Panthers coach, "I hope we don't have to play them"
 

It comes up a lot, the comparisons to the 2009 team, but this year's New Orleans Saints are different in a lot of ways than that team that won the franchise's first Super Bowl.

The Saints lost three straight to end the '09 regular season and didn't seem to be playing their best football.

"We kind of had our crisis situation at the end of the season," said linebacker Scott Shanle. "This year it was early in the season against St. Louis. i think since that game we've gotten better every week. It feels good to be peaking right now, but we have a whole new season ahead of us. We'll have to put this season behind us and get ready for the new season."

That will probably be easy to do, at least according to Carolina coach Ron Rivera.

He says the Saints are a team nobody wants to face at this point.

"We caught a football team that is on a roll," he said. "When you put the tape on and watch how they played against Atlanta and watch how they played against us and the first thing you say to yourself is 'I hope that we don't have to play them.' That's what's going to happen.

"Whoever is playing them is playing a very good football team on a hot roll right now. They are gong to have a lot of momentum going forward."

New Orleans Saints are a different team going into the playoffs than 2009 - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com

Anything less than a Superbowl victory would be a disappointment.

An appearance simply isn't enough anymore is it?

My my my how times have changed. Dare I say we're spoiled rotten now?

I agree this team is totally different than 09. Looking back on the 09 team we caught some breaks along the way. Don't get me wrong, we got what we deserved, The Lombardi and I am proud as hell of them. But if Favre doesn't do what he did best, throw when he doesn't need to to the opposing team, we don't even get to the Super Bowl. During that 13 game winning streak we won a few games we had no business winning. That 09 team gathered itself just in time in the playoffs and did what it had to do. The difference between then and now is the 09 team peaked early. We peaked on Monday night against New England in 09. This team is peaking right now. I think this year's team is a lot better than 09. Yes, we could stumble in the playoffs and not make it. Any team could. But if we keep playing like we are now, then the Bensens need to start dusting off the space in the trophy case for Lombardi No. 2. TWO-DAT!!!!!!

Yep, anything can happen. There are numerous teams that can beat us if we slip.

But if we play our A-game, there isn't a team in the playoffs that can beat us.

Our A-game > All 11 playoff teams

A good running game, Drew hitting receivers, the O line blocking and the D coming up with a few more turnovers.
The team is playing at a good level right now.
Let's not overlook the Lions, young team that plays with a lot of emotion and pretty fast Linebackers.

If We Can Shut Down That Receiving Game Of Detroit And Force Them To Run....Its Going To Be Great For Us At Home

WHo do they really have to run. I know Smith(?) is back but he is not 100%. Stop that monster JOhnson & we should win!!

Yea That's Right So They Don't Have Anyone....If We Can Shut Him Down Like We Did Last Game We Should Be Ok

Like every other team in the NFL playoffs, the Saints are not complete. We are too dependent on our offense to presume to sweep into and through the SuperBowl. One bad game with a few drops and a few turnovers is all it takes to walk away unhappy.

Let's not forget that two of the Saints 3 losses were against teams that are going to pick in the top 5 of the draft in April. Also all three losses were on the road, and the Saints will have to win 3 games on the road to win the SB.

The team is hot, but there are no guarantees. We have a good chance to get deep into the playoffs as long as the team plays with the same consistency as the last 8 weeks.

SFIAH