When a team misses the playoffs......
 

When a team misses the playoffs, it can usually point to numerous reasons why. For the Saints, the two issues they had all season -- a porous secondary and injuries at RB -- were again the issues that cost them Sunday's game against Philadelphia. The Saints have the worst secondary in the NFL and the Eagles, like everyone else this season, made big play after big play. The other issue had nothing to do with Reggie Bush not playing or the early-season loss of Deuce McAllister. Instead it was an injury to the underrated Aaron Stecker that hurt New Orleans. In the past two weeks, Stecker has run for 195 yards on 42 carries and given the Saints offense some much-needed balance. When he left with a lower leg injury, the Saints became one-dimensional on offense, making it easy for Philadelphia defensive coordinator Jim Johnson to put his defense into the best position to defend the Saints.
-- Jeremy Green, Scouts Inc.
ESPN - NFL Football Scouts Buzz - National Football League

That sums up the game and the season pretty well.

Re: When a team misses the playoffs......
 

you covered the two biggest reasons.we also could use a stud lineman to plow for short
yardage.next reason,receivers regressed in holding on to the ball this season.payton needs to take a good look at his receiver coach.

Re: When a team misses the playoffs......
 

Replacing the brick lining most of the receivers have on their hands would be a big improvement, too.

Re: When a team misses the playoffs......
 

To borrow a line from former Saints coach Jim Mora...Playoffs? Playoffs?...The team can look back at two games this year that they should have won...Carolina and St. Louis...both were home games.:disgusted: When a team cant even have a winning record at home, what makes you think they are a playoff worthy team? Each team has injuries, drop passes, blown coverages and bad calls go against them...but playoff teams find ways to overcome those obstacles. They have a solid offense but the focus in the off season MUST be on getting a "punch you in the mouth" defense! Also, they have find a way to play 4 quarters of intense,aggressive and smart football in the 3 aspects of the game...offense,defense and special teams.

Re: When a team misses the playoffs......
 

.. no team can overcome The Unholy Trinity of David, Bullocks, Simoneau

Re: When a team misses the playoffs......
 

LOL now thats funny

Re: When a team misses the playoffs......
 

The only good thing is that the Saints have managed to stay alive through the last week of the season. I said a while back that the two games that would comeback to bite them was the Carolina game in week 4 and that recent Tampa game. Overall, Payton did a good job at keeping the team going. He did a less than good job with his personnel moves. Why did he not give Stecker more carries once Deuce went out? Why did he stick with Mare so long? Why is Jason David still starting?

All in all, the Saints played another season with a bad defense, and this year they could not get away with it. Oh well, maybe better luck next year... LOL

Re: When a team misses the playoffs......
 

Will this be addressed? FINALLY???