State Of The NFC South Entering Week 13 - The Road To The Playoffs

It would be the most Saints thing ever for the team to finish 9-8 or 8-9 and end up losing out on a 2-team or 3-team tiebreaker. That 2nd Panthers game was a double-edged sword....it got DA fired, but it'll be the reason to lose out on tiebreaker scenarios, due to that 3-3 division record.

Bad news....unless Rizz leads this team to an 8-0 finish (and a 10-7 record), the Saints ain't going to the playoffs. That's EXTREMELY unlikely. A more realistic scenario is for Rizz to go 7-1 or 6-2, at worst 5-3. Extrapolated over an entire season, that's playoff football...but when you're digging out of a 2-7 HOLE, simply not enough. Bottom line....the bad news is that this team is NOT going to the playoffs. The good news is that, if Rizz leads this team to an 8-9 or better record, I think we found a coach?!!! Added bonus....it allows ML to save face with his "continuity" argument, as I don't think ML is going anywhere.

Regardless, things are looking up for 2025 season. I haven't felt that way about this team since CSP left. I was unsure about DA, but willing to be open-minded, until that 1st season made it CLEAR to me he wasn't "it". The hole just got deeper in season 2, and that 0-7 black hole of season 3. At least DA wasn't a hypocrite...he took his own advice, he continued to "keep digging the hole". I FINALLY enjoy watching this team again!