Playoff Birth Achieved?
 

If I'm not mistaken, the Saints have "qualified" for a playoff birth by virtue of this win:

If the Saints lose out and finish 9-7:

In the division:
ATL wins out, then the Saints finish 2nd, Carolina can't make the playoffs;

NYG would finish 10-6 if they win the rest of their games which would eliminate Philly and clinch for Dallas; even if Minny and StL wins out and finishes 9-7, then the Saints have the tiebreaker, thus clinching.

Philly would finish 9-7 if they win the rest of their games, which would eliminate NYG. even if Minny and StL wins out and finishes 9-7, then the Saints would have the tiebreaker, thus clinching.


Am I wrong here?

Re: Playoff Birth Achieved?
 

Hmmm, I'm gonna think about that. I know it's our first official winning seasons since we made the playoffs in 2000 and won the first playoff game.

RE: Playoff Birth Achieved?
 

we needed minnesota to lose for us to get in, that didn't happen

RE: Playoff Birth Achieved?
 

Saints make playoff scenario (if i am not mistaken)

win against Washington
or
Minnesota or Carolina loss

RE: Playoff Birth Achieved?
 

If minny wins out, and the Saints lose out, they'd be tied. The Saints have the better conference record 8-4 vs 8-4. They'd be 3-2 on common opponents, we'd be 2-3. You're right.

Now, one win or any loss by Minny, Atlanta or Philly would be a clinch.

RE: Playoff Birth Achieved?
 

If we lose out want that put Carolina ahead of us due to fact they would've swept us? ATL win the division if they win out with a better record.

RE: Playoff Birth Achieved?
 

Nevermind I see that it is impossible for ATL & Carolina to win out since they have a game against each other.

RE: Playoff Birth Achieved?
 

If they were already in the playoffs, they would have said it.

RE: Playoff Birth Achieved?
 

Hey folks,

I know it's baby steps, but it just feels like this thread is a discussion in negative thinking. So I'm going to throw some positive thoughts in here:

1) The Saints win the division and a playoff bearth with a win against Washington this Sunday. We are in complete control of our playoff and division title destiny. We also win the division title with a Carolina loss anywhere along the way now.

2) We are in firm and complete control of the #2 NFC seed and a week 1 bye. With a win against Washington Sunday, Seattle would have to win out in order to secure that seed. Did I mention that they have a Christmas Eve game against San Diego? OUCH! Dallas would also have to win out and have the Saints (or Chicago) falter in both of their final two (four for Chicago) games to have a chance for that seed. That's what we were really playing for yesterday.

3) We have a shot at the #1 seed and HFA in the playoffs. Now it gets dicey. On paper Chicago's lead seems insurmountable. Down the stretch they have 4 games against teams that are misfiring (St. Louis, Tampa, Detroit, and GB). We'd have to win out to finish 12-4 and hope that in two games a combo of Grossman giving the game away and a fired up division opponent (of which Chicago has two left) leads to surprising upsets. If both teams finish 12-4, the Saints secure the #1 seed on conference record (11-1 vs. 10-2).

Point is that the Saints are no longer playing to get into the playoffs. Short of a total collapse, which I don't think Payton or Brees are even capable of allowing this team to do at this point, it's a foregone conclusion. We're playing for playoff positioning. We're in a sweet position, and the Saints need to do everything they can to secure it.

Scheduling helps us too. We have Carolina the last game of the season. I believe even if everything is completely wrapped up beforehand (division title, playoff bearth, seeding), the Saints will be looking to give Carolina the beatdown. So I don't see a complacent last game for the Saints no matter what.

SFIAH

SaintFanInATLHELL, I could not agree with you more. It is all about positioning now. If the SAINTS continue to play with the intensity they have played with lately, thare is a damn good chance we'll all be glued to our sets come Superbowl Sunday.

This is now your parents'd SAINTS. This is the New SAINTS and they are for real!!!