Barry from MS

With a "firm" one game lead in the worst division in football, is anyone expecting a very motivated Saints team this Sunday? Can this team be counted on to take advantage of a gift-wrapped division after Carolina got pummeled by PHI last night? Well, let me point you in the direction of "hell no".

Point 1: Atlanta beats Carolina this week. Atlanta does take the lead in the division with a 4-0 division mark, but even if we lose against CIN, the Saints & the Clowns will both be 4-6. Motivation factor...moderate. Our backs are not against the wall yet. Good news is that this game is at the same time ours is.

Point 2: Carolina beats Atlanta. We own sole possession of division even if we lose. Motivation factor...fail. We don't have to do squat to keep the division with this game against CIN. Good news is that this game is at the same time ours is.

Point 3: See Points 1 & 2...it doesn't matter if we win or lose this game. We will still have the same record as the winner of the ATL @ CAR game if we lose. We might lose the division for a week considering ATL's division record, but we'll both have the same overall record. Motivation factor...fail.

Point 4: This is a "must-win" for the Bengals. They are in a tight, competitive division where every game matters. We are in a disgusting, sham of a division where each week each team tries to not-suck-as-bad-as-the-other-teams. Motivation factor...fail.

I would obviously love to see a big ol' "W" this Sunday...but I do have to wonder about the nature of this 2014 Saints team. They've allowed this kind of criticism to creep into our heads with their body of work through 10 weeks. See TB game (1-3 to 2-3) & the GB/CAR games (2-4 to 4-4) for further details concerning motivation.

"I'd far rather be happy than right any day" ~ Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy
"Honor: if you need it defined, you don't have it" ~ Ron Swanson