SaintNik

Excerpts from Pat Kirwan of nfl.com makes a great case of how important it is to-Win at Home....or else! "How important is a team's home record? Well, since 2000 the ability to get to the playoffs with a 4-4 or worse home record means a team has a less-than-10-percent chance of getting to the postseason. The Saints are 11-13 and have averaged less than 5 victories at home each of the past three seasons. If a team could just squeeze out a fifth victory at home the chances of getting to the playoffs shot up to 50 percent from 9 percent. Losing at home is a surefire way to miss the playoffs and it will get a coach fired faster than anything else." Non-winning home records the past three years.

Home Record No. of Teams No. in Playoffs

0-8 0 0
1-7 3 0
2-6 3 0
3-5 21 2
4-4 17 2

The number that jumps out is that a total of 4 teams made the playoffs during the past three years that had a home record of .500 or worse. After 48 regular season games under Haslett the Saints have a combined record of 26-22, 15-9 on the road, and only 11-13 at home. While winning on the road is required, winning at home is an absolute must. Let's hope this organization can figure out what it takes to win more than we lose at home. I have a few ideas. First, retire that goofy Gumbo they way of Mambo and bring back a real (dog) Gumbo. Our boys might just take mammas advise - if you lay down with dogs you will catch fleas - and decide to be standup guys. Get rid of that louzy PA system and bring back the gondala, fully equipped with clear screens and monster speakers without the echo ( or is that actually a time delay? ). Then maybee the folks in the $15 seats can actually follow the game in real time and of course check out the close-ups of the Saintsations. If they made the DomeFoam colder than the a/c would we really consume more? Are we to cheap to bring back that tee fetchin mutt? Wasn't it pretty cool when they dimmed the lights prior to kickoff for player introductions with the spotlight on the announced player? What else can be done to fire up the fans more and inspire the team to win more often than not creating a real home field advantage that will strike fear in the visiting teams to the dome? Any other suggestions out there?

Batwood

Having at least one home playoff game is very important, however, strangly having home field advantage has not really helped the last several years in the playoffs.

But winning on the road in the playoffs is a tough task regardless. The crowd noise intensifies and the home players can feed off it.

SaintNik

All info was related to regular season - Home - win/loss record. Must make the playoffs first, then can discuss advantages of playing at home or on the road in the playoffs. The fact is that the Saints haven\'t even been a .500 regular season home team under Haslett & Co. This must change! A home record of 5-3 over a 4-4 mark increases chances of making playoffs from 10% to 50%. Of course a 5-3 home record and a record of 0-8 on the road won\'t get it done either. I think you set the tone by winning at home and when you go on the road you have the confidence of winning and the opposition views you as a winner with the ability to take one from them in their house. With only 16 outings, every game is critical to the success of the season.

Just Chillin Checking Out The B&G Forum While Waiting For My Ship To Come In

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SaintNik

SCSaintsFan,

This is the best info I can give you. Best advice? Make your area loudest in dome!