Extra game cost Saints a playoff spot
 

I know some people will say that the last game of the season is the extra game and that is what ended up costing the Saints a playoff spot. But look at it this way. The Saints played the Tennessee Titans this year as an “extra game “. The San Francisco 49ers played the Cincinnati Bengals as their “extra game”. Saints lost theirs, Niners won theirs. So, If the NFL would’ve played their normal 16 game schedule those two games would not have counted and the Saints would be in the playoffs. Just an observation. Lots of “if” there.

Re: Extra game cost Saints a playoff spot
 

So what you're really saying is that RG cost the Saints yet again...

Re: Extra game cost Saints a playoff spot
 

Maybe not intentionally, but it was a cherry on the Sunday as far as he was concerned.

Re: Extra game cost Saints a playoff spot
 

Poor play and injuries cost the playoffs. When you lose to a New York team not named the Bills you deserve to miss the playoffs

Re: Extra game cost Saints a playoff spot
 

Weird season.
We won games against superbowl contenders and lost games to top 5 draft pick contenders too.

The New York game and the first Carolina game hurt us, as did that rough stretch of 5 straight losses.

Re: Extra game cost Saints a playoff spot
 

There was nothing playoff caliber about the 2021 New Orleans Saints body of work.

Re: Extra game cost Saints a playoff spot
 

Not even wins against Green Bay, Pats, and Tampa twice?

Re: Extra game cost Saints a playoff spot
 

I think he's referring to notable losses to non-playoff teams: Panthers, Giants, Dolphins, and Falcons. You really can't hang your hat on beating TB and then losing badly to the Dolphins, regardless of the circumstances. IMHO, true playoff contenders never rely on 'help' to punch their ticket to post season.

The Saints controlled their own destiny in the Miami game and blew it.

Re: Extra game cost Saints a playoff spot
 

Unfortunately, could anyone say that we are/were better than any of the playoff teams that made it? I mean at the time the playoff started.....I would say we are/were not. Like TheOak said, there was nothing playoff caliber about our team; parts yes! Defensively yes, offensively no.

Re: Extra game cost Saints a playoff spot
 

Yet, with our defense and many players finally returning to health we could have beaten any of the teams that made the playoffs on any given day. Would we have made it to the Super Bowl? Extremely unlikely, but a win against the Rams was very possible.

Re: Extra game cost Saints a playoff spot
 

How can someone who blindly proclaimed 17-0 baby!, regardless of circumstance, not also predict us to win the Superbowl, regardless of circumstance?

Unless, of course, that person is a magnanimous idiot. Hmmmm... :rolleyes:

Re: Extra game cost Saints a playoff spot
 

Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda....we'll never know.

Re: Extra game cost Saints a playoff spot
 

Yup. Far too many obstacles (displacement from Ida, injuries to key players, COVID, suspensions, etc.) to overcome. However, it "woulda" been real sweet to end the Rams' season this weekend.

Re: Extra game cost Saints a playoff spot
 

So, I believe the wins against Tampa and Green Bay were more indicative than the Miami loss where the team was forced to play with 4th stringers at QB and across the offensive line. The “next man up” and “no excuses” mentality is all good and fine, but hardly realistic. Do you think it’s just a coincidence that none of the teams that did make the playoffs lost their first and second string QBs for extended periods of time like the Saints did? Do you think it’s mere
happenstance that the Saints set a record for the most different starters in the history of the league and just missed the playoffs? I think there is a direct relation.

Obviously the Atl, Giant, and Miami losses were tough and on the team. But likes wise the 4 wins against playoff teams were impressive and on the team too. To someone that says there was “nothing” playoff caliber about the team’s body of work I respectively disagree. One or two wins against winning/playoff teams could be a fluke. 4 is not.

Hanging the “blew it” label that you are on the Miami game without taking into account the roster situation is silly in my opinion. But hey, that’s just me. Doesn’t mean I’m right.

Re: Extra game cost Saints a playoff spot
 

Covid gave Roger another tool and he used it.

People are NOW being told to come into work (respiratory therapists in this case) even if they have covid but are otherwise symptom-free. Roger changed the Covid rules DURING THE SEASON such that some teams didn't get hit as hard as others. He did this late in the season. Timing is, of course, everything...

None of this Covid crap was necessary. Politics has infiltrated the sport and this is the result. We should all get used to it. It isn't changing. Ever.

Re: Extra game cost Saints a playoff spot
 

Defense.

Re: Extra game cost Saints a playoff spot
 

Re: Extra game cost Saints a playoff spot
 

16 players OUT of that MNF due to Covid …

No excuse but that simply wasn’t a fair fight.

Re: Extra game cost Saints a playoff spot
 

The league also changed COVID protocols about a week or so later. Those changes allowed Niners players to participate in their final game against the Rams that would not have been eligible had the protocols stayed the same. Different rules for different teams.

Re: Extra game cost Saints a playoff spot
 

My point too. Yet another example of the NFL putting some thing ahead of fair play.

Re: Extra game cost Saints a playoff spot
 

Not an excuse, but a very valid reason. Expecting any team to "control" their own destiny given those circumstances is beyond reason. Even the Miami fans in the Dome that night were aware of the handicap and some were even outwardly apologetic. We sat there until the final seconds ticked off the clock and couple of Dolphin fans sitting up behind us told us on our way out that they knew it wasn't fair, but they'd take it.

Re: Extra game cost Saints a playoff spot
 

Did you tell them how wrong they were and that the NFL is completely legit?

And what about the NFL changing the rules mid-contest, as has been pointed out? Does the NFL have a reason (excuse) for that?

Hey, it's okay. We'll wait until the subject is covered on NFL Radio so you can come back here with some talking points - you know, other people's opinions you arrogantly try to pass off as your own.

Idiot.

Re: Extra game cost Saints a playoff spot
 

The defense was indeed spectacular.

Re: Extra game cost Saints a playoff spot
 

Not as long as Roger Godhell is in power. :monkey:

Re: Extra game cost Saints a playoff spot
 

What about the Denver Broncos last year with NO STARTING QB'S? yet still had to play the Saints.