Saints in the Playoffs?
 

OK, suffice it to say IF we're going to make it to the playoffs it'll be as a wildcard.
So the way I see it several things need to happen, most of which quite possible.

Seattle runs away with the West (They have the tie-breaker on us)
Minnesota runs away with the North
Carolina runs away with the South (We're not gonna catch them anyway)


That leaves the Saints basically battling 6 teams (One of these 7 will win the east) for two playoff spots...
5-2 St Louis (One frequent injury away from losing 4 or 5 straight)
5-2 Dallas (They will fade to 8-8, 9-7 max)
4-3 Tampa Bay (will be in the thick of it all year)
4-3 Philly (Tough schedule)
3-4 Green Bay (Old and fading)
3-4 NY Giants (Schedule too tough to make a run)
3-5 San Fran ( I think the continue to struggle, 9-7 finish)

The East division will beat up on each other, the winner barely over 500.

We are only 1 win behind the last playoff spot with 8 to go, assuming Dallas ends up winning the East.

I'm not giving up hope yet, but this weeks game looked a lot like Mora's old woulda-coulda-shoulda teams that shoulda won but didn't.

Danny

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

NY giants, philly, and dallas will be big games.
We need to win those games to get the tiebreaker advantage.

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

Excellent point. We sort of control our destiny in that regard.
We play most of the teams we\'re chasing for the wild-card spot.
6 of our last 8 games are against teams we\'re battling for that wildcard.
Of course depending on your point of view that may be good news or bad news.
Tampa twice
Philly
NY Giants
Dallas
Washington

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

I\'ll start by saying that I would love it more than anyone if the saints won out and made the playoffs, but I think would be a good time to bring up an old Jim Mora post game speech. You all know which one I am talking about (The one that starts with PLAYOFFS? PLAYOFFS?.
This saints team does not know how to win football games. Be it coaching staff, players, or whatever, someone has to step up and make the play that seals the deal. Boo Williams admitted to not knowing where the first down maker was on his third down catch. Deuce was to concerned with getting out of bounds as opposed to getting the first down despite the fact that we had two time outs. (Those two are coaching errors) And I\'ve got a two year old nephew that throws a football without it slipping out of his hand. (I believe it was an incomplete pass also) As I said before I want nothing more than for this team to win every week. I\'m in the dome every sunday and I yell and chant Defense as much as anyone. Right now I can literally barely talk from yelling so much yesterday. Optimism is great, and we are not out of it yet, but if tampa kicks our tails next week are you guys still going to talk about the playoffs?

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

Probably not, unless we rip off about 4-5 straight.

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

We have to go 6-2 or 7-1 to make the playoffs. Sorry guys, I don\'t care if we beat Tampa twice, Philly, Washington, Dallas, and the Giants, we\'ll find a way to lose to Atlanta and Jacksonville and go 9-7 and not make the playoffs. It ain\'t happening this year boys, I just can\'t see it anymore.

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

I don\'t know about that WhoDat. I see a team that\'s won it\'s last 2 out of 3 games and played the Panthers as tough as anyone. Everything went right in that game for the Panthers. If we would have somehow pulled that game out, we would all be talking a little differently about the playoff picture right now.

Everyone questioned whether or not our offense was truely back after beating the lowly Bears and the Falcons. Well, our offense looked just fine against a tough Panther\'s defense. There were a coulpe of mistakes that the offense made, but other than that, they looked good.

The BIG problem right now is improving our run defense and improving our pass rush. Darren Howard comes back soon and that should help the pass rush out greatly. Sedrick Hodge comes back soon and should take over the stating duties for Darrin Smith. Grady Jackson also missed that Carolina game and his return WILL help.

Now, I wouldn\'t go betting the farm that this team can string together 6 or 7 wins this season, but they have the capibility. They did it last year, right? I don\'t blame you guys for not believing, but stranger things have happened. I saw a lot of fight in the Panther\'s game. Let\'s see what happens in Tampa !!

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

I\'m just going to keep rooting for them and hope that they beat up on Tampa this weekend. It\'s not impossible. And Philly could also very easily become a win.

I\'m hoping to get tickets for Saints v. Eags. Philly is a rough crowd but I\'d like to be there to scream for the Saints. Heyooooo!!!

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

Some of us would like to remain positive Gator. If you\'d like to give up there\'s a seat next to Whodat and 08 and I\'m sure they\'ll save you a glass of \"8er-aid too\".

That is all...

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

Then why are you on a Saints board? To tell us all to give up?

[Edited on 28/10/2003 by JOESAM2002]