Kryptonite

I think the D has been playing better than the O for a while now. I know most of you won't agree, but i'm just calling it like I see it. They are the more inconsistant of the two. We know what defense is going to show up every week. Can't say that about the offense. They (defense) are going to give up some yardage and big plays throughout the game, but they are are going to make a couple crucial stops as well. The problem with that is we soon forget about those stops because 3 plays later the defense is back on the field. Now, because they have not been able to catch their breathe, they are giving up another big play. This happens more often than not.

There are plenty of times when teams drive the lengh of the field only to come out with an FG. That's a victory for the defense. But when our offense is doing the same damn thing, or 3 and outs, that's asking alot from a supposedly mediocre defense.

After watching GB play for the past few games, if our offense doesn't get as aggressive and TD determined as they (GB) are then we can forget about going deep into the playoffs. This is an offensive driven league now and all we can ask our defense to do is get a couple of crucial stops. Offense needs to get its head out of its @rse and get with the program.

Mardigras9

Morestead put the Falcons on their 6yd line. The D gave up two 20+ passing plays back to back (same play from each side of the field). Then for some reason we held them in the red zone (again for this game) . We were real lucky to get out of there with a win leading by 10 with less than 4 1/2 mins. Great win, don't get me wrong, but not ready to say this shows great improvements. It is always war with Atlanta, and we'll take this one. Now we have to crush them in the Dome and leave no doubts.

"Constantly choosing the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil." - Jerry Garcia

SaintsBro

I know what you mean, ridiculous that they did all that from the 6, but that is what Atlanta ALWAYS DOES to us -- they hang around until the very end, and often get a bunch of points, in desperation, borderline garbage time. They're like the Monty Python "But I'm not dead yet" guy.

Specifically against Atlanta, the problem is that the Saints need to figure out how to "STEP ON THE NECK" and keep that separation, once they get it. And that's both offense and defense.

This has happened plenty of times now -- the Monday night game in the Superdome in '09 the Saints were up 28-14, really starting to take charge, and still it came down to the wire, because the Falcons kept chugging away. It might have not been the red zone but it was close, at the end of the game Ryan was still chucking the ball to our goal line, hoping for a cheap flag or a miracle -- same deal. The December game in the Georgia Dome late last year was kinda similar as well -- we had the lead and the Saints were just about to separate and pull away, when Drew threw that kooky pick 6. And then the Saints defense took away the Falcons' weapons and HELD them again when it really counted, TWICE. It's always like this against the Falcons, folks, and we still win 9 out of 11 of these games!

The defense can certainly improve, NO DOUBT about that. But the real problem is not firing Gregg Williams or Scott Shanle, it's these lapses that happen at what should be crucial "STEP ON THE NECK" moments -- like the Marshawn Lynch run, the Harry Douglas One Man Show, or that other play on Sunday where there were 7 Saints flopping around who couldn't make the tackle on that one guy. Fix THAT, get some more turnovers, and I think this defense would suddenly start to look a LOT more like the '09 defense that everybody loved. And they need to re-learn how to STEP ON THE NECK on offense, too.