arsaint

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

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

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

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 Only recently has baseball attempted to change outdated rules and adapt to today's evolving viewing public.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

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

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

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

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.