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This Week in the NFL: For draft positioning, Saints fans need to root for the Ravens, 49ers and Cowboys (yes, really) this week

Hope is dead.

The New Orleans Saints have nothing tangible to play for, and the only way for their fans to win the next two weeks is for the team to lose.

Welcome to the bottom of the NFL.

Heading into this week’s games, New Orleans was in possession of the ninth pick of the draft. And the odds of getting below Tennessee (3-11) or Cleveland (3-11) at the top of the order are extremely thin.

So the best thing for this team to do is look at the other teams in the draft order and cheer heavily for their success. Each win only improves New Orleans’ chances of getting into the top five.

Lock in on Baltimore (4-10) and cheer heavily for the Ravens to defend their home turf against Pittsburgh, which is a heavy favorite at 10 points. Don’t let that get you down. Cheer against all odds.

San Francisco (4-10) also needs to win on the road against Detroit, which looked much better than its 5-9 record last week against the Saints. The Lions are favored by nine.

And, yes, you need Dallas (4-10) to beat Buffalo on the road. That might feel most unnatural of all, but remember this is about the future. And sometimes unnatural things have to happen today for a better tomorrow.

For all of this to matter, the Saints need to keep losing. If they don’t, the New Orleans could end up outside of the top 10 and be out of range for some of the top players in the draft.

For instance, a win and a Lions loss would immediately drop the Saints a spot. Things are tight at the bottom. Each game carries big implications.

It’s been a while since this was true, but losing is back in New Orleans.

And for now, it’s in style.
Nick Underhill
NICK’S PICKS: Underhill’s top five teams (this week)
1. Panthers (14-0)

This Week in the NFL: For draft positioning, Saints fans need to root for the Ravens, 49ers and Cowboys (yes, really) this week | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Hope is dead? Why not scream tank the remained of the season instead?

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins