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.

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.

Re: Would the Saints have won Superbowl XLIV with 2024 rules?
 

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

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 Only recently has baseball attempted to change outdated rules and adapt to today's evolving viewing public.

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?

Re: Would the Saints have won Superbowl XLIV with 2024 rules?
 

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?

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.

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.

Re: Would the Saints have won Superbowl XLIV with 2024 rules?
 

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.

Re: Would the Saints have won Superbowl XLIV with 2024 rules?
 

Meh, in 2009 we forced 39 turnovers in the regular season and committed 28 for a differential of +11. They forced 8 in the playoffs in 2009 and only committed one turnover for a differential of 7. The 2024 Eagles forced 13 turnovers in the playoffs and also only committed one, so much better is possible now. While teams that led the NFL in regular season turnovers forced in the 2020's have had numbers more in the lower 30's per season, the 2009 Saints +11 turnover differential is nothing outside the current norm, as for example the 2024 Bills had a +24 differential and the 2024 Eagles were 6th with a +11 differential. The 2009 Saints simply had a good turnover oriented defense and an offense that put up the numbers to force opponents to take risks. It only seems like a relic of a bygone NFL era because the Saints haven't had a defense like that since, not because the NFL hasn't. Combining regular and postseason, the 2009 Saints +18 turnover differential is bested by the 2024 Eagles +23 and the 2024 Bills +28. And I wouldn't really say the Bills have this amazing legendary defense.