Should I be pissed off or laugh hysterically??
 

This weekend in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs the New Orleans Saints will square off against the San Francisco 49ers, and all anyone can talk about is New Orleans' offense versus San Francisco’s defense. However, people need to remember that New Orleans will have to play defense, and San Francisco will have to play offense. This article examines who has the advantage in the match-up of New Orleans' defense versus San Francisco’s offense.


New Orleans Defense
New Orleans finished the regular season ranked 30th in pass defense, allowing an average of 259.8 yards. They gave up 24 passing touchdowns, and allowed at least one passing touchdown in all but one game during the regular season. Additionally, New Orleans was one of three teams that finished the season with nine interceptions, only two teams had fewer.

In New Orleans’ Wild Card win over the Detroit Lions, New Orleans allowed Matt Stafford to throw for 380 yards and three touchdowns.
New Orleans’ rushing defense fared better, finishing the season ranked 12th. However, the team did allow 11 rushing touchdowns, and 14 plays of 20+ yards on the season.

New Orleans tries to win games by scoring many points, and usually they succeed. However, in their three losses this season, opposing defenses did enough to hold off New Orleans’ offense, and the defense was not able to get the job done, giving up 99 points.

San Francisco Offense
San Francisco finished 29th this season in passing, averaging only 183.1 yards per game. Despite that statistic, Alex Smith had one of the best seasons of his career, throwing for a career high 3,144 yards, and a career high 61.3 completion percentage. Additionally, Smith passed for 17 touchdowns while throwing only five interceptions.

San Francisco finished eighth in rushing offense, averaging 127.8 yards per game. Running back Frank Gore rushed for 1,211 yards and eight touchdowns, and the team as a whole rushed for 2,044 yards and fourteen scores. Additionally, Gore rushed for 100 yards or more in five games this season, while the team as a whole scored at least one rushing touchdown in 12 games this season.

San Francisco’s defense helps the team remain in games, but the offense is able to hold their own and get the job done.

Advantage

In the end, it is hard to give the advantage to either side, because statistics can sometimes be misleading. While New Orleans’ pass defense did poorly in the regular season, in the Wild Card tilt, they eventually were able to hold off Stafford and the Lions, while recording two interceptions.

Similarly, Smith threw for at least 150 yards in a game 13 times during the regular season, while also throwing at least one touchdown in 11 different games. Additionally, fans can give the praise to the defense or the offense, either way though, San Francisco went 13-3 on the season.

**Smith should be able to match Brees in number of yards and touchdowns**, therefore, this game will most likely be decided by the defenses. All indications is that San Francisco holds the defensive edge, and it could be that edge that gives the 49ers the win.


New Orleans at San Francisco:The Other Story

How about
C ) don't care.

Did you see how wrote that?

Who this guy? http://c.fn.fncdn.com/images/userpho...713/9OQ7uR.jpg

He looks pretty cool. I'm sure the ladies dig him...

In which space-time continuum does this happen?
The one, with which I am most familiar, this HAS NEVER happened.

But, I agree this game could be determined by defenses. Their pass defense could surrender a boat load of points to our pass offense.

1. Alex Smiths best season of his career is irrelevant. Tebow had the best season of his career and is still one of the worst QB in the league.

2. Gore is an issue that needs to be dealt with.

3. OMG! Did he actually say this?
**Smith should be able to match Brees in number of yards and touchdowns**, therefore, this game will most likely be decided by the defenses. All indications is that San Francisco holds the defensive edge, and it could be that edge that gives the 49ers the win.

Sunlight will cure those facial sores.

Alaska

In the red zone, we have to score TD's. If we do, they can't keep up

oh really?

MNF 2010 Saints vs 49ers

----- C/ATT YDS AVG TD INT Rating
Brees: 28/38 254 6.7 2 0 108.9

Smith: 23/32 275 8.6 1 2 82.2

One of the great things about the internet is that anyone can publish his thoughts for all the world to see.

One of the worst things about the internet is that anyone can publish his thoughts for all the world to see.

And yet the 49ers still lost.

This zipperhead failed to even mention our red-zone defense.

Thats because it would negate what he is trying to sell.

Yeah, and 1 TD and 2 INTs, to 2 TDs, in a game decided by 3 points, is not exactly what I'd call "matching" in touchdowns. I'd be inclined to say Brees scored double the number he did, not "match."

Well, it is the granola valley, the land of fruits, nuts and flakes. What do you expect from a group who elects the like of Nancy P?

I DONT CARE DOnt care.

Drew can throw for minus 2 yards & Smith can throw for 900.

As long as we....

JUST WIN BABY!!

Throwing exact figures aside, it seems that the Saints are decent at stopping the run, not good at stopping the pass. Good news. What the Saints can't defend against, the Niners can't do anyway

On the other side of the coin, the strength of the Saints offense is the pass, also the area of the Niners defense that is not particularly strong.

Another reason why I'm feeling good about our chances.

I wouldn't call this matching Drew Brees. Your quarterback was intercepted twice. If that happens in this game, you will again, be toast.

Dam, we do not need to resort to political attacks to make our point. Our completely awesome team and their accomplishments are all we need.

And, politics is distractingly off-topic. :-)

Soooo, this must be the source Warren Sapp, Collingsworth & Boomer are using to pick SFran????? LoL.


go Saints.

On Inside the NFL its Phil Simms not Boomer...just saying...
Besides their picks were TERRIBLE this year!


WHO DAT is guna TWO DAT!!

Tell it like you see it.......no matter what your perspective is.:jkool:

Homer, so tell us what you want to happen tomorrow?

I'm not sure we quite got it.

What was that again?

Isn't this guy on The Big Bang Theory? lmao

[QUOTE=WhoDat!656;368088]**Smith should be able to match Brees in number of yards and touchdowns**, therefore, this game will most likely be decided by the defenses. All indications is that San Francisco holds the defensive edge, and it could be that edge that gives the 49ers the win. [/l=QUOTE]

Logic FAIL! The only way Smith could possibly match Brees in yards and touchdowns is if the SF defense plays absolutely lights out, beyond what's expected. So you can't then factor in the defensive edge as the deciding factor, you've already used it and more.

Actually, the only way SF can possibly beat NO - and I take it as a given that Brees WILL get more TDs and yards than Smoith - is by turnovers. They need to hope they can collect interceptions and fumbles. No other way to win, IMO.

I'm a Packer fan, and I will be shouting for NO to lose tonight. Sorry. But it's nothing personal, it's just that I would far rather play SF next week than NO (IF-IF-IF we beat New York, touch wood, cross fingers), so please take it as a compliment!

Should be able to match Brees? Wtf?