Re: What we learned from our loss on Thursday night
 

Three items.

1. Your prediction of a division loss has come true unfortunately. I guess it ended up being the right call.

2. That loss throws playoff positioning out the window. The organization should (and we should too) put it completely out of our minds because the only playoff position the Saints now controls is #4. And no matter how the rest of the games shake out this weekend, because of the loss the Saints will not be in a position for a bye.

At this point the team is in a 7 game playoff with a home game in the wildcard round. Anything else is gravy. I just hope that we've learned some new lessons from the road losses to two of the three playoff teams ahead of us in the standings. It's likely we may be in Minnesota for the divisional round of the playoffs.

3. Thanks for no more loss predicitions. We can get the best positioning by running the table for the last 3 games. We are still in control of the South. BTW everything in #2 is based on winning out.

SFIAH

Re: What we learned from our loss on Thursday night
 

Our D, absolutely plagued by injuries stepped up nicely against one of the better offenses we'll face all year. Especially with Lattimore coming off the field every other play.

The refs played a key role, but they didn't stop Payton from running the ball.

We had 3 straight 3 and outs in the second half, in 9 plays, Payton called 1 run to Ingram, 1 fly sweep to Ginn and 7 passes from Brees.

Brees' decision making is scary sometimes, he doesn't think the process through and panics in crunch time. He did the same vs Washington, threw a pick but luckily the refs brought it back for a hold.

In crunch time, if you are going to throw a dangerous pass, you don't throw it to Josh Hill, you throw it to Michael Thomas.
The decision was bad, the pass was worse, throw it outside and let the receiver turn, the pass gets caught or misses everyone and falls incomplete. Instead he threw it straight to Jones.

Offense has been stagnant a lot this season, failing on 3rd downs etc

Re: What we learned from our loss on Thursday night
 

Hopefully WillSaints81 reads this before posting another "what if" scenario.

Re: What we learned from our loss on Thursday night
 

I'm not accepting the criticism of Drew. There are individual plays where he makes bizarre decisions sometimes, but they are in-game otherwise educated decisions based on real time info our brains don't have. The man is human.

He is also one of the smartest QBs to ever play. I have no problem granting him a bonehead play ever now and again, even when that one play costs us a game.

He also doesn't have the quality of targets he once had, but he plays as if he does. This tells me his is expecting Hill to make that play.

Anyway, it was a dumb throw. It was a dumb call. We were playing a dumb team and the refs were dumb too. We were hurt and on the shortest turnaround scheduled, and that was dumb. Here's to a three game win streak to end the season!

Re: What we learned from our loss on Thursday night
 

I understand where you are coming from and don't get me wrong, I love what Brees has done for this team. But for roughly 25-29M a year, he needs to make better decisions.

Countless weeks the offense has been around 3-10 on third downs and Brees has missed multiple receivers, under throwing Ginn, over throwing Thomas.

Also, someone, somewhere, please abolish that stupid screen pass we always run on 3rd and 11 to the WR, it gains 4 yards at best every time.

Throw it past the sticks!!

Re: What we learned from our loss on Thursday night
 

There is a bright spot with regards to the injuries we sustained. Playing on Thursday gives us 17 days in which to recover, heal and plan for the next game against the Jets.

Re: What we learned from our loss on Thursday night
 

Make that 10 days.

Re: What we learned from our loss on Thursday night
 

Re: What we learned from our loss on Thursday night
 

I don't think we will end up a 4. LA and Philadelphia are playing each other this week. I don't need to post a what if scenario for that.

Re: What we learned from our loss on Thursday night
 

We learned that Thursday night football sucks

The NFL manipulate the schedule as we never get home games on Thursdays. Also 4 of the last 5 games being divisional

We learn the officials are trash

And that even with a depleted team we can still be in games.

Re: What we learned from our loss on Thursday night
 

Aside for one drive in the Redskins game, our TE play has been nothing short of dismal.

SP abandoning the run after Kamara's injury hurt us. Pass first is no longer who we are.

SP is in a heavy bromance with the Screen Pass.

Snead is showing glimmers of what was and Drew needs him as a viable weapon. Without strong TE play, we need our slot WR to gash the soft LB play we've been seeing.

I'm impressed with the depth of our roster stepping up and being competitive, in spite of the massive number of injuries on Thursday Nite.

Re: What we learned from our loss on Thursday night
 

I agree. The lack of a receiving threat and speedster hurts him. In the past he’s had the ability to make average receivers with minimal talent look great. He’s at the point now where he needs a playmaker who can stretch out and make those catches that may be off. He needs a receiver that makes him better. I think they thought Ginn and Snead could get it done but they aren’t quite there. A true number one receiver to go opposite of Thomas may be smart in the draft. We have more depth than I realized elsewhere. Fill in the offensive line, Lb, and DE in later rounds.
They obviously expected more out of Fleener. A TE would go a long way.

Re: What we learned from our loss on Thursday night
 

I don't know, Dude. Thomas is a true number one receiver, and Ginn has done MORE than I expected from him this season. I am surprised by the lack of looks Snead has gotten since he came back, but I think that's just a product of the running game being so strong. As far as TE, I totally agree! This year it has been our weakest position, and it's not even close.

Re: What we learned from our loss on Thursday night
 

We learned that the referees don't want a small-market team to win. Screw Roger Goodelle!

Re: What we learned from our loss on Thursday night
 

Ted Ginn has been okay....we need another Above average posession WR. MT, (Missing Piece), Coleman, let Snead and Ginn battle ot out. Drew has missed on some throws but there has been poor seperation by the Saints WR's as well. I would solely blame Brees if we had an Elite or above average WR corp but, thats not the case. If we had the Bucs or the Falcons WR corp I could totally understand the Drew blame because those are some talented groups there and they should be producing at a high level. When in actuality our WR outside of MT is mediocre at best. Feel like our WR corp is another reason Payton chose to go run heavy this year. I myself was furious with Drew over that throw but, It wasnt that bad of a throw honestly a forces throw as far as the choice goes. He tried to make a play can never be mad at that because he CAN and has made that throw before. Those other two defenders were non-factors he let the ball get to far inside. This O-line has been VERY shaky this year also. Saints get healthy tighten up whatever is loose and lets get on a good roll headed into the playoffs with 3-game winning streak. And continue that habit all way up until after the Superbowl.

Re: What we learned from our loss on Thursday night
 

Jarvis Landry could solve that. My LSU homer glasses are off ... he's a really good WR at the NFL level.

Re: What we learned from our loss on Thursday night
 

If y’all didn’t hear d.jones after game says we new the call was to te over middle of that don’t tell u Payton is predictable fu$k the rest

Re: What we learned from our loss on Thursday night
 

That doesnt make Payton predictable, just means the Falcons have one hell of Linebacker.