The NFC South Race is Over

jeanpierre · 11-03-2009, 01:40 AM

Rapid Reaction: Saints 35, Falcons 27

November 3, 2009 12:15 AM

Posted by ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinskas

NEW ORLEANS -- Ladies and gentlemen, the NFC South race is over.

Let’s go ahead and crown the New Orleans Saints division champions. Yeah, I know we’re only seven games into this thing. But it’s over.

The Saints played their first division game of the season Monday night. They won it and, therefore, they’re going to win the NFC South for the first time since 2006.

Barring some sort of major injuries or problems, the Saints already have put enough distance between themselves and the rest of the NFC South. The Falcons played them pretty darn hard, but New Orleans survived it.

That makes the Saints 7-0 and the Falcons 4-3. Look at both of their remaining schedules and you’ll see why I’m saying the race is over. Atlanta needed this game to have any chance of catching the Saints. Now, the Falcons are going to have to scramble just to get a wild-card berth.

The Saints will be playing for much more than an NFC South crown the rest of the way. They’re going to finish with double-digit wins (they only need one more win for that if you give them victories for their two games with Tampa Bay). The only real questions are if they can clinch the home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs and maybe even if they’ll go undefeated.

I’m heading downstairs for post-game interviews. I’ll be back with more in a bit.
Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Falcons-Saints 110209

Wow...that's pretty bold stuff coming from Yasinskas...

Halo · 11-03-2009, 01:43 AM

Yeah I think it's ambitious, but it's nice to hear people all over give us credit for once since we've been in business.

cargojon · 11-03-2009, 01:45 AM

Pat's eating the cheese...

arsaint · 11-03-2009, 02:16 AM

bs - the division is NOT over.

Glad we have a 3 game lead, but that only means you have it in the bag when there are 3 or less to go and you have tiebreakers. We're in a great position, but there is a lot of football left.

We have not beaten Carolina in 4000 years. We need to take care of business on Sunday and move to 2-0 in the South...

Cruize · 11-03-2009, 07:41 AM

The Saints have to protect the ball and their QB better or things could go South in a hurry. There is more balance to the offense this year, but Payton has to run the ball even more. Teams are choosing to pressure more and to cover less against the Saints. Brees is taking ALOT more hits. He's not a big guy and will put the ball on the ground.

Rugby Saint II · 11-03-2009, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by arsaint

bs - the division is NOT over.

Glad we have a 3 game lead, but that only means you have it in the bag when there are 3 or less to go and you have tiebreakers. We're in a great position, but there is a lot of football left.

We have not beaten Carolina in 4000 years. We need to take care of business on Sunday and move to 2-0 in the South...

Nothing is set in stone. Any number of things could happen. One game at a time....We do look very very good, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

fhotard · 11-03-2009, 12:21 PM

I love a good dose of optimism, but it's good to keep the horse out in front of the cart.

QBREES9 · 11-03-2009, 12:30 PM

Remember this is the NFL....... Not For Long......One Game at a time.

mighty12 · 11-03-2009, 12:31 PM

Piss poor tackling and turnovers will lead to plenty of losses. We need to clean up hopefully we get dessert and not disaster.

Danno · 11-03-2009, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by QBREES9

Remember this is the NFL....... Not For Long......One Game at a time.

Are you speaking to the players or to us?

11-03-2009, 01:40 AM	#1
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	The NFC South Race is Over Rapid Reaction: Saints 35, Falcons 27 November 3, 2009 12:15 AM Posted by ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinskas NEW ORLEANS -- Ladies and gentlemen, the NFC South race is over. Let’s go ahead and crown the New Orleans Saints division champions. Yeah, I know we’re only seven games into this thing. But it’s over. The Saints played their first division game of the season Monday night. They won it and, therefore, they’re going to win the NFC South for the first time since 2006. Barring some sort of major injuries or problems, the Saints already have put enough distance between themselves and the rest of the NFC South. The Falcons played them pretty darn hard, but New Orleans survived it. That makes the Saints 7-0 and the Falcons 4-3. Look at both of their remaining schedules and you’ll see why I’m saying the race is over. Atlanta needed this game to have any chance of catching the Saints. Now, the Falcons are going to have to scramble just to get a wild-card berth. The Saints will be playing for much more than an NFC South crown the rest of the way. They’re going to finish with double-digit wins (they only need one more win for that if you give them victories for their two games with Tampa Bay). The only real questions are if they can clinch the home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs and maybe even if they’ll go undefeated. I’m heading downstairs for post-game interviews. I’ll be back with more in a bit. Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Falcons-Saints 110209 Wow...that's pretty bold stuff coming from Yasinskas...
	It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

11-03-2009, 01:43 AM	#2
Halo Site Donor MONTHLY Join Date: May 2002 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 20,605 Blog Entries: 45	Re: The NFC South Race is Over Yeah I think it's ambitious, but it's nice to hear people all over give us credit for once since we've been in business.

11-03-2009, 01:45 AM	#3
cargojon 500th Post Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 576	Re: The NFC South Race is Over Pat's eating the cheese...
cargojon 500th Post Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 576

11-03-2009, 02:16 AM	#4
arsaint Saint Historian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: deep in the bowels of a hidden bunker, somewhere under the brick & steel of a nondescript building.. Posts: 2,705	Re: The NFC South Race is Over bs - the division is NOT over. Glad we have a 3 game lead, but that only means you have it in the bag when there are 3 or less to go and you have tiebreakers. We're in a great position, but there is a lot of football left. We have not beaten Carolina in 4000 years. We need to take care of business on Sunday and move to 2-0 in the South...

11-03-2009, 07:41 AM	#5
Cruize 1000 Posts + Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 4,457	Re: The NFC South Race is Over The Saints have to protect the ball and their QB better or things could go South in a hurry. There is more balance to the offense this year, but Payton has to run the ball even more. Teams are choosing to pressure more and to cover less against the Saints. Brees is taking ALOT more hits. He's not a big guy and will put the ball on the ground.
Cruize 1000 Posts + Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 4,457

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11-03-2009, 12:20 PM	#6
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 24,052	Re: The NFC South Race is Over Originally Posted by arsaint bs - the division is NOT over. Glad we have a 3 game lead, but that only means you have it in the bag when there are 3 or less to go and you have tiebreakers. We're in a great position, but there is a lot of football left. We have not beaten Carolina in 4000 years. We need to take care of business on Sunday and move to 2-0 in the South... Nothing is set in stone. Any number of things could happen. One game at a time....We do look very very good, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

11-03-2009, 12:21 PM	#7
fhotard 100th Post Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 263	Re: The NFC South Race is Over I love a good dose of optimism, but it's good to keep the horse out in front of the cart.

11-03-2009, 12:30 PM	#8
QBREES9 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Haven Ct Posts: 23,985	Re: The NFC South Race is Over Remember this is the NFL....... Not For Long......One Game at a time.

11-03-2009, 12:31 PM	#9
mighty12 500th Post Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 980 Blog Entries: 1	Re: The NFC South Race is Over Piss poor tackling and turnovers will lead to plenty of losses. We need to clean up hopefully we get dessert and not disaster.

11-03-2009, 12:32 PM	#10
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,720	Re: The NFC South Race is Over Originally Posted by QBREES9 Remember this is the NFL....... Not For Long......One Game at a time. Are you speaking to the players or to us?