xan

We played the Rams after their Bye week. They had 2 weeks to scheme for Brees et al. and still managed to lose. I don't care that they only had one win before playing, they are an NFL team with a Pro Bowl QB, a near PB RB and a solid defense.

given the number of injuries prior to and during the game, this was a hell of a win.

One more win clinches nearly a wild card berth and 2 wins clinch the
division (as long as the two wins are divisional games.)

If the focus is being healthy for the playoffs, then we should let all those wounded enough time to heal before the last three games of the season. Division champs gives us at least one home game. At the very worst, we'd have to play in a dome or semi dome in the next round, so HFA may not be as significant.

Calvin: "I wish I was a Tiger."
Hobbes: "Common lament."

QBREES9

Nov 22 @ TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
12:00PM
FOX
Nov 30 vs. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
7:30PM
ESPN
Dec 06 @ WASHINGTON REDSKINS
12:00PM
FOX
Dec 13 @ ATLANTA FALCONS
12:00PM
FOX
Dec 19 vs. DALLAS COWBOYS
7:20PM
NFLN
Dec 27 vs. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
12:00PM
FOX
Jan 03 @ CAROLINA PANTHERS

Ok here are the seven games what do you think.

xan

Beat the Bucs twice and squeak by the Skins, that's 12-4. That secures the division absolutely and at this point, likely secures a bye. Highly doubtful we can beat the Pats without 5 starters on D, irrespective of last night's result. It is likely that we can beat the Pokes given last evening's embarrassing performance, but the Flake-ons and Carolina are working on getting a wild card, one more loss for either and it could be the end of the road for them. Desperation is a serious motivator.

This is probably going to wind up 13-3. Luck will even out a bit, as well as the unusually high rate of injury. 1st round bye, but no HFA for the championship game.

Calvin: "I wish I was a Tiger."
Hobbes: "Common lament."

skymike

It sux that we have to be perfect to avoid playing a playoff game in the Pop-Up-Bubble-Dome.

We need the damn offense to come out next week and look like our offense, take care of business, hold on to the ball, and not screw around with a lesser opponent. If they dont do this, we're going to have a much tougher time
in the last couple of weeks. We need to knock them the **** out, blow the Bucs away, take care of business, and send it to Garbage time by Halftime. It needs to look like Super Bowls used to look. The only way we're gonna get some rest and recuperation is to Earn It.

vpheughan

Two rookie CB's Running Back by committee, a great TE, WR's that would start for any team in the NFL, a stud QB and a banged up D. 9-0

No not the Saints the Colts. It is ironic that I left New Orleans and wound up in Indy. Now our two teams are mirror images of each other. Win ugly, spot the opposition points to start and KILL the team we're playing in the end.

A win is a win is a win and everything else is "coulda, woulda, shoulda"

Here's to a Saints Colts SuperBowl, both going in undefeated of course d the Saints winning in sudden death.

Sir Psycho Sexy

This is what a lot of fans are missing. It's great to win, but we are going to run into a buzz-saw in 2 weeks if we keep playing this sloppy, even if we have everyone back except Porter. And the play-offs are going to be a quick ride as well.

Getting our D healthy WILL help, but the offense *cough* Brees *cough* needs to do a better job of not turning the ball over. and SP, for the love of God man, learn how to manage the clock!!

Budsdrinker

Getting our D healthy WILL help, but the offense *cough* Brees *cough* needs to do a better job of not turning the ball over. and SP, for the love of God man, learn how to manage the clock!![/QUOTE]

We as fans are never happy. Payton is trying to manage the clock but we are just not executing. We try to run the ball but when the defense knows it's coming we don't control the line and knock em off it. Much to the dislike of most of us Payton will have to throw the ball in these situations mainly on 2nd down to make first downs. Everyone expects runs on first and second and like yesterday looks for the pass on third down. We are playing into the defenses hands. Payton will have to go back to mixing it up and not be textbook on trying to run out the clock.

RaginCajun83

Saints can not take the Succs lightly, Rams damn near beat them with that mind set. For some reason, alot of the play calling seemed vanilla on offense minus a few plays. Only a couple throws down the field, maybe thats what the defense was giving them but once again Drew seemed off for another week. They have to clean this junk off before it bites them and then they loose HFA. Saints keep on winning then they are a month away from clinching the division, lets reach that goal before they start resting starters

exile

This is exactly what I was mentioning during the game. It was almost as if the Saints were just experimenting with their run game. Either that or they are closing their playbook to have a few surprises for the NE game.

SaintFanInATLHELL

Not a month away from the division. In theory the Saints could have the division in hand by December 1st.

The Clowns are 4 back in the loss column with 7 to play. They also have 2 division losses and 3 NFC losses (which are the next two tiebreakers). So the Saints would have to lose 4 games, including the one to the 'clowns in Atlanta, 2 division games, and 3 conference games for there to just be a tie.

It's a really big lead. Also the 'clowns have to travel to New York to play a highly motivated Giants team in the Meadowlands this week.

The 'clowns loss to the Panthers yesterday made the division all but a foregone conclusion.

HFA is a different matter. But I decided today that it would be better for a relatively healthy Saints team to travel to Minnesota for a NFC championship game than to have them come down to the Superdome and play a banged up Saints team that did everything in the regular season to maintain HFA.

Priorities in order for the regular season:

1) Win the division. All but done.
2) Secure at least a #2 seed and a bye. Considering that the Saints are 3 games out in front of the East and West, and have an opportunity to plunk a loss on each of the East potential winners, this should not be too much of a problem.
3) Get healthy for the playoffs. And if this means taking an L to rest players, then so be it.

The sole goal is to get into, and win, the Superbowl. You need to be healthy in January and February to do that.

So everyone that's banged up gets another week of rest if I had the call. Then there's another 8 days until the Pats come into town.

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.