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]

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

I\'d get in a lot of trouble if I posted something like that !!

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

I didn\'t say you did(although you did) Did you see your name in there? BUSTED!!

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

Dude -- You need to chill out. Are you drunk?

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

Just so you two will know I emailed that little quote to Halo. I\'m sick of trying to get you to act right, now it\'s up to him. If he says goodbye it\'s goodbye.

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

Hey wait a minute. I didn\'t say anything to him wrong. I kept it civil. That\'s ALL him.
What did I say wrong?

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

My guess is you shouldn\'t have reposted it. But you did.

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

I\'m sure saintfan saw what you posted. But, if they want to beleive that-- That\'s thier call.

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

If I were the two of you I wouldn\'t post on this one anymore and chill out.

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

Maybe not, but I just wanted to make sure you saw it. Now what y\'all do is up to you. I didn\'t do anything. I\'ve been here talking nothing buy football all day long and he come\'s in here with this stuff and it\'s my fault? OK.

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

Joe after our chat I checked back in to see whats going on, I know your trying but this is just the same garbage. Good luck

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

Well, I\'ll let whoever deals with stuff like this deal with it. I\'ve NEVER posted anything like that EVER. I\'m simply sitting here discussing footabll and Gator comes in here and Insults me and saintfan and I don\'t call him any names, NOTHING. Hey, but I\'ll be the scapegoat. Actually, I\'m gonna make this easy for the \"powers that be.\" I will not be back on this board. Just in case I change my mind Joe -- go ahead and ban me, so I can\'t come back. See ya........

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

Whoa! Did Gator really post that? As much hell as I give Saintz08 (and he gives me) I\'ve gotta say that was a bit over the top. I didn\'t see it \'til Billy posted the quote. I\"ll not make a comment on it \'til I know for sure if Gator really posted it. If he did then I might have something to say to him about it.

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

saintfan -- I wasn\'t going to post anymore and this one will be my last. Yeah, Gator posted it. I don\'t know how he deleted it or who deleted it, but I think he did. He said every word of it. Do you think I\'d make that up?

Gator goes to extremes sometimes but that was WAY out of line. I get threatened to get banned for talking about the bad heads and he get\'s away with stuff like that. Even the posts following that one are insulting and Joe does\'t delete \'em. But, I can\'t say it surprises me.

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

\"No I\'m here to say what I want when I want.\"

If Gator really said that then why leave Billy? Any of us can have any opinion we\'d like. What makes Gator think he can say what he wants when he wants and the rest of us can\'t sounds like a personal problem. Gator has used \"language\" on this board before. There are users here that specialize in being antagonistic more than anything. Stick around and give \'em hell.

[Edited on 29/10/2003 by saintfan]

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

I\'ve been sent private messages by Joe saying I was about to be banned. For what I have no idea. I get the word \"pretender\" edited out of one of my posts. I get told not to talk about the \"bag head\" subject anymore. I\'m tired of battling Joe. Plain and simple.

Now that is my LAST posts. Besides, you share most of my opinions anyway. I\'ll be reading some. Keep \'em in line!

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

Back to the subject at hand.

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.\"

Very true Billy. Here\'s the but...

I really thought that we would handle Carolina and the Bucs would be a true test. Now we lost to Carolina and the Bucs played well against Dallas I see this is a game that is going to be extremely difficult to win. Further, winning a tough game against the first place team in your division psyches a team up. The Saints would be all kinds of cocky going into Tampa. Instead, they\'re all kinds of defeated. If they lose to Tampa, which they probably will, and go 3-6, it\'s pretty much done. Wouldn\'t you say?

I respect your opinion Billy, but you tend to give too much credit and be too patient. You still think this team has a chance this year. You still think Haslett is the guy. Unfortunately, I wish you were right, but I think time will show that this just isn\'t the case.

And Saintfan, there\'s a seat on the bench right next to me any time you want to come and sit down. Or, you and Billy can keep running around on the field pretending you\'re Aaron Brooks and the Saints are 7-1 - you two are like the Japanese out in the middle of the Pacific... still fighting a war that ended a long time ago. ;)

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

What ever would you and the \"Babble\" corp be saying about Mr. Brooks if he had the very same attitude you have Whodat? Never Give up Baby! Is it likely, no. Is it possible, yeah, until they are mathmatically eliminated, so until then, with your permission, I\'d like to remain positive. In fact I think I will. Gator may not like it. You may not like it. 08 probalby won\'t let me have any Kool-Aid (I don\'t want any anyway) and I may very well just get booted from this site for it, but I\'ll be damned I\'m gonna remain positive. I\'m not gonna sit here in my chair pointing fingers and proclaiming I know better than the players or coaches. I\'m not gonna say they aren\'t capable or that they\'re not trying or that they\'ve givin up like the rest of you.

Furthermore, if any of you were any better at accurately (that\'s an important word here) predicting the future than me then you\'d be on TV makin\' a living doing it. Certain members (or former ones) are led to the water on this site so to speak. I swear to Allah this is the most negative site for ANY team in the NFL. I did some research earlier today just to verify that I had, in fact, seen Gator type some naughtiness before and he sure has. I called him on his use of \"language\" once before and he told me I couldn\'t \"Hold the Gator down\". How Cute. The other thing I\'ve noticed (lets say I was reminded) is that even when this team was kickin\' azz certain people here were STILL being negative.

So, laugh at me for being positive. Ban me for being positive. Gang up against me and giggle like little girls while you blow bubbles in your 08er-aid for all I care. I am a fan of the team and my heart is with them. The team has problems to be sure, but people as negative as some of the people that post regularly here have much bigger problems...or in some cases an easily seen agenda. Either way you can all bite me.

..and Gator, you take the biggest bite sir. Your profanity directed at Billy was directed at me too. I\'m not sure who died and made you the protector of free speech, but that\'s a two way street my man. People were posting their opinions as fact on this board LONG before Billy logged on, and you are regularly one of \'em. Billy worked harder than any of you to prove his points, whether he was right or not. You should be ashamed. I know you\'re not, but you sure should be.

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

Hey man, I\'m not laughing at you for being positive - but saying that the odds are that the Saints will not make the playoffs this year is hardly pessimistic SF. C\'mon. It\'s not like I\'m bashing Brooks. It\'s not like I\'m saying this team isn\'t talented or capable. I\'m just not willing to allow for yet another wasted season to be forgiven b/c of one excuse or the other.

Apparently, according to you an Billy, the only \"realists\" on this board are those who continue to believe that the Saints have a decent chance at the playoffs until it is mathematically impossible for them to make it. Well then what is an optimisit? A person who still thinks they can make it even after they are mathematically eliminated.

I mean, Arizona, Chicago, Detroit, and San Diego still have mathematic possibilities of making the playoffs, but I bet the odds (and thus the PROBABILITY) are more like one in a billion right now.

I\'m still rooting man. I hope that they can rip off 7 startight wins. The unfortunate thing is that reality keeps me from BELIEVING what I HOPE to be true. Go ahead and stay positive. Good work. Billy\'s prediction of 12-4 is now MATHEMATICALLY impossible. What was yours? 10-6 or 11-5 I believe. We\'re at most, 2 losses away from that number too. My 7-9 or 8-8 \"completely pessimistic\" prediction is looking mighty REALISTIC right now ain\'t it?

[Edited on 29/10/2003 by WhoDat]

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

I\'d think the \"odds\" of any team going 8-8 are better than that same team going 12-4 or even 10-6. Maybe your fantasy vegas site has some numbers on that too.

I\'m saying that being positive on this site is dangerous to a person\'s health. No matter the teams current status (record) a person risks exile if they remain positive and defend their position.

Sure it\'s a more \"realistic\" approach to think 8-8 is more likely than 10-6, but because I choose to remain optimistic I have to endure attacks like the little fit Gator tossed yesterday?

You and I have a history Whodat. Same with me and 08...and the thing is it IS supposed to be fun, but it\'s threatened when Gator (and his ilk) do what he did yesterday. Frankly, being positive on this board is a very radical thing to be. I\'d be better served if I had a negative attitude, a foul mouth, took a \"know-it-all\" approach and stayed drunk on 08 Kool-Aid. At least then my logon would be safe!

Saints in the Playoffs?
 

It\'s not dangerous to be positive on this site. It\'s dangerous to be unrealistic. Go look at the posts from week 8 of LAST season. I don\'t think you\'ll find a single negative post. MYSELF INCLUDED. If you had said that the Saints were going to tank in week 8 last season you\'d have been blasted too. You\'d have been right, but blasted nonetheless.

Now, if the Saints turn it around this season then I\'ll be the first to pat you on the back. I\'m not blasting you for being optimistic - good for you. I think it\'s a little silly to be considering the playoffs for a team that has three wins in eight games against an expansion team, a 2-5 team, and a 1-6 team.

Hey man, I did my believing. I thought they could turn it around after getting destroyed by Indy and falling to 1-4. But in that kind of a hole, they could only slip up once or twice. The Carolina game was a slip. If they can avoid another slip then they have a chance - I just think that is asking a lot of a franchise whose history is basically nothing but a series of giant slip ups.