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Don\'t get me wrong. I\'m very optimistic about the Saints these days. They\'ve been fun to watch the last three weeks even while losing to Carolina because they\'ve played with heart and looked fairly good as a team.

They still need improvement, but at least now I see a fighting chance for the playoffs!

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Why is realism construed as pessimism on this site? Who here honestly thinks that the Saints can go 5-2 or better while the Panthers go 2-6? That\'s pessimistic? What\'s optimism then? The Saints go 7-0 and the league decides to give them back the Carolina game so they actually end up 12-4 while Carolina and Tampa lose every game they have left, except the one this weekend - they tie. Ridiculous.

How about this one? Don\'t let an optimist get you up. If they\'re right they\'ll just say that they told you so and that they\'re a better fan for keeping the faith, and if they\'re wrong they\'ll just make themselves out as martyrs and ask forgiveness for believing in the team they \"love\".

There is nothing wrong with being real people.

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What does it take to imagine a one dimensional team who should be on a three game losing streak already tankin\' it in the last half of the season? Is it likely? Better stated, is it any more likely to happen than not to happen? I\'m sorry Whodat, but when we don\'t have enough games left to win the devision then I\'ll start praying for the Wildcard if thats ok. I realize making the playoffs is a stretch at this point considering how the team has played up to now, but stranger things have happened ya know?

Can anyone tell me they honestly thought the Cowboys would be 6-2...or Carolina for that matter? How about the Bucs bein 1-3 at home this year, or Kansas stinkin City bein\' undefeated, or the Raiders playing as poorly as they are, or the Garcia-less 49ers whippin the Rams last Sunday with a Rookie backup in a passing oriented offense. My point is if ya don\'t think there are any more surprises left with half a season to go then you haven\'t been watchin\' too much football. This ain\'t 1977 anymore folks, ANYTHING can happen, and as long as there\'s hope I think I\'ll have me some. I\'ll save you some too whodat, cause the wind might change direction (and your opinion) yet again this year!

:P

[Edited on 4/11/2003 by saintfan]

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Damn Whodat, 3rdNlong looked you up in the freakin dictionary bro. That\'s more accurate than astrological traits! UN-Freakin-Canny 3rdNlong! Absolutely amazing!

LOL

:P

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Hey man, we\'re still on track for 8-8, so I think I\'m right on. What\'s amazing is that this whole thread, which was started by me mind you, is about the Saints making the playoffs. That\'s some pretty optimistic thinking from such a \"pessimist\" isn\'t it Saintfan?

I tried to layout what I thought needed to happen this week to help the Saints make the playoffs, something I think they CAN do. And what happens? I get blasted for not thinking they can win the division! WHAT?!?! If I had said that they can win the division would you and others be blasting me for not thinking they can win the NFC Championship? My lord.

You\'re right, this is a crazy season. But let\'s not forget when the Saints tanked last season, when they lost to teams like the Bengals, Panthers, Browns, and Vikings we still managed to win 3 games. If Carolina wins three games they\'ll be 9-7. That means we have to go 6-1 to win the division. Excuse me for being a little skeptical.

Let me just throw another interesting tidbit out there. In the history of the NFL, only five teams have EVER started 6-2 and not made the playoffs. The New Orleans Saints were team five last season. The odds of Carolina tanking enough to throw this division race are not good. Further, while I think the Saints will have a much better second half of the season, 5-2 is asking a lot against at least four teams fighting for a playoff spot with records as good or better than ours - especially considering our record in December the last couple of years.

[Edited on 4/11/2003 by WhoDat]

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Yeah, but you could at least be POSITIVE about the chances for once in your dang life man. Go ahead Whodat and say it with me...\"The Saints WILL make the Playoffs\"...felt good didn\'t it? Say it again. See, after a while you forget all about the 08 Kool-Aid. Now, say it one more time. ahhhhh, yes, what a great feelin\'! If they don\'t make the playoffs, nobody in here will hold it against you Whodat. Let go Whodat. Trust your feelings. FEEL the force baby!

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But I don\'t think that they WILL make the playoffs at this point. I think that they CAN. No one will hold it against you either Saintfan if you admit that at 4-5, the odds are stacked against the Saints in terms of a playoff run.

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If Carolina wins this weekend, I think we can forget about winning the division and concentrate our hopes on the wildcard. However, if they lose, then we are only 2 games behind them with 7 to go. Taking into account the tie-breaker they hold, that means if we go 5-2 while they go 2-5, we can beat them for the division title. All I\'m saying is that seems as likely as getting a wild card spot for this reason: it\'s as likely that Carolina will suffer an utter collapse as it is likely that everything falls into place for the Saints to get a wild card spot.

If you want to be realistic (i.e. agree with the so-called experts), Tampa is probably going to win the division and the Saints probably won\'t make the playoffs at all, but who wants to be realistic? :)

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I\'m of the opinion that we are as about as hot as any team in football right now. Won 3 out of 4 and got robbed against the Panthers. Call it like you see it, but I see the Panthers as a very overrated team and the Bucs simply are not the same team this year. Don\'t forget, Darren Howard (our best pass rusher) and Sedrick Hodge will be back. Charles Grant on one side and Darren Howard on the other. I like it.

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I aleady HAVE admited the odds are stacked against \'em, but I\'m POSITIVE Whodat. I\'m beggin you to try it man, it\'s MUCH better than 08\'s Kool-Aid, but don\'t take my word for it. Ask around and you\'ll see.