Would the Saints have won Superbowl XLIV with 2024 rules?

arsaint · 06-11-2025, 05:22 PM

SO MUCH has changed in the NFL from 2009 - 2024 (last season).

Would the Saints have been able to win with the current rules? We were the cause of the Farve OT rule AND now you have to send out engraved invitations to an onside kick.

SmashMouth · 06-11-2025, 07:26 PM

It's not just the Saints, but many if not most teams dating back could not win by the same rules as today's wussified version of the game.

arsaint · 06-12-2025, 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by SmashMouth

...today's wussified version of the game.

If you're looking for an argument there, you better change the subject!

The game today is so different.

I doubt seriously that we recover that onside kick if we have to announce it. And as a result, we lose a huge momentum boost in the game.

Could we still have won? SURE! But I think it would have been down to the last minute and could have swung to either team...

AsylumGuido · 06-12-2025, 09:16 AM

The game changed tremendously between the '80's and 2009. And the same from the '60's to the '80's. That's a major reason the popularity has continued to grow with the NFL while other sports like baseball have declined a great deal over the years. Only recently has baseball attempted to change outdated rules and adapt to today's evolving viewing public.

AsylumGuido · 06-12-2025, 10:24 AM

Another question is would the Eagles have won the championship this past season if the NFL hadn't changed the rules in 2005 to allow the pushing of the ball carrier?

stickman · 06-13-2025, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

Another question is would the Eagles have won the championship this past season if the NFL hadn't changed the rules in 2005 to allow the pushing of the ball carrier?

That's an excellent question.

I think it comes down to knowing the rules and taking advantage of them. That's what good coaches do, isn't it?

BakoSaint · 06-13-2025, 04:58 PM

Arguably the Saints would have won more rings under Brees with modern more pro-offense rules. The Saints were not known as a defense and run oriented team in that era. Also every time the NFL changed a rule after the Saints had taken advantage of it, it sent a message to refs that they should target the Saints too. Had the rules the Saints taken advantage of not existed, the Saints may have gotten fairer officiating, as it would have taken away opportunities for the league to put a target on the Saints back.

neugey · 06-13-2025, 06:51 PM

I think it would be have been much, much harder. The substantial amount of turnovers created was a huge part of the Super Bowl run. I don't think today's environment would allow us to rack up that may turnovers created.

SmashMouth · 06-14-2025, 07:31 AM

Originally Posted by stickman

I think it comes down to knowing the rules and taking advantage of them. That's what good coaches do, isn't it?

Originally Posted by BakoSaint

Arguably the Saints would have won more rings under Brees with modern more pro-offense rules. The Saints were not known as a defense and run oriented team in that era. Also every time the NFL changed a rule after the Saints had taken advantage of it, it sent a message to refs that they should target the Saints too. Had the rules the Saints taken advantage of not existed, the Saints may have gotten fairer officiating, as it would have taken away opportunities for the league to put a target on the Saints back.

Arguably should have 2-3 more rings under Brees, regardless. Blame SP and his decision making and his lack of knowledge of the rule book. The 2011 debacle when they didn't understand how to cover the TE, Vernon Davis, and the two last second losses whose plays would not exist if he had used the ruse Belichick used with an on purpose penalty to run clock; that rule was subsequently removed, of course, after BB used it.
Coach Vrabel did it too.

06-11-2025, 05:22 PM	#1
arsaint Saint Historian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: deep in the bowels of a hidden bunker, somewhere under the brick & steel of a nondescript building.. Posts: 2,741	Would the Saints have won Superbowl XLIV with 2024 rules? SO MUCH has changed in the NFL from 2009 - 2024 (last season). Would the Saints have been able to win with the current rules? We were the cause of the Farve OT rule AND now you have to send out engraved invitations to an onside kick.

06-11-2025, 07:26 PM	#2
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,949 Blog Entries: 29	Re: Would the Saints have won Superbowl XLIV with 2024 rules? It's not just the Saints, but many if not most teams dating back could not win by the same rules as today's wussified version of the game.

06-12-2025, 08:39 AM	#3
arsaint Saint Historian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: deep in the bowels of a hidden bunker, somewhere under the brick & steel of a nondescript building.. Posts: 2,741	Re: Would the Saints have won Superbowl XLIV with 2024 rules? Originally Posted by SmashMouth ...today's wussified version of the game. If you're looking for an argument there, you better change the subject! The game today is so different. I doubt seriously that we recover that onside kick if we have to announce it. And as a result, we lose a huge momentum boost in the game. Could we still have won? SURE! But I think it would have been down to the last minute and could have swung to either team... SmashMouth likes this.

06-12-2025, 09:16 AM	#4
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,693	Re: Would the Saints have won Superbowl XLIV with 2024 rules? The game changed tremendously between the '80's and 2009. And the same from the '60's to the '80's. That's a major reason the popularity has continued to grow with the NFL while other sports like baseball have declined a great deal over the years. Only recently has baseball attempted to change outdated rules and adapt to today's evolving viewing public.

06-12-2025, 10:24 AM	#5
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,693	Re: Would the Saints have won Superbowl XLIV with 2024 rules? Another question is would the Eagles have won the championship this past season if the NFL hadn't changed the rules in 2005 to allow the pushing of the ball carrier?

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06-13-2025, 11:46 AM	#6
stickman 1000 Posts + Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Gonzales, LA Posts: 1,805	Re: Would the Saints have won Superbowl XLIV with 2024 rules? Originally Posted by AsylumGuido Another question is would the Eagles have won the championship this past season if the NFL hadn't changed the rules in 2005 to allow the pushing of the ball carrier? That's an excellent question. I think it comes down to knowing the rules and taking advantage of them. That's what good coaches do, isn't it? SmashMouth likes this.

06-13-2025, 04:58 PM	#7
BakoSaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 2,402	Re: Would the Saints have won Superbowl XLIV with 2024 rules? Arguably the Saints would have won more rings under Brees with modern more pro-offense rules. The Saints were not known as a defense and run oriented team in that era. Also every time the NFL changed a rule after the Saints had taken advantage of it, it sent a message to refs that they should target the Saints too. Had the rules the Saints taken advantage of not existed, the Saints may have gotten fairer officiating, as it would have taken away opportunities for the league to put a target on the Saints back.
BakoSaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 2,402

06-13-2025, 06:51 PM	#8
neugey Hu Dat! Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6,872 Blog Entries: 13	Re: Would the Saints have won Superbowl XLIV with 2024 rules? I think it would be have been much, much harder. The substantial amount of turnovers created was a huge part of the Super Bowl run. I don't think today's environment would allow us to rack up that may turnovers created. SmashMouth likes this.

06-14-2025, 07:31 AM	#9
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,949 Blog Entries: 29	Re: Would the Saints have won Superbowl XLIV with 2024 rules? Originally Posted by stickman I think it comes down to knowing the rules and taking advantage of them. That's what good coaches do, isn't it? Originally Posted by BakoSaint Arguably the Saints would have won more rings under Brees with modern more pro-offense rules. The Saints were not known as a defense and run oriented team in that era. Also every time the NFL changed a rule after the Saints had taken advantage of it, it sent a message to refs that they should target the Saints too. Had the rules the Saints taken advantage of not existed, the Saints may have gotten fairer officiating, as it would have taken away opportunities for the league to put a target on the Saints back. Arguably should have 2-3 more rings under Brees, regardless. Blame SP and his decision making and his lack of knowledge of the rule book. The 2011 debacle when they didn't understand how to cover the TE, Vernon Davis, and the two last second losses whose plays would not exist if he had used the ruse Belichick used with an on purpose penalty to run clock; that rule was subsequently removed, of course, after BB used it. Coach Vrabel did it too.