saintsfan1976

You don't have to buy it. It's a fact.

Teams get more amped to play certain opponents, especially when they either:
Lose on a questionable call
Get knocked from the playoffs
Get dominated due to injuries
Etc...

Don't tell me YOU didn't have SF circled this year.

xan

Don't buy into the premise that because a team got gashed because of some defect (like poor O-line play) that the same mode of play will persist for the following game.

Every game is its own microcosm. If the Saints' D-line gets frustrated because the Whiner O-line starts playing better, then it will likely be that the Saints will make the critical mistake. As ususal.

saintsfan1976

Not suggesting that a performance from one game will necessarily repeat itself the next. This is the NFL. Most teams can correct mistakes or at least minimize the impact.

WHODATINCA

Actually, no I didn't. I hope the Saints are wanting to hurt somebody on Sunday because they f*cked with PT and knocked us out of the playoffs.

But what I really believe is: Different year, different team. I don't think the psychology, even if slightly persistent after a loss to a particular team the year prior, is not determinative to winning -- because we are talking about team of individuals who are all motivated by different things. Players are coached to have amnesia about even the previous play. Teams want to win each week just as much as the previous week. Desire may be increased by losing the previous week -- but in my mind that's about as far as it goes.

Shutdown defense in 2017 = Championship!

UK_WhoDat

I will be well happy if we rip Kaepernick.

spkb25

The 49ers are going to give us every bit of what they have. They're going to play desperate. It would be nice to get up early and get them to fold. The longer we let them hang around the worse it is for us. This is a dangerous game for us because they have lost two straight and are pretty much fighting for their payoff lives. I am worried we come in complacent.

spkb25

There is some truth to this, look at how the Skins played against Dallas.

That said, the 49ers will be motivated by the fact that they have lost two straight, how they lost last week, and the fact that losing today would all but put them out of the playoffs.

spkb25

Some of a season is determined not as much by who you play, but when you play them.

Cruize

Which translates into zero sacks and Kap scrambling for 125.

dizzle88

Akiem Hicks needs to really show up in this game, if he let's Kaepernick step up or get loose through the middle it could hurt us on D

Him getting a big push up the middle will help our outside guys tremendously