WillSaints81

SFIAH

I am basing this on the fact that we have been stuck in a 3-3 division connundrum three of the last four years. I don't know how to really explain it but numbers are numbers. Going back to when SP and Brees first came here

4-2
3-3(swept Atlanta, split Carolina)
2-4(swept by Carolina)
4-2(swept Atlanta)
4-2(swept Carolina)
5-1(split TB)
3-3(swept TB, swept by Carolina)
5-1(split Carolina)
3-3(swept TB, swept by Atlanta)
3-3(swept Atlanta, swept by Carolina)

Further, Atlanta has a odd-only division pattern that has been 1-5, 5-1, 1-5 last three years. If that alone continues, they are 5-1(scary). Before that they were 3-3 two straight years.

Now Carolina's been on a steady order since Cam
2-4(swept TB and swept by NO/Atlanta)
3-3(swept us and swept by TB)
5-1(jumped over 4-2, split with us)
4-2(swept TB)
5-1(split Atlanta)
They are already 0-3 in division. They could be looking at any combination of 3-3, 2-4, or 1-5 since they are going in a forward order with those three being the floor.

TB(I can't count just Winston)
3-3(swept Carolina, swept by us, split Atlanta)
1-5(split with Atlanta)
0-6
3-3(swept Atlanta, swept by Carolina, split with us)

As of right now they have two division wins and likely will only get one more which would be one against us or against Carolina. They could end up not getting anymore as 2-4 is next in the order for them.

So you have this possibility
Atlanta 5-1
NO 3-3
Car 2-4/TB 3-3
TB 2-4/Car 1-5
under this scenario Atlanta going 5-1 puts us in the position of basically sweeping TB as Carolina will need to beat us and TB. Further if Carolina did not beat us, they would simply not even care against TB, resulting in 0-6 and that would put TB at 4-2 if we can't go 4-2 and that's not a likely outcome. Carolina would not care even if they beat us as losing to Atlanta still puts them out of the playoffs before TB. And then maybe Carolina is 1-5 and we end up sweeping TB.

Atlanta 3-3
NO 3-3
Car 3-3
TB 3-3

Everybody here is 3-3. Atlanta splits with all 3, we split with all 3, and so on. On the flip side, this pretty much ensures we don't sweep Carolina. And we cannot do anything other than splitting with all 3. It therefore forces everyone to split with everyone.

NO 5-1
Atl 3-3
Car 2-4/TB 3-3
TB 2-4/Car 1-5

Under this scenario we are 5-1 and pretty much run the division out. Atlanta loses their last two division games and Carolina and TB face the same connundrum as scenario A. The last game basically determing their division records.

Maybe I'll be wrong and it will probably be a good thing because if I didn't bring this up, it would no doubt happen.

Also we have gone 3-1 or 2-2 against the NFC divisions since SP and Brees arrived. Further, it would suck if we lost to LA because there is no conceivable way we lose that game if we had our heads on straight.