Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...

By Gene Guillot, The Times-Picayune
on December 13, 2015 at 7:01 PM, updated December 13, 2015 at 7:44 PM
The New Orleans Saints played their most complete game of the season in Tampa, Fla., on Sunday, ending their four-game losing streak with a 24-17 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With three games remaining in the regular season, the big question is: Does this team still have a shot at making the postseason?

There's still a chance.

For the Saints to make the playoffs:
The Saints must beat Lions (4-9) in a nationally-televised "Monday Night Football" game Dec. 21 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, the visiting Jaguars (5-8) on Dec. 27 and NFC South rival Falcons (6-7) on the road (Jan. 3).

The Vikings (8-5) must lose to the Bears (5-8), Giants (5-7) and Packers (9-4).

The Bucs (6-7) play the Rams (4-9), Bears (5-8) and Panthers (13-0). If they beat the Panthers, they must lose the other two. If they lose to the Panthers, they only have to lose one of the others. If they lose to the Rams and Bears, the Panthers game doesn't matter.

The Rams must lose once. They play the Bucs, Seahawks (8-5) and 49ers (4-9).

Then there's the NFC East, involving the Giants, Eagles (6-7) and Redskins (6-7). If two of those teams end up 9-7, the Saints are out. If the second-place team is 7-9, the Saints are in. If the second place team is 8-8, and so are the Saints, the Saints win a tiebreaker with the Giants but lose the tiebreaker to the Eagles and Redskins.

Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ... | NOLA.com

actually pretty straight forward. You must win and the rest is in the hands of the football gods.

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

The Rams are 5-8, not 4-9. They wouldn't need to lose if they were 4-9... Sorry, I'm a nazi about writers not proof reading their crap before sending it out.

As for our chances. We'll worry about that if it still matters in week 17. I don't expect it will.

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

I'd give anything for another shot at the Panthers.

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

The Saints could very well run the table rest of the way, but I don't see the Vikings dropping all three (Bears, Giants, Packers), and probably only one. Bucs'll go two-outta'-three, the Rams will lose at least once and roll the dice on the NFC East, :lol:.

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

Yeah it's not as convoluted of a scenario as would typically be expected for a 5-8 team talking about making the wildcard. Most of the things that need to happen around the Saints are more than possible, and even likely to happen. But the Vikings needing to lose all three is where it goes back to normal. Not much chance of that happening, even though they're struggling a little. They haven't tanked like Atlanta. And I've learned my lesson about thinking the Saints have turned a corner after a win.

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

The one thing it does, it keeps it interesting.

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

I suspect that the Vikings or Lions will put a lid on this nonsense this week.

This scenario would take a miracle.

IF we make the playoffs, expect us to win the Super Bowl 49-0 while Kate Upton and I cheer the Saints on from my living room...

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

The Law of total probability.

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

Too many if's for my taste.

We could have won several games had we not loss to the rookie QB in the dome.

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

I think no. Minnesota could lose the next two but I am actually thinking they upset Green Bay because Seattle looks to be in. If Seattle goes 10-6 it's not possible to miss out. Only three teams have made the playoffs from the last year and Carolina and Arizona are already in. Green Bay and Seattle are battling for the last coveted position. GB could very well lose the last three games and TB has the conference tie-break if they win out.

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

lets hope we turned the corner with this young team, a lot to be happy about if it happens this year but more likely next year. we could be the new panthers next year,. now lets talk about this nonsense of the playoffs

playoffs, PLAYOFFS,

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

I was waiting for someone to post this!

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

These odds are better than Browner getting less than 5 penalties a game.

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

Why? Its been posted 700 million times already.

Yeah, I actually counted all of them. I rounded down.

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

Time to get on roll.

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

Sorry, but if Kate Upton is in my living room, I ain't watching football. THAT'S what the DVR is for. :hump:

:mrgreen:

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

Is that you, Justin Verlander? :lol:.

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

The football gods need to intervene big time

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

I would say maybe except for the Minn losing all three, that is just not happening.

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

It's almost impossible to believe that we're even mathematically alive. Just shows what crap the league has been. But I still think the biggest obstacles for the Saints are the Vikings and themselves. Who actually knows if the Saints will win another game, let alone all three. They are capable of going in either direction.

The rest of the help they need is not that far fetched at all, as I said somewhere in this thread. It's a lot of bad teams that need to lose 1 or 2 games out of 3. We control tie breakers over the Giants and Falcons if we win out. So I kind of expect all of that to work itself out.

It's asking a lot for the Vikings to lose out when they've already been on a losing streak. The odds would seem to suggest that they are due, unless they just implode like Atlanta. If they somehow lose to Chicago this week, then they have two games after that they could very well lose, on paper. But I don't think that will happen. They will win at least one game.

The real issue is which Saints team will show up. It's hard to say that they deserve a shot at the playoffs. I'm not sure if making it wouldn't do more harm than good.

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

this team with the injuries in certain areas this season doomed us from the playoffs, we did not have backups that can really play in this league, ellurbe for instants he is for real ; if he and others would have stayed healthy we would be in the playoffs already still probably trailing Carolina but at least splitting games with them.jmo

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

So if the Saints do go on a run and say end up 8 - 8. How long before the crying about "winning games at the end that hurt our position in the draft?"

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

Its fine, it actually helps identify who knows NFL Football and who doesn't have a freaking clue. :p

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

I have to admit that I thought that after the Bucs win.

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

The teams that are in the top of the pecking order in the draft stay in that position for a while. We certainly did. For one, who is going to want to play for a team with a poor record year after year. Good luck signing any FA's that matter. And who is going to want to coach that team. Payton turned down the Raiders job. Since then the Raiders have been in perpetual suckage despite all their high picks. Have to win the game, even if not in the hunt or else nobody wants to get involved.

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

We could play Carolina a third time and correct our early offensive mistakes? After that point we would be the "hot at the right time" team and could use that to play hard in Seattle or Arizona.

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

If the Saints somehow went all the way, it would obviously be worth it. But looking at it realistically, we don't have the roster to go anywhere in the playoffs. We were already inconsistent, at best, and now so many guys are hurt... It makes the playoffs a bit of fools gold. That won't stop me from hoping that they win 'em all.

I'm just looking at it from a different perspective. We know this team has some talent, and just needs to fix some holes and stay healthy next year, and they could be markedly better. So with that in mind, if we're not going anywhere in the playoffs, maybe it does no good to get there. I don't want them to quit. Tanking is what sends a bad message.

It's highly, HIGHLY unlikely that we get in, anyway. I would be cool if it happened. I'm just torn about what good it does, when 8-8 isn't exactly a sign of improvement.

Re: Saints in playoffs? So you're saying there's a chance ...
 

Winning does hurt draft position, technically. You don't look at it that way, if you're actually a good team. We're not really a good team, right now, but we're a few players and some health away from being good again. That's the only reason to worry about draft position. It matters more for us because we don't have the money to spend on free agents.

Unless, of course, Mickey Loomis does what he always does and signs a guy to a back loaded deal that will kill us down the road and put us in the position we're in today... Again.