Re: Playoff contenders
 

Bucs? Uhh no! Is this a serious comment? Do you actually think they are significantly better than we are? Why?

Redskins, they are not significantly better than we are. Probably equal to us I'll admit but no, they are not significantly better than we are.

Packers? Maybe. Their offense and defense were just mediocre last year. I don't think they made any significant changes either. We improved quite a bit more on defense than they did. Might be your only valid point, but I wouldn't say they're much better than we are.

Vikings, they just lost their 2nd best player on offense for the year. Bradford is no Teddy Bridgewater. Shaun Hill will be taking snaps by week 8.

Just my opinion but I think your wrong on all 4 points.

Re: Playoff contenders
 

The packers.........they have the best QB in the NFL who can make crazy TD passes at the end, a WR who can burn CBs because of Cobb and Lacy and now Cook. Rodgers can see over his linemen unlike Brees and does not need great protection he just needs Nelson. Rodgers can do things with a bad line that Brees cannot.

And trust me if you don't want Carolina to win a SB you better be hoping for GB to win because they are the only team that can win in Carolina in January because they are not a west coast team. I sure would hope GB was that much better than us if we were not good because I believe Carolina has no chance in Lambeau in January. A inexperienced playoff team is not even beating Carolina at home sorry to say. There are only three teams and two of them are fighting each other in the division which takes away from their HFA potential because of the other two pesty rivals.

Re: Playoff contenders
 

I know you can't read this, but you put far too much confidence in Carolina. The fifteen wins last season were smoke and mirrors. They had every break imaginable go their way. They were exposed by a weak Atlanta squad at the end of the regular season and totally demoralized by a team with a shell of a player at QB. I can easily see them dropping two or three in a row early and that ***** Newton pouting through the rest of the season.

Re: Playoff contenders
 

Packers vs. Saints - Box Score - October 26, 2014 - ESPN
Saints 44
Packers 23

With the 2nd worst defense in the history of the NFL I might add.

I'm not sold they're significantly better than we are at all.

Re: Playoff contenders
 

He can now.

Re: Playoff contenders
 

Vikings have a very good defense that can carry them into the postseason... Packers have Aaron Rodgers need I say more... Redskins have Cousins who IMO is a franchise QB and redskins Defense is very good.... Bucs defense is very good and another year with Winston they will improve ... Not saying these teams are significantly better than we are ... But they are better... We are a 7-9 football team... Changes on defense we made yeah that's great but our Guards are trash we can't win football games when Brees is running for his life ...

Re: Playoff contenders
 

We WERE a 7-9 football team with back to back historically bad defenses. Our guards are no worse than they were last year when we finished 7-9. Our WR's are better with the addition of Thomas and another year of development of Cooks and Snead. Our RB's are solid and better with Ingram and Spiller both coming in healthy.

Re: Playoff contenders
 

True... But I'm coming off preseason... I saw improvement from the defense but still really young... Our guards are no worse but not any better what good is having heathy running backs when you can't make holes... What good is having a new WR when you barely have time to take 3 steps back and throw the ball... Brees needs time to step up in the pocket didn't have it last year... Won't have it this year... 7-9 football team ... Oline is everything and we failed to upgrade that...

I'm going to be cheering for this team to win every game like I always have... That will never change ... But the place we needed improvement oline didn't happen so I see another 7-9 aka mediocre season...

Re: Playoff contenders
 

Agree with you on the Rams

Re: Playoff contenders
 

record is 0-0. We are tied for the best record in the NFL

Re: Playoff contenders
 

Right now its all what is on paper.

Wait till we play some games. And stop drinking the cool aide already.

Re: Playoff contenders
 

[QUOTE=Danno;716326]I'm curious, I personally think we're as good as any team in the NFC not named Arizona, Carolina and Seattle.
Can anyone name 6 NFC teams that are obviously better than our Saints?[


Green Bay would be the only clear cut better team. Rams, Minn., Giants are on the same level if not a step ahead. Dallas, Dirty turds, Tampa and philly.....who the heck knows. All have the talent to win 10 games but the coaching of my 10 yr old sons tackle I team. Saints season will go as the o-line goes. Any decent play on the o-line that allows MI to run opens up the offense and allows Drew to throw for 5000+ again. I still see the Saints as a 4 to 6 win team. 2 great o-linemen can not make up for the other 3 trash.

Re: Playoff contenders
 

As long as the Debbie Downers stop drinking the Kill-Aide.:p

Re: Playoff contenders
 

So, what you are saying is that even with what is arguably a much improved defense and basically the same offensive line and an upgrade at WR with Thomas over a burnt out Colston, this team is one to three games worse than each of the past two years.

Impeccable logic. Pardon me if I don't buy into your vision.

Re: Playoff contenders
 

I don't care what you buy. Defense looks better on paper. Until they play a game that counts it does not matter. Our o-line might be the worst in the league.

Re: Playoff contenders
 

Using the same logic: Until they play a game that counts, it does not matter.

Re: Playoff contenders
 

Exactly how many plays have you seen all five starters on the offensive line play a meaningful snap this season? For all of your possible knowledge they may be among the ten BEST lines in the league. You cannot know. All that you can prove is that you are a sour pessimist.

:D

Re: Playoff contenders
 

That's where the disconnect comes into play. He used no logic.

Re: Playoff contenders
 

Same O-line as last year.

Re: Playoff contenders
 

Guess you failed to watch a game last year because its the exact o-line that got Drew killed.

Re: Playoff contenders
 

Drew was the 9th least to be sacked last year... He was sacked 32 times.

Using that logic; there are 23 worse O-Lines...

Re: Playoff contenders
 

Exactly. But you are saying the team with what should be a much improved defense, better starting WR corps, a healthy Ingram and Spiller with the same O-line should lose one to three more games than each of the last two years. That is exactly what you are saying. That makes no sense whatsoever.

Re: Playoff contenders
 

Don't waste facts on someone that refuses to take them into consideration. And, to be exact, Drew was sacked 31 times. McCown was sacked the other time for the 32 total.

Re: Playoff contenders
 

I have Sunday Ticket and not only did I see every snap of every Saints game I saw on average eight to nine other games, at least, with NFL play backs included and most teams gave up more sacks than the Saints. Facts are fact and you are ignoring them in favor of unfounded negativity.

Re: Playoff contenders
 

Hurries, lack of blocking for Rb's and they put Drew out with a arm injury. Drew avoided a TON of sacks most would have not. ould you imagine Big Ben with our o-line? With how long he holds the ball he would of been sacked 60 times.

Re: Playoff contenders
 

Well that depends; whose offense would he be running? Because I believe he drops back further than Drew does... I mean we can play the "what if" game all day.

Re: Playoff contenders
 

So you have faith in our o-line? You believe we have a top 10 o-line????? If so, you are the only one.

Re: Playoff contenders
 

I never said anything of the sort; but I'm not going to make assumptions off of last year. And I will hold judgement until I see them in actual action, where Payton is game-planning plays...

Re: Playoff contenders
 

Assumptions are part of everday life with some fullfilling. Like, I assume Drew will be once again a top 5 qb. I assume MI will be injuried at some point. I assume our defense will not be a top 10 defense. Now, are those set in stone? No, but they are damn close.....

Re: Playoff contenders
 

Too many questions about the SAINTS . . Offensive and defensive lines . . . real time action to see we are even better than the last few years (Im praying we are) but I cant worry about any other teams right now . ..

Re: Playoff contenders
 

I think we can all agree that we are thankful not to have Brandon Harris or Les Miles.....

Re: Playoff contenders
 

Yep, but thats the point. Its pure speculation and we all know everything is on paper right now.

But based on what knowledge we have right now (additions, subtractions, strengths, weaknesses) we can reasonably predict that we're at least as good or better than most NFC teams right now.

It would be ridiculous to predict we'll be 16-0, and its equally ridiculous to predict we'll be 0-16.

If people have issues with speculating, they probably shouldn't open a speculation thread.

Its not a prediction if you wait until after the games are played.