We need to face the fact that we wont have HFA.
 

All these threads speculating about how we need to win out got me thinking. The falcons have to lose two more games this year one of which has to come from us for that to happen. Considering they have only lost two games this season and the cake schedule they have left, that is highly unlikely. We can win out and still be a wild card. It is just time to start accepting that. That being said I think it puts us in a better place to win than most wild card teams in the past. We will only have to travel to Atlanta, which is better than Phili, Greensboro, NJ. It is a dome, so we dont have to deal with the elements. The Falcons fanbase is total garbage. IT is made up of only about 18% die hards per espn with the rest of the tickets going coorporate, or taken up by folks who just want entertainment. Our fanbase travels well, and we could very well wind up with as many Saints fans there as Falcons.

It will be hard, but not out of the question.

With a win next week and a Tampa Bay win (at home) over the Falcons, we would control our own destiny for HFA.

Saints What If?

Falcons next 3 are on the road against teams that still have a lot to play for. Considering both lossses were on the road I could see them dropping a game. It's not as if they are dominating anybody either. They are just a vulnerable as the Saints. I will say though that the Saints have adjusted well with their injuries, it took a few weeks but they are back on track. Falcons on the other hand, they are virtually unscathed and are scraping by.

I mostly agree, 504Saint. The Falcons appear to be fairly heavy favorites to lose at most one game for the remainder of the season. So we play Seattle during the first week of playoffs, then most probably the #2 team (Philadelphia)? That could be trouble if we don't play two halves of football, as has been our tendency lately.

We also needed to face the fact Thursday, when Roy Williams caught that pass that we werent going to beat the Cowboys.

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

If the season ended today, the Saints would be the number 5 seeded playoff team and would play in St. Louis. The only way the Saints could possibly get a home game is if they advance to the NFC Championship and play the number 6 seeded team. Of course a lot is going to probably change, so anything can happen now.

I look at it this way. We're a very good road team, and it'll be pretty sweet if we go to Atlanta and knock them out of the playoffs in their own trailer park dome.

I'm absolutely amazed at how few injuries that team has had. Thats gotta come back and bite them eventually.

We lost more key people after 3 games than they have all year.

If NO and ATL end the season tied it comes down to Common Games.

PIT.... We Won.. ATL Lost
ARI.... We lost ATL Won
CLE.... We lost... ATL won

We need some help from TB and or Carolina.. And we have to win in ALT.

They only beat TB by 6 points, and they have yet to play Carolina.

Philly has to play dallas twice and the giants once more. I am not sure they are a lock to win that division or make the playoffs. I think the giants will beat them at home and dallas might steal one at home. That would make them 10-6. that may not be good enough to make the playoffs because green bay beat them

If tampa somehow pulls a win this week, and I don't think it is impossible- we can win the division and we can do so losing once more as well, as long as it isn't to tampa. Tampa has to win this week for this to happen.

if tampa doesnt win this week though- it is next to impossible

I think 504state needs to face the fact that there is a difference between the present, and the future tense.

In other words, you kind of invert the old "don't count your chickens until they hatch" maxim.

You look at a group of 10 chickens and say "damn it, we're only gonna have 7 eggs today" before they even start laying.

Stop being such a pessimist. The season is far from over, and we're 8-3.

No it isn't. It's been a team effort. He didn't lose the Cleveland game or the Ar game. I'm sure if you go back and look at the Atlanta game you'll find jalf a dozens plays that were just a crucial to that loss as the missed FG.

I know 504 is probably right, Strat.

But I'm still not gonna weigh this chicken 'til it hatches.

Glad Tampa lost yesterday. They will be in desperation mode against ATL.

The playoff picture is iffy at 7-4. It would be much worse at 7-5 and they know it...

That's what I'm thinking. TB is not going to lay down. They want nothing more than to beat the Falcons and they are still in the hunt for the playoffs. Carolina however is a long shot. Too many injuries. I have 0 faith they could beat anyone in our division at this point. It would take some serious good fortune for them to beat Atlanta.

There are still 5 games left in the season. Crazier things have happened than Carolina beating Atlanta.... A lot crazier things.

Not wishing for anyone to get hurt. But all it takes is one critical injury to ATL and they are no where near as powerful as they have been.

If Turner, Gonzales, or Ryan gets hurt, they are crippled.

How many people actually picked SanDiego over Indy this week?

I vote for this answer!



They REALLY do not have proven depth at skill positions. x626xBlack is right.

With the exception of them having the lead in the NFC this year, this Falcons team reminds me of another team, we stayed neck, and neck with last year.... All they had to do, was win one game to clinch HFA, and they couldn't get the job done. I see many similarities between the 2010 Falcons, and the 09 Vikings.... Except their QB isn't so old that his name is referenced in the Bible....

Although it would be nice to get HFA during the playoffs, I'm not overly concerned if we don't. Make it to the playoffs first and let our talent take care of the rest.

Look at my "Interesting on Hartley" thread.. We do not want HFA .. LOL

I agree with 504 and a couple others; if Atlanta beats Tampa this weekend the division is over. Seattle and Carolina (twice) will not beat Atlanta. Unfortunately some of the games we lost early in the year to inferior teams are coming back to bite us. However, this team is made of champions and we are very capable of making it back to the Super Bowl as a wild card. The Steelers in 05-06 and the Giants in 07-08 recently won Super Bowls and wild cards. I believe if we're playing well we can beat any team at home or on the road.

if we take care of our stuff and win out we could be pulling away from the falcons and have a great chance at HFA thru-out; in the weeks 13, 15, the games for the clown's are not givens. in week 13 if tampa can play error free ball which is highly unlikely, they can beat the falcants. they need no turnovers and a couple by ryan. now the game i said a while back that the clown's won't win is in week 15 in seattle. hasselbeck has shot to clean the clown's clock's in this jet lagged game. then we do our bussiness in week 16.
saints 13-3
clowns 11-5
tampa- who gives a s#%t

Bottom line is the Saints do indeed have to take care of their own business. Whatever else happens just happens. The Saints played a nice stretch before getting sloppy against the Cowboys, have to get that nice stretch rolling again and everything will be fine.

We win the rest of our games and we will. The only other things that need to happen is the Packers lose 1 more, Atlanta gets beat by us and lose this weekend to the Yuks and the Bears lose 1 game. I think all of these things have a fairly high probability of happening.

Good job Papz. Your attention is appreciated.

My thoughts exactly LivnaLie ... If Atlanta wins at Tampa Bay on Sunday, we can kiss the Division Crown goodbye. That will make our job harder, but not insurmountable. So we face Atlanta in the Georgia Dome for the NFC Championship. They are hard to beat at home, as evidenced by the fact that we were the last team to do it. We will do it twice more this season.

I disagree as I stated in my deleted thread. I guess it got wiped out because of being connected to other stuff. Anyway, Atlanta has been fortunate to win at home. They have struggled on the road. I would not be surprised at all to see them fall to Seattle. In fact, I'll call it now.

As for Carolina, stranger things have happened. This week the Bucs have a good shot at taking them down. I would not be shocked to see them drop two of three. Then, if we take care of our business wee have home field.

The Saints could lose all the rest as well as the Falcons. You just never know. Look how the Falcons played the 49ers or how the Saints played the Cowboys. If either team looked as far ahead as you guys do they would have the Bills record.

Bluto is on a roll!!

"Forget it, he's on a roll"

In fact, I think we just found the next Senator from Louisiana...

If Saints win out, aren't we tied with Falcons?!?

If the Saints get into the playoffs as a wild card team, they will likely play the Rams or the 49ers or the Seahawks. That isn't so bad. If the Saints then win that game, they will have to travel for the divisional, in which they would probably face Chicago or Green Bay, which would be tough, but not impossible. I'm thinking the NFC championship could possibly be between the Falcons and Saints, which would be bizarre. I wish it would be between the Saints and the Packers which would guarantee that a team I liked was in the Super Bowl no matter what. :)

Another thing I want to mention: the upcoming Seattle game is a trap game. That Seattle stadium is one of the loudest in all of sports and I think the Seahawks are going to surprise the Falcons bigtime. Also, Carolina is just now finding its groove on offense, which is awesome because they could possibly upset the Falcons as well. Mike Goodson and Jonathan Stewart totally rocked against the Browns' stout run defense this past weekend.

I think the winner of the Saints vs Atlanta game would be the one to go to the NFC championship if not mistaken. Wouldnt we play them in the divisional round the second week if it came to that?

If the #6 seed lost, and the 5 seed won (assuming thats us), Atlanat would face the #5 seed. We'd knock them out in the divisional round.

If the #6 seed also won, Atlanta would play them, not us.

You can bet Atlanta's hoping they don't face us in the playoffs.

man! what do the deleted messages say???? I cant stand it, I have to know!

If we win the rest of our games. Just beating Atlanta will not get us the NFC South Crown.
We will then be tied 1-1 with ATL.
Tied at 5-1 for Division Play.
It then goes to Common Games. ATL has us there.
Finally it goes to Conference Games.

Tie Breaking Procedure:
Two Clubs

1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
5. Strength of victory.
6. Strength of schedule.
7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
9. Best net points in common games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
12. Coin toss
NFL Tie-Breaking Procedures