New Weekly Thread: "Quad-W" (Who WhoDats Want Winning)

[Stealthman]

This thread will let the Black and Gold (WhoDat) Nation know which teams' wins/losses would be best for the Saints in their quest for the 2012 playoffs.

With that, let's take a look at Week 1:

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 05TH

Week 1, game 1: COWBOYS AT GIANTS
a. Why it is important: NFC Conference teams.
b. Desired outcome: Pull for the Cowboys. This is not a matter of whether you like the Cowboys or not. The Giants, as defending SB XLV champions, are the best team in the NFC until proven otherwise. As the season plays out, this may change. For now, go with this preliminary
assessment.
c. Confidence factor for good outcome: 3 out of 10; Cowboys on the road, and the Giants will be sky-high after they drop the Super Bowl banner. Game might be a blowout for the Giants, but root for the Cowboys anyway.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 09TH

Week 1, game 2: COLTS @ BEARS
a. Why it is important: Bears are a conference rival.
b. Desired outcome: Pull for the Colts (AFC team) to pull off a mild upset.
c. Confidence factor for good outcome: 3 out of 10; Rookie QB (Andrew Luck) will have his hands full trying to figure out the complex defense packages the Bears will throw at him. Matt Forte is healthy, and Bears will play smashmouth, ball control. Pull for the Colts anyway.

Week 1, game 3: FALCONS @ CHIEFS
a. Why it is important: Falcons are division rival
b. Desired outcome: Pull for the Chiefs. Falcons are not the best road team, and the Chiefs'
homefield is not friendly to visitors.
c. Confidence factor for good outcome: 5 of 10 (toss up). Falcons' running game will be challenged early in this game. If the Chiefs neutralize the run, Matt Ryan will have a long day at the office. However, if the Falcons have a decent time running the ball, play action
passes will be deadly, and Atlanta could win going away. Pull for the Chiefs.

Week 1, game 4: EAGLES @ BROWNS
a. Why it is important: Eagles are a conference rival.
b. Desired outcome: Pull for the Browns. Eagles have been on an emotional roller coaster, while the Browns are still in the rebuilding phase.
c. Confidence factor for good outcome: 4 of 10. Eagles will be very focused in this game, and the Browns don't appear to have enough weapons to stop Philly. Pull for the Browns anyway.

Week 1, game 5: REDSKINS @ SAINTS
a. Why it is important: Redskins are a conference rival.
b. Desired outcome: WhoDat, baby!
c. Confidence factor for good outcome: 8.5 of 10. Robert Griffin III is a dynamic QB, but the key to this game will be play calling by Mike Shannahan. That crafty head coach is game planning, and will likely have a likely put in a few wrinkles for the Saints. And don't forget that Jim Haslett is the D-Coordinator for the 'Skins. The key to the game will be ball control and turnovers. With all the talk of BountyGate, suspension of players, loss of Payton, Loomis & Vitt (for part or all of this season), the team is on a mission, and week-by-week will be reminded that the Mercedes Benz Superdome will host Super Bowl XLVII. "Dome, sweet dome" is true, and the Saints have not lost a regular season game since week 17 of last season. They have won three straight home playoff games. The Saints are 13-3 at home since SB XLIV.

Week 1, game 6: RAMS @ LIONS
a. Why it is important: Both teams are conference rivals.
b. Desired outcome: Pull for the Rams. Lions are definitely a playoff-caliber team; the Rams are still rebuilding.
c. Confidence factor for good outcome: 1.5 of 10. Megatron and Titus Young will each have 100+ yards receiving. The only drawback is that the Lions still don't have much of a threat at running back. Pull for the Rams anyway.

Week 1, game 7: PATRIOTS @ TITANS: N/A - AFC teams

Week 1, game 8: JAGUARS @ VIKINGS
a. Why it is important: Vikings are a conference rival.
b. Desired outcome: Pull for the Jaguars. Maurice Jones-Drew recently rejoined the team, and Blaine Gabbert has been a pleasant surprise for the Jags. Minnesota is still rebuilding, but is tough in the Metrodome.
c. Confidence factor for good outcome: 6 of 10. MJD will keep the Vikings defense honest enough to keep at least 7 in the box all game long. If Gabbert can cause them to cheat with 8 in the box, he has the weapons to go deep. I like the Jags' chances in this one. Pull for Jacksonville.

Week 1, game 9: BILLS @ JETS: N/A - AFC teams

Week 1, game 10: DOLPHINS @ TEXANS: N/A - AFC teams

Week 1, game 11: SEAHAWKS @ CARDINALS
a. Why it is important: Both teams are conference rivals.
b. Desired outcome: Pull for the Cardinals. Seattle has improved overall, and will pose a serious challenge to the 49'ers for the NFC West crown. That being the case, hope for the Cardinals to get a few turnovers to help their chances. Also, Seattle has not been a good team
on the road for quite some time now.
c. Confidence factor for a good outcome: 3.5 of 10. I would consider this a toss up, but Seattle is not a pushover (...they are a good team). Pull for the Cardinals anyway.

Week 1, game 12: 49ERS@ PACKERS
a. Why it is important: Both teams are conference rivals (and 2011 division champs).
b. Desired outcome: Pull for the 49'ers (...yes, I said it). The Packers are still the stronger of the two in the NFC. Not only that, but San Francisco will have to contend with teams in the NFC West who have ALL improved since last season. Go a step further, and you see that the 49'ers have to play a 1st place schedule. Early on, take your shots at the best team on paper.
c. Confidence factor for a good outcome: 4.5 of 10. Packers are on a mission, and Lambeau Field is not an easy place to visit. The game might not be close, with the Packers winning by 2+ TD's ...but that's only if they jump on the 49'ers early. Hold your nose and pull for the 'Niners.

Week 1, game 13: PANTHERS @ BUCCANEERS
a. Why it is important: Both teams are division rivals.
b. Desired outcome: Pull for the Buccaneers. Josh Freeman appears to have dedicated himself to improving in the offseason. However, O-ROY Cam Newton will have a lot to do with the final outcome of this one. The Bucs play tough at home, and will be difficult to beat if they get their running game going.
c. Confidence factor for a good outcome: 4 of 10. Panthers are improved, and their confidence is surging. Pull for the Bucs anyway.

Week 1, game 14: STEELERS @ BRONCOS: N/A - AFC teams

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH

Week 1, game 15: BENGALS @ RAVENS: N/A - AFC teams

Week 1, game 16: CHARGERS @ RAIDERS: N/A - AFC teams

[homerj07]

Pull for the Cowboys???? That is hard.

DONT ask me to pull for the Fal-CLOWNS EVER (please)

[Seer1]

All I gotsta do is pull for the Saints. (And the Browns. I love a good under dog and you don't get more under than them.) I root for the Saints to win their way to a championship. When they lose their way in, we end up with a Seahawks game sort of letdown.

[Danno]

Great stuff but I'd rather see the packers win. The 49ers play in a weak division, so they're eyeing the top seed in the playoffs.

The Packers have a slightly tougher schedule and are probably looking at a 10-6 11-5 season.

I'm pulling for the Packers.

[Stealthman]

The goal is to get the Saints in the best position to be in the #1 seed for the postseason.

No matter what you think of the other teams, that's the goal.

[The Dude]

AFC teams VS AFC teams do matter because the outcome could effect their playoff seed. You would want to pull for the teams we are better matched up with for a Super Bowl win. The Texans for example match up with us well, so I would rather pull for their opposing team so when they make it to the playoffs they will have a tougher road to get to the Super Bowl.

[Stealthman]

I understand your point, TD.

But for now, I'm only concerned with the best road for the Saints to get to SB XLVII. Once that happens, it really doesn't matter which team represents the AFC.

When we're in the home stretch (after week 10), very few will be concerned about seeding in the AFC. What will have made a difference is how the Saints stack up with their division & conference record.

[Utah_Saint]

Cheered for the 9ers once when they were playin the dirty birds, ended up with a headache and a little nauseous. I had to go lay down for a little while.

It's just not natural.

[The Dude]

Originally Posted by Stealthman

I understand your point, TD.

But for now, I'm only concerned with the best road for the Saints to get to SB XLVII. Once that happens, it really doesn't matter which team represents the AFC.

When we're in the home stretch (after week 10), very few will be concerned about seeding in the AFC. What will have made a difference is how the Saints stack up with their division & conference record.

Well obviously you want to be more concerned with teams in our own conference fist and formost, its the most important, but never stop thinking about the Super Bowl and increasing our odds any way we can. Plus it makes it worth watching games from the AFC that otherwise I wouldn't give a **** about.

[Stealthman]

I hope to hear from others on this fan page.

Would you guys like to see a posting like this week-by-week during the season? Or, does it "not matter?"

I assumed it would be worth reading, but I've been wrong before.

Thoughts?