Re: Monday forecast in Seattle...
 

It could, but I doubt it.

The Seattle fans are pretty rabid and they're out to prove that they make a difference in the outcome of the game... especially in front of a national audience. I know that I'll be screaming my head off.

On subject, the latest forecast for Monday night from weather.com is a few showers (30% chance of precip.) and high 30s at kick-off time. Likely mid-30s by the end of the game.

I don't see the weather being a significant issue that will help decide the outcome of the game except for one aspect.

The cold temps will most likely take the air out of the ball in the kicking game, which opens up kick-off return possibilities for Percy Harvin, who WILL be Seattle's kick-off returner this game and for the foreseeable future.

Don't know if any of you saw a replay of Percy's return for 58 yards in last week's game against the Vikings. It set up a last-second TD pass from Wilson to Baldwin to close out the 1st half.

Percy is so explosive in all facets of his game.

I wonder how Rob Ryan will try to defense him... as he moves from the slot... to outside... and then to the backfield.

Effectively, this game will be Percy's first full game back. He saw only limited snaps last week.

Re: Monday forecast in Seattle...
 

You can give the edge to the Saints in the kicking game.

Seattle has kicked-off 68 times with 37 resulting in touch backs.
The Saints have kicked-off 64 times with 42 resulting in touch backs.

And perhaps you saw Travaris Cadet's 82 yard return against the 49er's which set up a Jed Collins TD with less than two minutes remaining in the half.

;)

Re: Monday forecast in Seattle...
 

The Saints will deal with Harvin the same way they dealt with Amendola -- Seahawks fans had better hope Percy is up to the challenge of a physical game, against something other than a two-win team.

http://sinfl.files.wordpress.com/201...pg?w=610&h=431

Saints fans remember Harvin from the Vikings/Saints NFC Championship game -- his 4th quarter fumble on his own 20 is a memory that many Saints fans cherish.

Re: Monday forecast in Seattle...
 

Percy always has a hammy or migraines or something. He seems to be made of porcelain. It's not the first time the Saints have faced him.

Re: Monday forecast in Seattle...
 

How many of those Saints 64 kickoffs and 42 touchbacks were in domes with no wind and 70-degree temps?

Really... I'm curious between outdoor and indoors... can you break it down?

Re: Monday forecast in Seattle...
 

Nope.

:D

Re: Monday forecast in Seattle...
 

Fwiw, Harvin's migraines are a thing of the past. His pulmonologist while still with the Vikings traced them to his having sleep apnea. He's been on a CPAP machine ever since and no more migraines.

Re him always having a hammy... no, not really. He had hip surgery back on August 1st for a small tear in his labrum. He's 100% healthy.

Made of porcelain?... we'll see.

Re: Monday forecast in Seattle...
 

Well, historically he's never played an entire season. I guess this year is no different as he's "finally" healthy, right?
Percy Harvin, WR for the Seattle Seahawks at NFL.com
And it appears he fumbles at least once a year.
Hope springs eternal?

Re: Monday forecast in Seattle...
 

Alright... we've established that you're either lazy or busy doing something more important... but what could be more important than this? :D

Here's the skinny:

The Saints have played only 4 games outdoors this year... @Jets, NE, Chicago and TB.

In those, the Saints kicked off 23 times and there were 10 returns by the opponents, leaving 13 touchbacks for Hartley. I extracted the data by looking at the box scores for each of those 4 games.

Subtracting those from the totals you cited (42/64), that leaves Hartley's INDOORS touchback % at 78%... and not too surprising, a touchback % of only 56.5% outdoors.

Wind and temperature do matter.

Re: Monday forecast in Seattle...
 

But what direction was the wind blowing on each of those kicks? Who was the return man? What return yardage was given up? How deep was the returner in the endzone when he caught it? How many were squib kicks?