Patriots @ Saints - is it 8:30 yet?
by MaPatsFan on Nov 30, 2009 5:54 PM EST
in Opinion/Analysis
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PrintI hate Monday Night Football, I really do. By now, we've usually figured out who's won and lost and, in my case, have already written about it. But noooooooooooooo!! I have to endure yet another 2 days (Sunday and Monday) of hype: Drew Brees this and Drew Brees that, 10-0, Who Dat, Geaux Saints... I need a drink already.
It is safe to say both these teams will make the playoffs. They appear to be on track to win their respective divisions. That is, barring a "Fail" of epic proportions. The real question is, "Have the Saints played quality opponents?" Statistically speaking, a ginormous "No!!" Using SoS, the Saints have the easiest schedule by far (thanks JHR, I love stats sites). Even looking at Football Outsiders' DVOA analysis, a 10-0 record buys you little respect when it's been against weak opponents.
We've had a couple of easy ones thrown our way too (Buccaneers and Titans), but that's about it. While recovering from major knee surgery, Tom Brady has led this team to an astounding 7-3 record given all of the injuries we've had to contend with, not to mention 2 promising receivers (Greg Lewis, Joey Galloway) hitting the bricks. Julian Edelman? You're up. But we keep on keeping on.
Would a Saints win legitimize that franchise's season? Anyone with a brain says yes. It's like beating the Colts or the Vikings. A win against a quality team, not just a flash-in-the-pan, gives you some credibility. The naysayers will have to find some other method to rail against your team 'cause at the end of the day, it's all about W's and L's, right? I mean, isn't that the great equalizer? And let's not forget the ability to win in the playoffs. In the last 10 years:
New England Patriots: 6 playoff appearances, 4 AFCCG titles, 3 Super Bowl wins
New Orleans Saints: 2 playoff appearances, 0 NFCCG titles, 0 Super Bowl wins
No doubt, I am impressed by a 10-0 record. In this day of free agency, fielding a successful team is a difficult thing. But never let it go to your head. If you did it playing quality opponents, hats off. If not, well at least a tip of the old chapeau.
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You're goooood!
Here I was complaining that these MNF games get over so late, lol. Thanks for keeping giving me a bit of perspective.
Keep the faith!
Saints on the Rise?
As a Saints fan I can’t argue with your logic. The Patriots have been the model franchise for a decade now. But the NFL is a league constantly in evolution. Teams rise and fall. Hopefully the Saints under Sean Payton are a team that can start down the path the Patriots have already traveled and be a force in the NFL for the next few years. beating New England, advancing into the playoffs and winning a Super Bowl are all milestones we have a shot at attaining this season. But if it’s going to happen it would be nice to see it start tonight.
Angie Stone is singing the National Anthem tonight...
Grammy award nominee singer/songwriter Angie Stone will be performing tonight the National Anthem for the New Orleans Saints vs New England Patriots at the Louisiana Superdome.
schedule
Ok lets look at our schedule
We beat a 3-0 Jets team that was on a roll they beat ya’ll the prior week
we beat a 5-0 Giants team who many called the best team in the nfl and after we showed the league how to beat them they started to fall apart
we beat a 5-1 Atlants Falcons team who is a div. rival
we barely beat the Rams we played like sh!* but still won
we played like hell against Miami and gave them a 24-3 halftime lead then came out the second half and out scored them 43-10
you may have played a tougher schedule but you lost to 3 of those teams we havent lost yet
by mississippisaintsfan on Nov 30, 2009 6:50 PM EST reply actions
Methinks thou doth protest too much.
The fact that you’re so insistent suggests you know you’re on thin ice. The fact is that the Saints have the easiest schedule, and all the paid experts have said so (I need not repeat all the myriad posts and links and sites that say so). They were also lucky enough to catch all the teams on the beginning of their downslide – the Jets after they lost Jenkins, the Giants just before they imploded, the ‘Phins really blew it, as did the Rams (seriously, the Rams?). That’s a far weaker 10-0 record than the Colts have.
Look, it’s not disrespecting the 10-0 feat – New England fans know precisely what it takes to get to 10-0, after all. But every time someone comes on here and says “but we’re 10-0” it’s repetitive, inane and rather pointless, and the fact that you so vigorously defend the 10-0 record instead of just saying how good the Saints are suggests you know it’s a fairly weak argument yourself.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Nov 30, 2009 6:59 PM EST up reply actions
well I understand it is now impossible for us to win the division
well basically impossible, and I do not want to see an undefeated team, and I also want the Vikings to get the first seed in the NFC…..so I’m cheering for you guys tonight. Good luck!
Don't question my fandominium.
"the notorious D.I.B."- samdaman
Nicky forever.
by dolphinsinbuffalo on Nov 30, 2009 6:56 PM EST reply actions
Well hopefully you guys get all you need.....it is going to be a good game
I can’t wait for it to start.
Don't question my fandominium.
"the notorious D.I.B."- samdaman
Nicky forever.
by dolphinsinbuffalo on Nov 30, 2009 7:07 PM EST up reply actions
Thanks
Unfortunately at your expense, it’s evident that with the coaching change this isn’t the same Buffalo team the Pats barely beat in week 1.
Keep the faith!
They found a page of the playbook that had been glued together...
the one that is titled “passing downfield – the beginner’s guide”.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Nov 30, 2009 7:01 PM EST up reply actions
ehh, I don't know. I think we beat ourselves that game. It was a hard one to sit through but I don't think a new coach will change much for them
Don't question my fandominium.
"the notorious D.I.B."- samdaman
Nicky forever.
by dolphinsinbuffalo on Nov 30, 2009 7:06 PM EST up reply actions
yeah, which they might just need to do if Ralph is serious about cleaning house
Don't question my fandominium.
"the notorious D.I.B."- samdaman
Nicky forever.
by dolphinsinbuffalo on Nov 30, 2009 7:25 PM EST up reply actions
That #1 seed has been a deathwish in playoffs, lately.
So I’m not sure if you’re wishing them good or ill. Haha.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Nov 30, 2009 7:00 PM EST up reply actions
well if it is a deathwish then they can have it....
Don't question my fandominium.
"the notorious D.I.B."- samdaman
Nicky forever.
by dolphinsinbuffalo on Nov 30, 2009 7:06 PM EST up reply actions
Either way it should be a shootout
I predict both teams will score at least 30 pts
I'm leaning towards a defensive battle
They’ll respect each other’s offences that it’ll be a lot of check-down, short-yardage passes. It’ll look like a playoff game.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Nov 30, 2009 7:15 PM EST up reply actions
Nobody wants to cough the ball up.
I figured I should clarify.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Nov 30, 2009 7:16 PM EST up reply actions
the first half will be like that
with these 2 QBs im looking for a battle in the 2nd
by gardnerpatsfan on Nov 30, 2009 7:18 PM EST up reply actions
It could well depend on the Pats O-line and Maroney
The Saints have given up quite a bit of yardage on the ground. If they continue to do so, then I don’t think the Pats would veer away from a run game. They need to get it in form for playoffs and a New England winter, after all.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Nov 30, 2009 7:23 PM EST up reply actions
Wow, that's big
He was the guy I was most worried about, being a quicker Fred Jackson catching passes around the edge.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Nov 30, 2009 7:23 PM EST up reply actions
I'm pretty sure the Saints have been in the playoffs at least three times.
Look out! Right through! The kick blocked by Steve Gleason! It is scooped and scored by Curtis DeLoatch! Touchdown, New Orleans!
by Joseph William Stern on Nov 30, 2009 7:21 PM EST reply actions
Is that as the third-down back, too?
They seem to use their RBs as situational substitutions more than a clear 1-2-3.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Nov 30, 2009 7:26 PM EST up reply actions
It'll be a huge one
It’s one less matchup headache Hoodie doesn’t have to worry about. He can stack his best tackler on someone else – it probably frees up Mayo or Meriweather, because those two alone really have the pace to stick with Bush and the size to take him down.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Nov 30, 2009 7:28 PM EST up reply actions
Inactives
Taylor, Arrington, Springs, Seau, Orhnberger, Vollmer, Brace are inactive for the Patriots.
Keep the faith!
Vollmer's inactive?
Noooo.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Nov 30, 2009 7:43 PM EST up reply actions
Brutally honest, perhaps
but he didn’t say anything that he hasn’t said elsewhere about other people. And he did it when Roethlisberger can talk to him about it if he takes issue to Ward’s statements.
A real bum would wait until he retired or published his memoirs or or got traded elsewhere to rip his QB for being soft. Here’s looking at you, TO.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Nov 30, 2009 7:55 PM EST up reply actions
Game thread up
http://www.patspulpit.com/2009/11/30/1179704/open-game-thread-patriots-saints
Blogger at SBNation's Patriots blog, Pats Pulpit
Wait, weren't the Saints in the NFC Championship game in 2006?
It was against the Bears right? And the winner would play the Colts in the Super Bowl.
No More Comments?
Just wondering the feelings on the Game. Other Pats sites think the Saints cheated?
There was no cheating.
The refs didn’t call some holding coming off the line, but I blame the Pat’s more for not taking advantage of that on their side.
Nope, a pretty clean butt kicking.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Dec 1, 2009 5:23 PM EST up reply actions
And plenty of tape to examine and work out all the flaws
which is why I’m actually kind of pleased Brees didn’t let off the accelerator, and that he spread the ball around so much. It not only gives Hoodie plenty of tape to figure out how to break down Brees, but it gives Hoodie plenty of tape about where various gaps are in the system. Five different receivers = 5 different routes = 5 different breaks in coverage or zones or whatever. Lots to work on, and a lot of flaws shown up that otherwise would still have been hidden and exploitable in playoffs, that Hoodie know has tape of and time to counter.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
That's why I like this Pats' site
cheating never even crossed my mind… unless… Hey, maybe the Saints paid off the Patriots defense… and offense, to roll over last night. That’s the only explanation there could be. Now it’s all coming clearer. ; )
Keep the faith!
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