nola_swammi

If we just lost 5 games we would be in the playoffs

WillSaints81

But the games the defense lost there's no guarantee we win all of them. Oakland yes, but the saints would not have had the hurry up offense going in the early fourth if the defense played better than they did. They just would not have played with that urgency. You can look at all the past games the defense and offense both played well and see what I am talking about.

The lions is still a close call in that case and Brees and the oline would have to have Detroit scared to rush him in the redzone. Atlanta's second game is still a close call as that onside kick would not have been kicked if the saints were not down two scores. In this case, the Atlanta offense without that first big play takes time off the clock, before kicking a fg or punting, and chances are we have only 10 at the half and not 13. Maybe we get a turnover and we have 17. Atlanta probably scores 20 at the half. The raiders did not even score 35 at the half, neither did SD. That's more to do with Atlanta's offense than our defense. So we could have been 9-7 and out.