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

|Mitch|

Point 5: We destroy them and don't worry about any "what ifs"

Budsdrinker

One flaw is that no matter what your division record is, the best overall record is the leader. Division record is only a factor in case of same record at end of the season. Atlanta can go 6-0 in division and finish 7-9 and we can still win the division at 8-8 with 4-2 division record.
NFL Tie-Breaking Procedures

blackangold

Atlanta has very tough remaining games. The easiest game they play will be CAR...

Barry from MS

I completely understand this and how tie-breaking works.

My question is will this 2014 team be motivated against CIN to take advantage of this suck division? With our backs against the wall, we play better. Being 2-4, we were in danger of being in a HUGE hole until we monkey-stomped the Packers & the Panties back-to-back.

If ATL wins & we lose, ATL will actually be in 1st place even though we would both be 4-6 since ATL has a better NFC South record plus they beat us head-to-head (ugh...that was hard to type).

I like Mitch's response...screw the "what if's" and punch the Bengals in the mouth this week and take this division over thoroughly.

"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

K Major

Take care of your own castle and everything else will fall into place.

saintsfan1976

Motivated

Lord_Saint83

I agree with you K Major people praying for other teams to falter. I felt iif thats the teams motto too they shouldn't make it on that reasoning but by playing their best.

hagan714

spank your bungle till it bleeds.

win always win

dizzle88

All this talk about a 7-9 record could win the south, the falcons are only one game behind us

They could easily move into 1st place the way we are playing.