Saints in prime position in NFC playoff race -- if they beat the Bucs
 

Of all the gaudy statistics that have been produced by the New Orleans Saints in the Sean Payton-Drew Brees era, none is more relevant right now than their postseason track record.

The disparity between the Saints' home and road playoff results tells you everything you need to know about their mindset as they approach the final quarter of the 2018 season.

The Saints are 5-0 in home playoff games since 2006.

They are 1-5 in road playoff games.

https://i.nola.com/resizer/C7-pzMq72...HCAQE2SMIQ.jpg

Home-field advantage is important to every team in the NFL playoffs, but it means more in New Orleans, where the Saints have been unbeatable in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome under Payton and Brees.

And the good news is the Saints are in great position to secure one of the NFC’s all-important playoff byes as they enter the home stretch.

The Saints essentially control their own destiny. If they run the table in their final four, then they can do no worse than the No. 2 seed, which would ensure them of a first-round bye and at least one home playoff game.

Even if they win out, though, the Saints would need the Rams to lose once in order to secure the No. 1 seed and overall home-field advantage. And the Rams' best chance to lose appears to be this weekend, when they visit Chicago.

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Re: Saints in prime position in NFC playoff race -- if they beat the Bucs
 

Go Bears.

Re: Saints in prime position in NFC playoff race -- if they beat the Bucs
 

Saints need to take care of their business on Sunday vs the Bucs.

Re: Saints in prime position in NFC playoff race -- if they beat the Bucs
 

I guess we'll see how California boy Goff does in 25 degree weather vs the Bears. Seems like Chi could load the box and key on Gurley, but who knows?

Re: Saints in prime position in NFC playoff race -- if they beat the Bucs
 

I'm not even sure them losing to the bears will be enough. Tampa showed life last week, the Panthers twice in 3 weeks will always be tough and the meat in that sandwich is the Steelers who have to win

Re: Saints in prime position in NFC playoff race -- if they beat the Bucs
 

This is why I have said I think we could have another loss in there somewhere. I have a lot of respect for the talent on teams still on our schedule, and I understand these division games are battles, records notwithstanding.

No question we could win out. Anything is possible, but I'm not going to be shocked if, for example, we don't sweep Carolina, or if the Bucs or Steelers bring their A game against us.

:popcorn:

Re: Saints in prime position in NFC playoff race -- if they beat the Bucs
 

Sure, but Ariz has shown life too, and Philly also has to win and is better than they have shown. Anything can happen.

Re: Saints in prime position in NFC playoff race -- if they beat the Bucs
 

Not sure it was Tampa showing life or the Panther's in their 2018 death throws...as in four picks, four sacks. Not going to win many games with this numbers, but the Panthers still almost won in spite of Scams performance.

This year, Tampa has 23 picks (11 on Winston in ~6 games; and 12 on Fitz in ~8 games) and allowed 32 sacks allowed, with four last week.

In game 1 our D had 0 sacks and 0 picks. I don't think we're going to repeat that performance.

Re: Saints in prime position in NFC playoff race -- if they beat the Bucs
 

No I don't either.
But it's a divisional game and if your not 100% on you are liable to make if difficult.

Re: Saints in prime position in NFC playoff race -- if they beat the Bucs
 

Weather is going to be an issue. Rain and wind.

Re: Saints in prime position in NFC playoff race -- if they beat the Bucs
 

i can't see us beating carolina twice: now:

that was 6 weeks ago. they may have mailed it in Ala Jacksonville on thursday night against tenn. we always play well against the steelers in the dome i'm not looking back at them but we own those brutes if i recall