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Mycomplete and utter loathing of everything 40-whiner grows greatly everytime I think of that game!!

By the time it ended, their roles, which had been vital to the New Orleans Saints' winning ways, had been diminished. Pierre Thomas had been left dazed and confused. Chris Ivory was rendered ineffective. Darren Sproles was turned into a one-dimensional player. Mark Ingram never even got to put on his uniform.

And their foe on that Saturday January afternoon, the San Francisco 49ers, waltzed their way into the NFC championship game.

A Saints rushing attack that ranked sixth in the NFL and had a major impact on the team setting a league record for total yards last season was grounded in their 36-32 loss to the 49ers in an NFC divisional playoff game at Candlestick Park.


Part of their ineptitude was due to how the game transpired after the Saints fell behind 17-0. It also should be noted that the 49ers left few running lanes for the running backs.

The Saints certainly haven't forgotten.

"I know after that I was a little upset because I couldn't get back out there with my teammates," said Thomas, who was knocked out of the game on the first drive by a vicious hit from 49ers safety Donte Whitner. "I was very upset that we lost. I thought to myself it was my fault because I wasn't out there to do my job for the offensive side."

New Orleans Saints looking for running game and balance against San Francisco 49ers - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com

halloween 65

I think we can get 150 on them.

AlaskaSaints

124 yards +... We win.

The numbers sometimes lie, but never lie about THIS stat.

Thanks for sharing.

Alaska

niteadept

This one still burns me to the core. I'm looking for the Saints to light them up this time. Revenge is a dish best served cold....

QBREES9

Thomas, Ivory, Ingram, = Balance... Brees, Moore, Graham, Colston. and Henderson. You can't stop them.

joker-saint

Yeah but who do we bench to start all 4 running backs? Or do we start 3 and possibly sit one of our more productiove backs? Sproles looks like he will definitely be back, so who isn't going to get the start? I beleive we should keepall 4 in the game plan and switch it up to keep the defense guessing. But we will probably sit Ivory like a bunch of dummies and end up poopin away multiple shots at some long runs. Oh well such is the Saint life. I hope they win but I am definitely not getting my hopes up. For everybody who is going to be at the game MAKE SOME NOISE!!!!!! Good luck Niners fans.

pherein

Id sit Ingram, this is just not his type of game. The lanes will be thin, and SF LB core is to fast. A brick power back won't work against them, I think. Thomas cut into them last year because he has sight, Ingram is a better beast, and can fit in small holes, and sproles we need for a mismatch on the passing game.

halloween 65

I would go with Ivory, Ingram and PT. If it's not broke, don't mess with it. Sproles will be healed much better in time.

SmashMouth

And Ivory can knock the snot out of those LBers...

pherein

I like that to , but sproles creates a mismatch for their LB, and DS that Ingram doesn't. Might get someone open. Ingram in the flat will not get any of our WR a better chance.