Beware the Home Dog

xan · 01-11-2012, 07:53 AM

Not that it's old, but I am obligated as the designated pessimist to point out that our record against home dogs, especially in the playoffs, is not great.

Our tendency is to play with insufficient urgency, precision or concentration. Games against inferior opponents rightly cited in other threads are far too close, with outcomes in doubt until the end (except for the StL game).

While past performance is not necessarily a predictor of future performance, it is no small matter to alter ingrained patterns of behavior. Radical shifts are rare.

This is going to be a knock-down, drag out, Pyrrhic victory, if we can get it.

I hope the players enter the game resigned to that and are prepared and willing to endure.

Danno · 01-11-2012, 08:00 AM

Under Payton/Brees, our record as a road favorite in the playoffs is 0-1, with injuries up and down the line-up. Not a lot to convince me we're especially bad as a road favorite.

I do agree SF is a great team, but this isn't like the Seattle game where we were significantly better across the board and hamperered by excessive injuries.

AlaskaSaints · 01-11-2012, 08:46 AM

Don't forget:

We are higher in the POWER RANKINGS this year!!!!!! LOL

I just think we have way too much momentum and after last week I am thrilled that we did not get the bye.

Alaska

homerj07 · 01-11-2012, 09:01 PM

Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it...

Well hopefully - we learned from history!!

arsaint · 01-11-2012, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by xan

Our tendency is to play with insufficient urgency, precision or concentration. Games against inferior opponents rightly cited in other threads are far too close, with outcomes in doubt until the end (except for the StL game).

That's what makes me feel good about this game - the 49ers are FAR from an interior team.
If we were playing the 0-8 Rams or some other mid-level to crappy team I would be worried.

And bank on hearing from the media that the Saints are 0-4 on the road in the playoffs. Consider this when you hear that stat:

2010 - We had no running game left and did not take a 7-9 Seattle team that we had already beaten seriously.

2006 - We lost in the cold weather after numerous turnovers. 1) San Fran will not be experiencing snow and 2) I would like to think that the team and coaches have matured since that season

2000 - Running game injuries, Joe Horn out, and no answer for Randy Moss.

1990 - BARELY made the playoffs to start with (thanks Dallas) and then had no offense with Walsh/Fourcade at QB.

B_Dub_Saint · 01-11-2012, 11:11 PM

We are running on all cylinders and Im riding on pure FAITH! WHO DAT!
We will win!

WHO_DAT_CAT · 01-12-2012, 03:58 AM

What makes you think SF is an inferior team? I doubt anyone in the Saints entire Saints organization holds that opinion.

While a "tendency" to lose to "inferior" teams, could be a supportable conclusion about the Saints, I think the phenomenon is simply and aptly explained by the any given Sunday rule. We certainly are not a bad team this year.

About the Rams game, we had several parts of our offense and defense that were not working. Noteably, our o-line melted like butter. And, the Rams played well that day.

I don't know about a "Pyrrhic" victory though. Pyrrhic victories assume destruction of the victor. And, while someone could get hurt, injuries are a risk in any game.

But, if you are worried that the Saints aren't taking the 49ers seriously enough -- I'd recommend not losing sleep over it.

01-11-2012, 07:53 AM	#1
xan Professor Crab and Site Donor 2014 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Princeton Posts: 3,368 Blog Entries: 34	Beware the Home Dog Not that it's old, but I am obligated as the designated pessimist to point out that our record against home dogs, especially in the playoffs, is not great. Our tendency is to play with insufficient urgency, precision or concentration. Games against inferior opponents rightly cited in other threads are far too close, with outcomes in doubt until the end (except for the StL game). While past performance is not necessarily a predictor of future performance, it is no small matter to alter ingrained patterns of behavior. Radical shifts are rare. This is going to be a knock-down, drag out, Pyrrhic victory, if we can get it. I hope the players enter the game resigned to that and are prepared and willing to endure. 73Saint and dam1953 like this.
	Calvin: "I wish I was a Tiger." Hobbes: "Common lament."

01-11-2012, 08:00 AM	#2
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,713	Under Payton/Brees, our record as a road favorite in the playoffs is 0-1, with injuries up and down the line-up. Not a lot to convince me we're especially bad as a road favorite. I do agree SF is a great team, but this isn't like the Seattle game where we were significantly better across the board and hamperered by excessive injuries. dam1953 likes this.

01-11-2012, 08:46 AM	#3
AlaskaSaints 1000 Posts + Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 2,484 Blog Entries: 2	Don't forget: We are higher in the POWER RANKINGS this year!!!!!! LOL I just think we have way too much momentum and after last week I am thrilled that we did not get the bye. Alaska 73Saint likes this.

01-11-2012, 09:36 PM	#5
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: 2,698	Originally Posted by xan Our tendency is to play with insufficient urgency, precision or concentration. Games against inferior opponents rightly cited in other threads are far too close, with outcomes in doubt until the end (except for the StL game). That's what makes me feel good about this game - the 49ers are FAR from an interior team. If we were playing the 0-8 Rams or some other mid-level to crappy team I would be worried. And bank on hearing from the media that the Saints are 0-4 on the road in the playoffs. Consider this when you hear that stat: 2010 - We had no running game left and did not take a 7-9 Seattle team that we had already beaten seriously. 2006 - We lost in the cold weather after numerous turnovers. 1) San Fran will not be experiencing snow and 2) I would like to think that the team and coaches have matured since that season 2000 - Running game injuries, Joe Horn out, and no answer for Randy Moss. 1990 - BARELY made the playoffs to start with (thanks Dallas) and then had no offense with Walsh/Fourcade at QB.

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01-11-2012, 09:01 PM	#4
homerj07 In Doh We Trust Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 7,027 Blog Entries: 16	Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it... Well hopefully - we learned from history!!

01-11-2012, 11:11 PM	#6
B_Dub_Saint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lafayette, LA Posts: 2,345 Blog Entries: 1	We are running on all cylinders and Im riding on pure FAITH! WHO DAT! We will win!

01-12-2012, 03:58 AM	#7
WHO_DAT_CAT 100th Post Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: California - Bay Area Posts: 386	What makes you think SF is an inferior team? I doubt anyone in the Saints entire Saints organization holds that opinion. While a "tendency" to lose to "inferior" teams, could be a supportable conclusion about the Saints, I think the phenomenon is simply and aptly explained by the any given Sunday rule. We certainly are not a bad team this year. About the Rams game, we had several parts of our offense and defense that were not working. Noteably, our o-line melted like butter. And, the Rams played well that day. I don't know about a "Pyrrhic" victory though. Pyrrhic victories assume destruction of the victor. And, while someone could get hurt, injuries are a risk in any game. But, if you are worried that the Saints aren't taking the 49ers seriously enough -- I'd recommend not losing sleep over it.