Danno

But Scott, did you think the 7 win Panthers would improve by 8 games?

ScottF

good point.
very good point

WillSaints81

Is this based on training camp so far?

WillSaints81

The important thing is if this defense is what it is and Fleener and Thomas make a big difference, then getting out of the first two weeks 2-0 could get us undefeated going into perhaps KC and if we win that we might just be 9-0 going into Carolina week 11.

darstep

Health will be one of the biggest factors.
Losing the blind side OT would be huge.
Losing the best pass rusher for 3-4 weeks can kill overall performance.
Not even going to mention the unmentionable.
Key players during key stretches during the season can change everything.
I hope we can stay healthy enough to maintain some consistency.
Resting players is none thing.
Having to extend the number of plays because
we can't afford the drop-off to 3rd tier guy gets old.
Just average defense will give us 3 more wins.
The head-to-head matchup with Carolina could make the difference.

**SaintSince67**

hagan714

Bold indeed. If the saints won that early game in Carolina I still believe that would have changed the saints mind set and the season would have ended different. A win like that for young team without Drew would have been a key confidence boost. Carolina season started to roll with that win.

As for the panthers? I am not ready to call Cam the Come Back of the 2010's. Last years season was a story of last minute come backs for the offense. The defense is good enough to close out a game as usual in 2010s.

But I have little faith in last years improved play by Cam in his accuracy. Last year was either a fluke or he has turned the corner.

I am sticking with FLUKE

Cam will not win as many games as last year with end of game drives.

The number of games the defense won at the end will not be as many either. That is just a tall order

That is an additional 3 to 4 loses right there.

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins

QBREES9

Can we play a game before we even start to think that.

SaintsBro

Basically the same thing I say every year. It seems the only way that Sean Payton-led teams do well, is by jumping out in front early in the season, and then stepping on the gas the rest of the way. This business of winning one, losing one, winning two, losing two, up and down, hot and cold, muddling through the season, flying on a wing and a prayer....those type of years just seem to never work out well for the Sean Payton-era Saints. If you look at the years where they have been strongest in the post season, it has almost always been a dominant, solid first half of the year, first ten games, that sets the tone and builds a foundation for later success.

foreverfan

saintsfan1976

Just can't shake that Vegas line. o/u 6 1/2... That's insane in my mind.

Yes we added more talent but how many changes in one season is too many?

We still have Streif - a year older. We still have Lelito - meh.

Our receivers are still relatively inexperienced beyond Cooks who is a #2 WR playing #1.

And as pointed out earlier many many question marks on Defense.