Originally Posted by SmashMouth (Post 849781)

New Orleans Saints (13-3)



Point differential in 2018: plus-151

Pythagorean expectation: 11.2 wins

Record in games decided by seven or fewer points: 5-1 (.833)

FPI projected strength of schedule: 11th-toughest



Let's add the other team from the NFC Championship Game into the mix, because the Saints are in a similar situation to the Rams. Nobody doubts they are a wildly talented team. They have probably the deepest roster in football and an excellent coach in Sean Payton. Even as I'm projecting a decline into the 10-win range, I would be shocked if New Orleans missed the playoffs.



To get to 13-3, though, a lot has to go right. Teams have to win a lot of close games, which is tough to do. The Saints went 5-1 in those one-score games a year ago, and some of those wins were pretty narrow. In Week 2, they beat the Browns by three points on a late field goal in a game in which kicker Zane Gonzalez missed two extra points and a potential game-tying field goal. In Week 3, they beat the Falcons in overtime after a late comeback, and New Orleans only failed to go to overtime against the Ravens in Week 7 because Justin Tucker, of all people, missed an extra point with 24 seconds left in a 24-23 game. A fourth-quarter fumble by backup running back Stevan Ridley with the Steelers up four points in Week 16 stopped a likely scoring drive in a game the Saints eventually won with a late touchdown pass.



more on ESPN

Originally Posted by K Major (Post 849824)

Stay under the radar all season long, then hit em "up side" the head come playoffs.

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/Negligible...llmastiff.webp

Originally Posted by The Dude (Post 849838)

How are we supposed to fly “under the radar”? Most publications have us as the favorite to win the NFC. Every team on our schedule has the Saints circled as the team to beat. I think you are confused as to what the term “ under the radar” means. We are on every teams radar. Like Payton says “Prove them right”.

Originally Posted by K Major (Post 849840)

Teams aren't overly concerned about the Saints. They (most) still feel we'll find a way to repeat last two season's misery close game losses. Jason Whitlock, Pete Prisco, Coherd, ESPN and CBS'S of the world aren't buying this team.

If anyone on this board knows what "flying under the radar" means, it's me. I flew a Grumman F-14 Tomcat during the Gulf War code name Desert Shield on a escort mission back in 1991.

I'm hardly confused on the term. Don't get it twisted.

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido (Post 849848)

By the way, K, thanks for your service. My dad was 30+years USAF. Tail gunner on a B-52, then Wing Gunner (still flew missions, but handled all the assignments), and retired as 8th Air Force Gunner. Two stints in Guam during Viet Nam and was actually the first enlisted USAF man to step foot in Viet Nam. His B-52 got commandeered by a General early in the conflict and had them land in Saigon.

Originally Posted by K Major (Post 849840)

Teams aren't overly concerned about the Saints. They (most) still feel we'll find a way to repeat last two season's misery close game losses. Jason Whitlock, Pete Prisco, Coherd, ESPN and CBS'S of the world aren't buying this team.

If anyone on this board knows what "flying under the radar" means, it's me. I flew a Grumman F-14 Tomcat during the Gulf War code name Desert Shield on a escort mission back in 1991.

I'm hardly confused on the term. Don't get it twisted.

Originally Posted by K Major (Post 849849)

This ^^ ^^ is awesome stuff AsylumGuido.