Saints won't win the NFC South or return to NFC title game, USA Today columnist predicts
 

The New Orleans Saints aren't returning to the NFC Championship game in 2019. And they're just barely going to sneak into the playoffs. That, according to USA Today's annual NFL predictions from columnist Nate Davis.

The publication pegs New Orleans with a 10-6 record, finishing second in the division to the 11-5 Atlanta Falcons and just ahead of the 8-8 Carolina Panthers.

"Can veteran group overcome consecutive playoff heartbreaks to take the Super Bowl step now," Davis asks in his evaluation of the Saints.

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New Orleans is projected by USA Today to be the last wild card team to make the playoffs and lose to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Davis projects the Eagles will defeat the Chicago Bears in the NFC title game but lose to the San Diego Chargers in the Super Bowl.

If you're wondering about the Los Angeles Rams, Davis projects them to finish 9-7 and miss the playoffs.

Besides USA Today, Sports Illustrated also calls for the Saints to go 10-6.

New Orleans, by all indications, will return hungry as ever from last season's heartbreaking ending in the NFC Championship game when officials' non-call on pass interference on a key play late in the game halted the Saints' march to their second Super Bowl in franchise history.

With most key players back and some key additions, New Orleans opens as one of NFC's top contenders.

more on NOLA

Re: Saints won't win the NFC South or return to NFC title game, USA Today columnist predicts
 

Last year USA Today predicted the Division winners...

New England Patriots Correct
Pittsburg Steelers Wrong
Jacksonville Jaguars Wrong
Los Angeles Chargers Wrong

Los Angeles Rams Correct
Minnesota Vikings Wrong
Philadelphia Eagles Wrong
Atlanta Falcons Wrong

That's a 25% hit rate. Coincidently, 25% is exactly what you'd expect to get from...
Someone who's never heard of the NFL, just picking names they like
Randomly drawing teams from a hat
Flipping coins
Drawing straws
A blindfolded monkey throwing darts at names on a dart board

It's as if the writers at USA Today have never actually seen a football game.

Re: Saints won't win the NFC South or return to NFC title game, USA Today columnist predicts
 

Well that's a wrap folks. See you all in 2020. I do predict Matchbox 20 will warm up the crowd before we win the NFC South to finish up their 20/20 tour.

Re: Saints won't win the NFC South or return to NFC title game, USA Today columnist predicts
 

And the Patriots are a no brainer. Same could be said for the Rams given their offseason moves. Both were very safe predictions.

Re: Saints won't win the NFC South or return to NFC title game, USA Today columnist predicts
 

It’s possible. We don’t know.

Re: Saints won't win the NFC South or return to NFC title game, USA Today columnist predicts
 

Re: Saints won't win the NFC South or return to NFC title game, USA Today columnist predicts
 

PFT 2019 storyline No. 3: Will the NFC catch up to the Rams?

Wut?

Re: Saints won't win the NFC South or return to NFC title game, USA Today columnist predicts
 

We're going to have a better 53 man roster than last year. That's all I know right now, but I will say we'll go 12-4.

Re: Saints won't win the NFC South or return to NFC title game, USA Today columnist predicts
 

I will be the first to admit I am worried. We spent months overreacting to the non-call to the point it led to a rules change. We as a team, acted in a similar manner that the Vikings did when they lost the 2009 NFCCG. They were so angry they pushed for a rule change with OT and got it. They spent months and even years talking about the hits on Favre but refused to acknowledge that their o-line allowed him to get banged up in both playoff games. We most likely have opened the pandora's box on pass interference rules, which I think could easily backfire on us.

That's what concerns me the most. The team handled the Minnesota miracle a lot better, overcoming that and proving it was a fluke. God I hope we don't crash and burn as a result of constantly screaming about the refs from a playoff game where we blew a 13 and 10 point lead.

The Falcons concern me the most of our divisional foes. If they're healthy next year, they're going to be a serious threat.

Re: Saints won't win the NFC South or return to NFC title game, USA Today columnist predicts
 

Nope ...

19-0 Baby!