New Orleans Saints Week 15 Pregame: Saints Visit the Vikings
 

The New Orleans Saints have just one last road game left on their 2011 regular season schedule and it is against the struggling 2-11 Minnesota Vikings at Mall of America Field in Minneapolis this Sunday afternoon. This year’s version of the Black and Gold, while undefeated at home under the friendly confines of the newly renamed Mercedes-Benz Superdome, and on a current 5-game winning streak, are only 4-3 on the road and hoping to continue their momentum in pursuit of the number 2 seed in the NFC.

Winning out from this point forward is the ultimate goal. With this final road trip contest immediately ahead of them, followed by two final home games against divisional foes in the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers, it would not only ensure at least one home playoff game to accompany the NFC South Divisional Championship title, but also give them the hope of securing that number 2 spot in the NFC seeding. That would offer the Saints the comfort of a first round (Wild Card) bye and the benefit of hosting a Divisional Round Playoff Game the following weekend.

New Orleans and San Francisco are currently tied in the race for the NFC‘s number 2 seed, but the 49ers have the tie-breaking edge because of an 8-2 conference record, while the Saints are a sub-par 6-3 in NFC games.

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Great Read, D!

Why is everyone in the media dogging on our play on the road???

Most times ANY team would take .500 on the road and 6 wins at home. It means you're a 10 win team and more than likely in the postseason dance.


We have a chance (and a good one) to finish 5-3 on the road.

Take a look at our "horrid" road record:

at GB (lost) - Lost due to a fumble and getting stuffed at the goal line at the end of the game vs the 13-0 Packers and defending champs. Yeah, that sure is something to be ashamed of...

at Jax (won) - beat a much better Jax team than Atlanta saw a couple of days ago, and beat them by 2 scores.

at Car (won) - beat a division rival that always gives us fits and at the time Cam and the boys there were playing well, albeit not winning many

at TB (lost) - too many turnovers against a division foe that was playing MUCH better at this point in their season.

at Rams (lost) - horrible, just plain horrible. I think this is the rotten egg the media likes to smell when talking about our chances away from home. Oh to have this one over...

at Falcons (won) - Beat a good Falcons team that will win a playoff game (against the NFC East champ)

at Titans (won) - Beat a playoff contender on crappy turf that was desperate for a win and loose with the coin with the refs.


Sorry, maybe it is my black & gold glasses, but that ain't bad in my book.

As long as we don't have to play any winless teams in the playoffs I think we'll be OK and have a shot at the whole enchilada...

I'm with you man. I actually gave our defense credit for winning crucial games for us in the end, which they did by stepping up and making stops when they counted the most, at ends of games. I still say they continue to get better and better, as will our running game, going into the playoffs so we can make that final push to beat the Packers and get back to the SB again! Watch!

Yep, the defense has stepped it up recently. Let's hope it becomes habit forming.

As much as we "worry" about the "D" sometimes they have come thorugh when it ocunts. I would just like a little more consistentcy

Don't know if we're ever really going to get a whole lot more consistency from our defense though. I think that is just the nature of the beast with a Gregg Williams defense, personally. He definitely takes a lot of gambles and puts his players in position to make plays, if they could just hold onto those sure interceptions that hit their hands! When oush comes to shove though, they are all in and stand up to make key stops when we need them the most. Isn't that what you want in the end anyway? A defense that makes stops at the ends of games and gives the ball back to Drew Brees to work his magic is about all you can ask for if you ask me.