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2theadvocate.com | Sheldon Mickles | Mickles: Saints still have realistic playoff shot — Baton Rouge, LA

NEW ORLEANS (6-7): Games remaining — Arizona, Philadelphia, at Chicago. Since they don’t control their own destiny, the only thing they can do is win out and hope the Vikings lose one.

SaintFanInATLHELL

It's really a shame that we gave a couple of crucial games away this season. But for injury, silly play calling, and the defenses inability to make crucial stops, we'd be 8-5, in charge of the division and working on trying to pick up another game on Seattle to secure the #3 seed.

Coach Payton needs to take the second part of my signature and hang it on a plaque above his office door.

SFIAH

saintsfan1976

It comes down to execution. I like his calls when the players execute.

Not a whole lot of second-guessing play calls last year...was there?

NoBandwagonrs

yea i agree 100%,,,these players are paid millions of dollars a year to play football, yet you dont want payton, who has no decue mcallister to run the football and the def hasnt stopped the throwing game really all year, not to make a call that could get the first down and win the game because it involves a pitch...

SaintFanInATLHELL

I don't always and the end of the TB game is the prime example. Execution notwithstanding, that play should have never been called.

I froze my butt off in Soldier Field for the NFC championship game. I questioned the playcalling while I was there. Payton needed to run the ball. He didn't. He let the Chicago defense dictate his play calling.

It's taken him nearly a season and a half to realize that you have to have a productive, efficient running game in order to have a consistent effective offense. But he gets impatient because many times a running play is 2 yards and a cloud of dust. But when it brings the LBs and the safeties up that opens up the passing game.

It wasn't all sweetness and light in either of the two seasons offensively. Payton's love of the passing game puts the fortunes of the team squarely on Drew Brees' surgically repaired shoulder(s). When he executes well, the team does well, but when he doesn't we go south with a quickness. Payton is slowly learning that you need a running game to set up the passing game.

But the guy is a second year head coach. What I really hope to see is that he learns from the mistakes. That he learns that there is absolutely nothing wrong with pounding the rock. I thought he got it last year in the Giants game. But it's still inconsistent.

To be a successful team in the NFL you need to accomplish 4 things:

1) Run the ball.
2) Stop the run.
3) Contain the big play.
4) Limit turnovers.

The only thing that Saints have done consistently this season is #2. The run defense has been outstanding. But #3 and #4 kills it because we've given up a ton of big plays and way too many turnovers.

Running the ball often helps with #4. It also helps with #3 because if your offense is on the field, then the opponent's offense is not.

Most of the time I like Payton's explosive plays. But there needs to be balance in the run game, and wisdom to know when those explosive plays are appropriate.

So I'll continue to call out playcalling until I see the balance and wisdom necessary to have an offense that both effective and consistent.

SFIAH

Super Bowl Championships: New Orleans Saints:1, Carolina:0, Atlanta Chokers: STILL ZERO

Only Atlanta choked in an unchokable situation... Life is definitely good.

SaintFanInATLHELL

Absolutely right. The situation didn't call for it. Even if you hand the ball off on a reverse, that would have been better. But under no circumstance do you expose the ball to the defense by pitching it in that situation. The Saints would have won the game, or at least gone into overtime, even if they did not make the first down. It was a playcalling mistake pure and simple.

SFIAH

G504

We really need Chicago to play with some pride tomorrow. Washington and Denver also could possibly beat Minnesota, but they'll probably have less to play for. Bears are technically still in the playoffs.
Man, I was hoping Atlanta would have some "let's show Petrino we're better off without him" pride today, but no such luck.
What happens if New York loses out?

Halo

We don't want Chicago to get too good at the end of the season, we have to meet them for the final game. Just tomorrow

UK_WhoDat

Remaining games

New York Giants (9-4, Conf 7-4)
Sun, Dec 16 Washington
Sun, Dec 23 @ Buffalo
Sat, Dec 29 New England

Minnesota Vikings (7-6, Conf 5-5)
Mon, Dec 17 Chicago
Sun, Dec 23 Washington
Sun, Dec 30 @ Denver

The Mighty New Orleans Saints (7-7, Conf 6-4) [Div 3-3] http://images.footballfanatics.com/p...557ALT1_xl.jpg
Sun, Dec 23 Philadelphia
Sun, Dec 30 @ Chicago

Washington Redskins (6-7, Conf 4-5)
Sun, Dec 16 @ NY Giants
Sun, Dec 23 @ Minnesota
Sun, Dec 30 Dallas

Carolina Panthers (6-8, Conf 6-4) [Div 2-3]
Sat, Dec 22 Dallas
Sun, Dec 30 @ Tampa Bay

Our Saints, Our City, Our Soul
Saints are individuals of exceptional holiness

UK_WhoDat

1. I have little belief that Washington will do anything to help us.
2. If New York Giants loses out AND New Orleans win out. Saints in play-offs - better Conference record