9-7 or 8-8, I dont see any truth to that record this season

RJ in Lafayette said
The question posed is a good one, but can be refined: How can the team that leads the league in scoring miss the playoffs? The answer: Count the ways.

1. Breaks. We didn't get them this year. And in the category of breaks is avoiding injuries and otherwise keeping your players on the field. Too many injuries by far. A defensive end indicted for a major crime before the season. And at times the ball just didn't bounce the right way.

2. Special teams. After a season and a half, we finally find a placekicker. But having one matters in close games.

3. Defense. Statistically, in the low average category. But produced too few big plays. And melted at key times at the end of games when a key stop was needed. This defense needs an identity and playmakers. At this time, it has neither.

4. No short yard running game. You have to be able to consistently convert when you need 18 inches. Too many times, we didn't.

Good post RJ. I agree on all counts.

Not to make excuses, but a lot of teams that make the playoffs do so due to a few key breaks. The ball didnt bounce our way in the Minnesota game and thats the difference between them being in the playoff race and us not.

It was poor special team play that had a kick blocked in that game where we were literally killing Minnesota, but an unlucky bounce that turned it into a td for Minnesota. Then we lose the ball on a Bush fumble after one of the most blatantly missed facemask calls which would have given us a first down.

It wasnt all bad bounces, as you say. We could have won at least another two games if we could have gotten a yard on short yardage. We could have won another few games if we could have made just one defsnive stop at the end of the game(Chicago, Denver and Washington games come to mind).

We have the makings of a very good team next year. If this year was any lesson, we need a short yardage, move the pile, back on offense. On defense we need an Ed Reed or Laron Landry type saftey leading our defensive backfield and we need a blitzing, disputive outside linebacker in the Demarcus Ware/Ricky Jackson mold.

Dont throw out the baby with the bath water retooling this saints team. I wouldnt tinker much with the offense. We need to draft defense and use our free agent money on defense, save for one pile moving power back on offense.