is no place in the entire league harder to play than the Dome. It is easily the loudest venue there is. Our fans are fanatical and in an enclosed space, we are loud, Loud, LOUD. If I were a Vegas oddmaker, I would give 3 points to any home team except the Saints. The Saints I would give 5 points to. It's just that loud.

Your running game will likely have some success early. Our defense lately has seemed to have trouble getting control of the running game early in the game. We seem to be able to clamp down on it hard particularly in the second half. That's been without our starting DT, Big Sed, whose been out with an injury. We may get him back for this game and if he's up to speed, it's likely the Patriots won't be able to get their running game established.

If the Patriots stay willing to take those short routes, they will likely eat our lunch all day. Our D-line gets some pressure, perhaps not every down, but often enough that if you go long with the ball a lot we'll get to the Brady and bad things will happen. The only thing that will likely stop those short routes is your receivers, drops, tipped balls and the like. Those are flukes, however, and not something I would count on defensively.

We do not have anyone (there may not be anyone in the league) who can cover Moss 1-on-1, even among our starters. Unfortunately all of our starters are injured, at the moment. We may get our #1 back for the game on Monday, but he's been out with a tweaked groin - not an injury I think bodes well for covering Moss 1-on-1. I expect they'll have to have safety help and that means Welker is going to be more active for you. The one wildcard in all of this is our defense's opportunism. Our guys just seem to be ball hawks, every last one of them. We lead the league in takeaways and seem to have a knack for running them back for a TD. It would be a concern for me, if I were a Patriots fan.

Brady is one of the bests there is at checking down, and his mechanics are nearly flawless. I think he also reads defenses pretty well, but I think less so than say the elder Manning or Brees. Justification: Brady seems to have less input into the offense than Manning or Brees, but that could be because of the Patriot's coach's ego rather than lack of ability. We may never know the truth of that.

That checkdown ability will expose us if Brady is given time, as everyone suspects. Our D coordinator will likely be able to come up with some suprises, even for someone as talented and experienced as Brady. Will they happen often enough to rattle him? That's the $64,000.00 question.

I really appreciate your assessments and look forward to your write-up on the defense.

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

The Saints take what the opposing defense gives. That keeps the opposing defense on the field.

My prediction is the first defense to hit 50 plays on the field loses this game. It is my own little barometer of NFL games and one that works pretty well.

I like the Saints to keep the Patriots defense on the field and score late in the game. The Saints offense is built for sustained drives AND has quick strike talent.

The Saints defense will have to pressure Brady early and often to get off the field.

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

For the Patriots D, here's my take. The front 7 is a hard-nosed group that will be able to stop the run, although it has had games where they just don't click. If injuries don't get in the way, Wilfork (who might just be the best NT in the game), Green, Wright and Warren will get the jump on an opponents OL and keep the opposing QB from feeling comfortable in the pocket. Chances are, if this does happen Monday night, Brees might need to keep 1 player in his backfield for protection. The LBs are a mixture of old and young, getting better all the time. The mainstays are Mayo, Woods, Guyton and Thomas, although Banta-Cain had a great game last week. The LBs don't blitz all that much but are able to keep RBs from long gains should they get past the DL. The Patriots have no-name Safeties and DBs that are still underestimated by most teams. The Patriots don't blitz all that much but find themselves being quite successful if they do. The blitz will most probably occur from either LBs Banta-Cain or Thomas from the edges or S Meriweather up the middle. For the most part, though, the Patriots D plays their positions and plays them well. Boden's 3 interceptions last week were an anomoly, primarily because it was the JETS and a rookie QB who made all the mistakes. Don't take that to mean that interceptions don't accur but they are relatively few and far between.

Beleckick is well know for his adjustments at any time during a game. I don't know much about the NO coaching staff but a team doesn't win it's 1st 10 games of a season without having a coaching staff that also knows how to adjust. The Patriots players know how to play their positions well, as I'm sure the Saints players do. This will be a game of adjustments by both coaches, and teams of players willing to make those adjustments successfully.


When you have two great teams playing each other, you need the best officiating crew available. Give me Mike Carey and his crew and I will be very happy.

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

Wilforks my boy, I love em, but best NT in the game is probably Hampton or Jenkins. Once Jenkins went down the whole NYJ sucked. Ty is probably one of the best 3-4 Ends in the game. I can't wait to watch Warren vs. Evans and Nicks. I think the hardest things gonna be is to stop welker. I think when he is inslot and we are in nickel because Gay is our third CB (i believe) he will do the most of his damage. But I still think Brees will shine and we win :)

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

Very informative and insightful. Thanks 71 and welcome to the B&G. In my opintion I think the play of the ST's will be a big factor in this game. And as many has said turnovers. Who will win? I think it will be the team that has the ball in the last 2 minuates of the the game. I see a field goal winning this game. And I just hope it's a Saints field goal.

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

Two ST questions:

1) Are you able to keep teams from returning KOs on a regular basis (touchbacks)?
2) What is the outside range of your FG Kicker?

BTW, Gostkowski, our FG kicker, also performs the KO duties and has a great leg that prevents a lot of run backs (and that's outdoors in the weather, who knows how he will do indoors). I can't believe that the Saints will be starting too many drives beyond their own 20 yd line at best. The 'Ghost' (as some of us affectionately call him) has a pretty decent range but again, we really don't know what his range will be indoors. Hansen is only OK as a punter but when he's needed to set a team back deep, he's been able to do so.

Looking at stats - you have the slight edge on both counts.

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

I think this game comes down to how well the Saints are able to pressure Brady. If we can get in his face consistently, like the Giants did in the SB a few years ago and the Jets did earlier this season, we've seen that Brady doesn't have time to make all his reads. If we blitz, however, and don't get to him it could be a long day.

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

To answer 71's questions, the Saints' rookie punter Morstead handles KO's as well and does well with both. They were giving up some long kick returns earlier in the year but have done well lately. The FG kicker John Carney is probably not viable over 50 yards except at the end of the half or in desperation time. Even in the high 40's most of us are sweating when he goes out there.

Like a couple of people said, this game probably comes down to turnovers, and other unpredictable things like kick returns, questionable pass interference calls, etc. The coaching will be interesting to watch because Sean Payton may be the most Belichick-like coach in the league other than BB himself. He has matured a lot in his play-calling and game management over the last season or so and is one of the best.

One thing about the Saints is that Drew Brees tends to struggle when he is pressured up the middle (probably partly because he isn't that tall). If Wilfork has a big day Drew might have it rough. However, the Saints interior linemen are very good, especially the guards. The key for the Saints offense will be to establish the run game to slow down the Patriots' pass rush (how's that for a cliche).

As Cheramie mentioned, the Pats have started fast this season and tended to fade late in some games, whereas the Saints have sometimes started slow on offense and defense but always finished strong. If those trends continue on Monday and the Pats build a big early lead, it could potentially take the fans out of the game early, which would erase the home field advantage.

This should be a close game between two teams that have a lot of similarities. On a neutral field, I think it could go either way. At home I give the nod to the Saints, but I wouldn't put money on this game.

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

I really wish we had Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris back for this game.

Maybe we could work out a trade with NO for Bush. :P

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

ob⋅se⋅qui⋅ous  /əbˈsikwiəs/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [uhb-see-kwee-uhs] Show IPA
Use obsequious in a Sentence
See web results for obsequious
See images of obsequious
–adjective 1. characterized by or showing servile complaisance or deference; fawning: an obsequious bow.
2. servilely compliant or deferential: obsequious servants.
3. obedient; dutiful.

Wow Who-Dats. Way to embody the above.

That being said... Welcome 71husky.

All of the posts prior to this one are insightful, knowledgeable and well thought out.

I for one am not willing to lick the Pats fans' boots just because they have "Been There".

I will say it....

The Saints have beaten every team that they have taken the field against this year. They are amazing! They have brought us (their fans) so much joy.
We swagger around this forum and this city (even if you don't live here) with our heads held high and yell "WHO DAT?".
What are ya'll 'fraid of now?

This thread reminds me of a press conference for god's sake.
Don't give any bulletin board material.
To whom?


71husky. You are a welcome addition to this community. And I cordially invite you back here Monday night or Tuesday morning to congratulate all of these polite fans on their team's (convincing) victory to remain unbeaten!

Ya'll have been here before....

WE ARE HERE NOW!!!!!!!

RMS

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

Ironically, the Saints & Pat's game plans are likely to be a carbon copy of each other.

Think about it: Two stellar QB's with similar lines and similar weapons. Two defenses with the ability to adjust and make stops. Two of the best head coaches currently in the NFL. Both rosters are littered with potential All-Pro players.

In my opinion, this is just too close to call.

The difference: One team has done it successfully for years (and won SB's) and the other is just beginning to achieve what they've been built for (over the past three years).

Ask a Saints fan, and this non-divisional opponent means more to them in terms of just how good this Saints team really is...

The big question to be answered on Monday night:
Are the Patriots STILL who they've been for the past 10 years?
And
Are the Saints finally the caliber of team they've aimed to become?

I can't wait to see it.

ty

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

tough one to call. From top to bottom, my impression is the Pats have more going for them. They sure ran over the Colts, before succumbing to Peyton Manning and their own choke factor. I would expect both their lines to prevail in the running game. Im also concerned with our special teams coverage. I think it will require some stellar work from Brees, as well as each
player playing above their heads for the Saints to come out ahead in this. They're going to need exceptional energy, and hopefully feed off the crowd, but if I were a talking head, I would likely pick the Pats.

That said, we have an amazing team, one which has overcome everything thrown at them, and came out ahead on their worst days, and
the true definition of a team. We've pulled off miracles.

They're a more powerful, more talented group of players. We, so far, have been greater at playing as a team.

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

I don't even know what do say about this game. It's like predicting who's gonna win in a fight between a tiger and a lion.

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

Well, here we are guys. It's finally Monday. I came here to your MB hoping for some good football discussion and I have to say that, eventhough I didn't post too many times, I am very impressed with the posters that have discussed the few points I brought up. Thanks to all of you who were willing to discuss the game with me. I may be posting a few more comments and counter arguements but that depends on today's workload.

Win. lose or draw, I will be back tomorrow to discuss the game with anyone who wants to do so without any namecalling.

Thanks again.

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

You came to the right site for that, Husky. Welcome.

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

Last Sunday's call notwithstanding -and that's arguable anyway - the Pats don't shoot themselves in the foot too often, and the Saints have been making some boneheaded mistakes the last 4-5 weeks that have put them in early holes.

The absence of Lance Moore and Keith Evans has affected the Saints offense. While the Saints surely have more flashy receivers, Lance Moore was THE possession receiver for the Saints.

Saints:
don't make the early mistakes on offense.
Hit Brady on defense - and hope the refs don't react to Brady's whines :)

Patriots:
get the silent count down to a science. It's gonna get loud.

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

I think a liger could take them both

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

i don't think the pats can blitz that much because their db's aren't that great. this gives brees time to pick them apart. hopefully that gets the saints a big lead early and makes the pats O one dimensional.

Re: Who wants to talk football?
 

Don't underestimate the Voo Doo and Mo Jo that the Who Dat nation will apply today to the entire Patriots team and staff. My wife's patented toe gris gris will be applied through our television during the game. Make sure you have your goggles on at home while viewing the game so you don't get any on you.

WHO DAT!!!!!!!!!!!