Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

I am curious how you guys see yourselves stacking up. The offseason is so boring but I would love to hear how these teams fare against each other.
Is there another team that is a threat to the NFC?
Will the Niners, Seahawks or Saints take a step down?

Wanna know what the board thinks.

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

Can't comment on who will decline, other than to say that the Saints have only gotten better...

Lost no one of significance, except for Darren Sproles who has been replaced with the speedier Brandin Cooks...

It seems the Seahawks may have lost some pieces on defense? :confused:

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

The Saints should be greatly improved on the defensive side of the ball with several key additions, including Jarius Byrd and Champ Bailey, and the return of key players inujured prior to the past season (Patrick Robinson and Victor Butler). The entire defense should be improved as a whole with another year under Rob Ryan's system.

The Saints offense should also benefit from the addition of Brandin Cooks, the subtraction of center de la Puenta and the first full season of left tackle Terron Armstead. The exit of Darren Sproles and Lance Moore should be another case of addition by subtraction as both players had by far their worst season in the black and gold in 2013.

As for Seattle and SF, I see both squads taking a small step back with their personnel losses and the emergence of both Arizona and St. Louis as formidable opponents. The Saints will be facing a FAR easier schedule and has a better shot of getting that top NFC seed and that important home field advantage.

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

PEDhawks are still the team to beat in the NFC, but the pressure of playing as Super Bowl champion may be too much for them.

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

Talent levels on these 3 teams are so close there's no point in trying to figure that one out. Saints are more familiar with the 49ers and we play them well - beat them last year in a game that shouldn't have been as close as it was but we were sloppy and dumb.

Saints vs. Seahawks I would say is more of a psychological barrier since the Seahawks seem to have the Saints number a little bit, even going back to the Haslett years. Don't know exactly why that is.

It is kind of amazing how similar all 3 rosters are. Defenses with a lot of size and toughness with elite players on all 3 levels of the D. Offenses with depth and versatility and the ability to play the game with a lot of different styles.

But really the only thing that matters is who gets home field. In that equation, the Saints seem to be lucky on the schedule this year. All our tough games seem to be at home and a lot of teams that we match up well with on the road.

Realistically the rest of the NFC could just cancel their seasons and the Seahawks, Saints and 49ers just have a round-robin to see who gets to the SB.

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

I agree with Jack Vegas. All I would add is that I think the Seahawks are in the Niners heads as well.

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

I don't agree with that statement. I think the 9ers, while they are concerned with the Seahawks, are in no way afraid of them.

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

Our defensive line lost two starters, can't minimize that and our right tackle position is unsettled. The thing that scares me about the Saints is that I don't see too many unsettled positions. You may have one of the most dominant left tackles in all of football. What positions are still question marks on your team?

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

The addition of Goodwin (center) is a huge upgrade in my opinion. Armstead really impressed me during the Saints second trip to the Northwest. He dominated Clemons (our starting D end who was our best player, now in Jacksonville). Byrd and Bush will bring the lumber and Robinson (RB) could be a star. I personally think our two teams will play each other for the NFCCG. May come down to a couple plays.

Re: Saints VS Niners Seahawks
 

It's a good question and it requires a lot of thought about which teams gained and which ones lost.

But I'll say this, it's really cool having the Saints listed as one of the best teams in the NFC and nobody bats an eye.