The more you know, playoffs? PLAYOFFS!!?? edition
 

Well we are 8 games in. It is the start of playoff analysis season. According to:

New Orleans Saints What If?

The Saints at this moment actually control their destiny in the NFC South division.

I know that it's ridiculous to think the Saints will finish the season 8-0. But it does give a structural understanding of the race down the stretch.

First and foremost the 4 division games down the stretch are crucial. Win all of them and the Saints pull even in the loss column with Atlanta and pull ahead in the division. After that it's just a matter of staying even in the loss column. A winning November and finishing strong in the division may be all that it takes to get over the hump.

SFIAH

Re: The more you know, playoffs? PLAYOFFS!!?? edition
 

Dude we beat Seattle. Our D is getting better. Our O is REALLY rolling. Ingram, Hightower, Thomas, Cooks, Snead and Fleener in my opinion collectively give Brees the best skill position cast he's ever had. Bring on the Broncos! 8-0 is not too crazy. Yes I see the world through Black and Gold goggles, but if you don't.......WHO DAT!

Re: The more you know, playoffs? PLAYOFFS!!?? edition
 

I think the only locked loss is Arizona. But winning everything else will give us division. If we don't win out in division, we need a lot to go our way, hoping three of Arizona, Minnesota, NYG, and Washington having 7 or more losses and if Minnesota is not part of that, then we need NYG to have 8 losses. And Carolina needs no explanations. They can't go 9-7, they can't beat KC unless we sweep them.

Re: The more you know, playoffs? PLAYOFFS!!?? edition
 

Just stop

Re: The more you know, playoffs? PLAYOFFS!!?? edition
 

Re: The more you know, playoffs? PLAYOFFS!!?? edition
 

Way to early.

Re: The more you know, playoffs? PLAYOFFS!!?? edition
 

9 days from now we could be tied for first
lot of mediocrity ahead

Re: The more you know, playoffs? PLAYOFFS!!?? edition
 

injuries must stop

Re: The more you know, playoffs? PLAYOFFS!!?? edition
 

After the Saints started 0-3 I thought the Saints were done. I still think they are more done than not (meaning, I think the chances of them not making the playoffs are greater than them making the playoffs), but looking around the NFC, I can't say that the Saints can't make it to the playoffs, and once you get there, who knows what happens.

The Broncos come in at 6-3, but seems a shaky 6-3. Their offense is not good. Their defense, seems their passing defense is what's holding them up, because everyone is running on them, and their losses have come when facing good offenses.... so I think the Saints should win this one.

Then, of course, 4 days later, the Saints have to go to Carolina for a Thursday night game... the odds say the Saints lose that one. And at 5-5, it'd probably be much, much tougher... however, it's hard to think all other teams within 5-3 and 3-5 will keep on winning all games.

Right now, all things equal (meaning, should all teams stay within their win-loss trend), I think the Panthers game and the Lions game are the key games left.