Looking to see what you guys think, and expect
 

I am just wondering if you guys feel we will come out with a vengeance against Tampa?

Also, was this a wake up call?

Does the loss to Dallas (not chasing 16-0), and Minny losing- help us by allowing us to get healthy for the playoffs?

How many of the starters do you want to play in Carolina, and for how long?

Re: Looking to see what you guys think, and expect
 

I think we bounce back this week...we take care of bizness this sunday and rest some key players against Carolina. Call me crazy but Payton and Fox are good friends...so Payton might let them steal this one to save his job. Then we wait to see what team we will face in the Thuderdome!!..I dont think it will be Dallas ..but if it is the we get our sweet revenge..

Re: Looking to see what you guys think, and expect
 

i think drew is ticked off at his performance and is going to take it out on the Bucs. then i think we would probably play the starters for a half against the panthers, being that we arent playing for the perfect season anymore. i also hope that greer is back for the panthers just so he can knock some rust off for the playoffs. Ellis and shockey can rest for a few more weeks, we need them in the playoffs badly.

Re: Looking to see what you guys think, and expect
 

I think this team is going to finish strong, giving those who have been out for a significant time an opportunity to get snaps and play under pressure, but not enough to get tired and get hurt.

We still need to develop Jenkins and the backup corners because we've not proven we could cover the ground if we threw ourselves on it. I look for much of what the Colts did against the Jags. Put a base scheme in and blitz the bejezus out of our next two opponents. It will work against the Bucs, but it will be more of a challenge against the Panties, which is good, because of their completeness as a team.

Re: Looking to see what you guys think, and expect
 

Think we will see a split personality Saints in both games.
1) where the players get back to fundamentals - keeping to assignments, blocking, tackling - habits that made a good team and must be in place regardless.
2) a few wrinkles as we try to bring real game mode to some plays to use in the playoffs.

I think enough of 1) will be on the money with Bucs. We will need a lot of 1) to pull the Panties down and then only by a whisker.

Re: Looking to see what you guys think, and expect
 

I think over 16 games every team will eventually lay an egg and play flat. When that happens against a good team who brings their A-plus game, you typically get you ass handed to you.

The fact that we played our worst game of the season, with back-ups everywhere, against a good team's A-plus game and still had a chance to tie it with a minute left says this team has what it takes to go all the way.

I think any team currently in the playoff hunt can stomp our ass if we don't bring our A-game. But if we do bring our A-game, there isn't a team in the league that will beat us.

Just my opinion.

Re: Looking to see what you guys think, and expect
 

I look for the Saints to come out strong against the Bucs, my feeling is they will try to put the game away early. The Bucs are playing much better, but really, they are not built to play against the Saints this year. I believe the Saints are looking at the Bucs game with a sense of urgency, a win puts the regular season to rest. Then in the Panthers game to play the key players just enough to make sure they are ready to go two weeks later. Of course, since this is the NFL, the Bucs are liable to upset the Saints and all bets are off, needing a must win against the Panthers... LMAO

Re: Looking to see what you guys think, and expect
 

Was talking to one of my best of friends in Boston; when the Saints aren't on, I'm a New England/Boston fan...

We were discussing how much pressure was on the Pats and the team and we were both convinced that the David Tyree catch wouldn't have mattered in that if the Pats weren't so tight, they would have blown out the competition to another SB victory...so maybe...

Re: Looking to see what you guys think, and expect
 

As we were beaten by Dallas Saturday night, I told a friend, "Now the Tampa game means something."

...and of course the Vikings lost,

So this game is our potential Clinch of HFA. The players know it, the fans know it. I think our guys are pissed. I'm ready for a party.

Re: Looking to see what you guys think, and expect
 

i agree totally dude. Geaux Saints!

Re: Looking to see what you guys think, and expect
 

Geaux Saints! as long as we get our SWAGGER back Geaux Saints!

Re: Looking to see what you guys think, and expect
 

NO, there is nothing to be worried about... That loss was the absolute BEST thing that could've happened to us & it could'nt have happened at a better time. I would expect to see N.O. blast on TB & CAR. I feel SORRY for them.
There were many things in the game that i and other's noticed & the crazy thing about it is that even a few of my friends who are DALLAS fan's said it themselves & agreed with me when i brought up certain things. It all started in the 1st quarter.

(1) DALLAS 1st two poss., SAINT's did NOT blitz not even one time & DALLAS scorred TD's on both poss. Then on DALLAS next two poss., SAINTs blitzed damn near every play & sacked Romo 2 times & hit him on almost every play, while play'n man-2-man with the WR's.
Then once the 2nd half started, we didnt blitz anymore until late in the 3rd & into the 4th quarter, but by then the damage had already been done. Why stop something when its work'n??? G. Williams had me so damn HOTT & even the DALLAS fan's with us noticed it too.

(2) Bushrode got beat down all night by Ware. Now why didnt they switch him to the other side or replace him & just see if someone else might have better luck against argueably one of the best DE's in the game???
Once again the DALLAS fan's noticed that too.

(3) Last, but not least. I hear folk's whinning & complaining about a few of the call's the officials did & did'nt call, well im not one who looks for excuses. YES, there were sum terrible call's, but that happens every week, so i dont bother. My take is this... They lost fare & square. DALLAS was the best team that night, we were just OFF. LoL, even my DALLAS buddies said that themselves, but it is wut it is, bottom line!!!

Re: Looking to see what you guys think, and expect
 

Oh yea, my bad...
Forgot to respond 2 your other question's, kinda got caught up in the moment, lol...

Ok, as for get'n player's healthy, YEA, it could help a lil bit, but to be honest, we are very close to having most of everyone back, so thats a good thing.
As far as sit'n player's and all... I would expect to see all starter's play the whole game against TB, to allow us to stay sharp & not get comfertable.
As for CAR game, i would expect to see the starters play until the half or maybe even a lil more, but NOT to finish. That way there not just sit'n for two weeks straight. Also depending on our situation with MINN with the home field advantage ordeal!!!

I personally believe we will be just fine & even BETTER after this lose... It showed us that theres NO team out there to be taken for granted & we learned that the hard way!!!

Re: Looking to see what you guys think, and expect
 

EXPECT to see that SWAGGER ( X's 10 )... We'll be just fine & get back on track... Geaux $A!NT'z!!!

Re: Looking to see what you guys think, and expect
 

As much as I hate to admit it, the loss to the Cowboys and Minesota's loss to the Panthers was probably one of the best things that could have happened to us. It takes the 16-0 pressure off the team, therefore allowing the Saints to stomp Tampa Bay and taking it easy (maybe even losing) at Carolina. This will allow another week to get our players healthy so that when we play the Cowboys (or whoever it may be) again in the playoffs we will be at 100% and be able to take on anybody.

Re: Looking to see what you guys think, and expect
 

I am pumped to go watch an a$$ whooping this weekend. Am driving up saturday night going out and having some fun then waking up on Sunday to watch a major beat down on some Bucs. I will be in suite 441 screaming my lungs out.

GEAUX SAINTS!!!!!

Re: Looking to see what you guys think, and expect
 

Well said - I agree totally.


I think we roll against Tampa this weekend, then play starters a quarter or two (if any at all) against Carolina.

With the "perfect season" gone and HFA clinched, what is there left to play for (against the Panthers)?

Re: Looking to see what you guys think, and expect
 

I think the Saints need to make this a quick kill and sit a few player in the second half.

Biggest reason: playing a team with two wins this late in the season can be dangerous for a team that almost has the #1 seed. Players on the Bucs side are playing for their jobs, which could result to fowl play.

So slam the door on this game in the first half!!!

Re: Looking to see what you guys think, and expect
 

we will come out to win this to prove a point we had some things to fix. I bet its one of our better performances of the year...I just want to see them stop the run.

Re: Looking to see what you guys think, and expect
 

i sorta feel it was good for us to lose because it will fire up the team.. winning so much sorta lessens the fire.. i expect indy to loose by upset next week.. thats my opinion.. but the loss is just another step to winning.. thats my idea..

Re: Looking to see what you guys think, and expect
 

I've had the sneaking suspicion for the last couple of weeks that we were giving players the opportunity to get healthy for the playoffs. Not totally resting starters but letting players get healthy who really could've played if they absolutely had to. That said we whip Tampa. They are a joke of a franchise. Went to the game in Tampa last month and from what I saw they were as many Who Dats there as Bucs fans. I also hear they are broke hence the no name coaches and players. They practically were giving tickets away so they could fill seats and were very hospitable to the Saint's fans. No beer specials though.