On to the Steelers

SmashMouth · 12-19-2018, 04:15 AM

NEW ORLEANS over PITTSBURGH, Sunday at 3:25 p.m.

I'm not sure I have ever heard as much whining about a team with the best record in the NFL this late in the season. Repeat after me: "There is no such thing as an ugly win." I lived through the Jim Mora days and learned that phrase pretty quickly.

So, in other words, all you New Dats who became fans in 2006, just relax. You know, this team really used to suck. Like suck so bad the season was over in October. There were quarterbacks named Billy Joe and another who made a habit of throwing it backward as his arm flung behind his head. Back in the day, Monday night games were rare, but even when the home team was featured, it would often be blacked out because the Dome hadn't sold out.

Don't talk about ugly wins. I actually heard one clown I know preaching about Drew Brees being the MVP a few weeks ago who now is wondering what is wrong with him and the race is over. There's nothing wrong with Brees, and the Saints haven't been "figured out."

Playing eight out of 12 on the road would be tough for any team, especially against this schedule, and the Black and Gold went 11-1 through that stretch. Now, one more win means the final road game has been played with a chance to play on a neutral site at Dirty Bird Field in February.

This week, the Steelers come to town after snapping a three-game skid in which two of those losses came to non-playoff-bound teams. A win over New England at home does not suddenly make them elite. For the most part, this is a decent matchup for the home team, assuming the corners can somewhat limit two of the best receivers in the NFL in Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith Schuster.

The Saints also know how much it would mean to win this one and get the walking wounded two full weeks of rest prior to the preparing for the first playoff game.

By the way, when did I become the optimist around here? Sometimes I miss the hate mail telling me I don't know what I am talking about and I should move to Boston if I hate the Saints so much. At least I got a chuckle out of that. Y'all are just depressing. Against the spread: Saints minus-5.5.

SERIES NOTES: Saints vs. Steelers
The Saints lead the all-time series, 8-7, and have won three of the four games played this century, including a 35-32 win at Pittsburgh on Nov. 30, 2014. In that one, Drew Brees passed for five touchdowns to five receivers, and Kenny Stills had five receptions for 162 yards. Ben Roethlisberger passed for 435 yards and two touchdowns, but he also was picked off twice. ... This is the latest these two have ever matched up against one another - one day later than when they faced off in 1969, which was one season after the Saints had moved from the NFL Century Division to the Capital Division, where Pittsburgh resided at the time.

TEAM RANKINGS: Saints vs. Steelers
The Saints rank seventh in offense in total yards gained per game (11th in passing, eighth in rushing); the Steelers are fourth overall (third in passing, 30th in rushing). The Saints are 11th in defense in total yards allowed per game (28th vs. the pass, first vs. the run); the Steelers are ninth (13th vs. the pass, sixth vs. the run)

Jim Derry on NOLA

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12-19-2018, 04:15 AM	#1
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,477 Blog Entries: 29	On to the Steelers NEW ORLEANS over PITTSBURGH, Sunday at 3:25 p.m. I'm not sure I have ever heard as much whining about a team with the best record in the NFL this late in the season. Repeat after me: "There is no such thing as an ugly win." I lived through the Jim Mora days and learned that phrase pretty quickly. So, in other words, all you New Dats who became fans in 2006, just relax. You know, this team really used to suck. Like suck so bad the season was over in October. There were quarterbacks named Billy Joe and another who made a habit of throwing it backward as his arm flung behind his head. Back in the day, Monday night games were rare, but even when the home team was featured, it would often be blacked out because the Dome hadn't sold out. Don't talk about ugly wins. I actually heard one clown I know preaching about Drew Brees being the MVP a few weeks ago who now is wondering what is wrong with him and the race is over. There's nothing wrong with Brees, and the Saints haven't been "figured out." Playing eight out of 12 on the road would be tough for any team, especially against this schedule, and the Black and Gold went 11-1 through that stretch. Now, one more win means the final road game has been played with a chance to play on a neutral site at Dirty Bird Field in February. This week, the Steelers come to town after snapping a three-game skid in which two of those losses came to non-playoff-bound teams. A win over New England at home does not suddenly make them elite. For the most part, this is a decent matchup for the home team, assuming the corners can somewhat limit two of the best receivers in the NFL in Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith Schuster. The Saints also know how much it would mean to win this one and get the walking wounded two full weeks of rest prior to the preparing for the first playoff game. By the way, when did I become the optimist around here? Sometimes I miss the hate mail telling me I don't know what I am talking about and I should move to Boston if I hate the Saints so much. At least I got a chuckle out of that. Y'all are just depressing. Against the spread: Saints minus-5.5. Twitter SERIES NOTES: Saints vs. Steelers The Saints lead the all-time series, 8-7, and have won three of the four games played this century, including a 35-32 win at Pittsburgh on Nov. 30, 2014. In that one, Drew Brees passed for five touchdowns to five receivers, and Kenny Stills had five receptions for 162 yards. Ben Roethlisberger passed for 435 yards and two touchdowns, but he also was picked off twice. ... This is the latest these two have ever matched up against one another - one day later than when they faced off in 1969, which was one season after the Saints had moved from the NFL Century Division to the Capital Division, where Pittsburgh resided at the time. TEAM RANKINGS: Saints vs. Steelers The Saints rank seventh in offense in total yards gained per game (11th in passing, eighth in rushing); the Steelers are fourth overall (third in passing, 30th in rushing). The Saints are 11th in defense in total yards allowed per game (28th vs. the pass, first vs. the run); the Steelers are ninth (13th vs. the pass, sixth vs. the run) Jim Derry on NOLA skymike likes this.