9-7 or 8-8, I dont see any truth to that record this season (1 Viewer)

[sarentack]

I cant really say theirs any truth to alot of records in the NFL this season.

why? referees

Referees have cost us what could very well be a 11-5 season which is alot better then a 9-7 or 8-8 season.

look at Denver and San Diego, Hochuli strikes again here, if it wasnt for him, then Denver would be 7-9, and San Diego at this point would be 8-7, instead they have to fight each other in the last game to determine the division.

NFC East has had its controversy to where Dallas (all talent and still lose) should probably be 7-8 or 8-7 at best right now while Philly should be 2nd in the division.


Then top this off, theirs actually 2 teams that could end up in the playoffs with worse records or same records as us.

Tampa Bay 9-6 currently
San Diego 7-8 currently
Denver 7-8 Current
Arizona 8-7 currently
Dallas 9-6 currently
Jets 9-6 currently (are they eliminated?)

Just look at how pathetic that is, then look at how pathetic some of the divisions are, Arizona wouldnt even win 8 games in any other division. Denver and San Diego I dont even know *** is going on there with those 2.

The playoff format really needs to change.

 

[CRESS_137]

Yeah it's been a rough season.
This record is way better than alot of seasons past, but it's rough in the respect that this team had alot of potential.
The refs, among other problems(namely the FS position) cost us dearly.

 

[namelessone]

our poor play on defense, lack of toughness on the road, and horrendously poor and predictable playcalling in key situations cost us more than any refs......but if it soothes the pain blame it on the rain...

 

[ccl0o]

Referees have cost us

i'm willing to bet just about every team can make the same claim.
in my opinion using that as an excuse wont change the outcome thats already happened

 

[TheBigEasy99]

You can't blame the refs for our season. When it's all said and done this team has had it's opportunities and squandered them. Whether it was the defense not coming through late in the game against Chicago, the offense not coming through late in the game against Tampa, the kicking game not coming through late in the game against Minnesota, or the running game not coming through late in the game against Washington, the 2008 New Orleans Saints have had their chances and for one reason or another haven't capitalized enough times.

No complaining. No sour grapes. You always need to look at the internal reasons you failed before looking at the external. Regardless of any incorrect calls you may believe the refs have made, this team has held it's own destiny in its hand more often than not and, unfortunately, hasn't taken care of business.

As for the issue of the playoff system needing to change...

I don't remember anyone complaining when we were 4-8 back in 2004 and were miraculously STILL competing for a playoff spot.

 

[sarentack]

our poor play on defense, lack of toughness on the road, and horrendously poor and predictable playcalling in key situations cost us more than any refs......but if it soothes the pain blame it on the rain...

I cant blame it no matter how stupid it is.

because the offense would have to play flawlessly every game in order to win every game also, not likely to happen.

400+ yards and 3 TDs against some teams and still lose, what more can you do?

 

[pennstater]

We will end up 3rd in the NFC in "net points" and 8th overall in the league in "net points"

All while the Cards who have a net point total of (-12) get a home playoff game.

And Denver who is leading the division with a net point total of near (-35)

Pathetic, and not fair. The saints will have the greatest net point total in our division, and we will be in last place.

urgggg

 

[RJ in Lafayette]

The question posed is a good one, but can be refined: How can the team that leads the league in scoring--at this time we are averaging 29 points a game!--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.

 

[st dude]

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.

 

[Overseas_Saint]

It would be nice that the best 6 teams makes to the playoffs regardless of divisions and division champs, but this will make divisions useless. However, I hate to see a team with an 8-8 record make the playoffs where we can be 9-7 and don't just because of our tough division.

 

[GoldRush26]

i'm willing to bet just about every team can make the same claim.
in my opinion using that as an excuse wont change the outcome thats already happened

Bingo. The fans that blame the refs for us not being in the playoffs are way too myopic. Every team has bad calls made against them. I'm sure the Patriots of last year could look at some missed holding calls in the Manning to Tyree play and claim that they should've won the SB because of it. What about the Chargers of this year? They should've won the division by now. What about the Raiders and the tuck rule? I think those are more legitimate gripes than us. Any team can use the refs as a copout.

This team has one of the worst defenses in the league, and we disappear against physical teams. If the refs jobbed us, then they were probably doing us a favor. We would get killed by most of the teams in the playoffs.

 

[retthib]

Well think if you were a Pats fan. They could end the season at 11-5 and miss the playoffs.

I am calling for poetic justice in the Chargers and Broncos game. SD will win and knock Denver out so all things will remain equal in the scope of referees and their outcome of games.

 

[st dude]

Bingo. The fans that blame the refs for us not being in the playoffs are way too myopic. Every team has bad calls made against them. I'm sure the Patriots of last year could look at some missed holding calls in the Manning to Tyree play and claim that they should've won the SB because of it. What about the Chargers of this year? They should've won the division by now. What about the Raiders and the tuck rule? I think those are more legitimate gripes than us. Any team can use the refs as a copout.

This team has one of the worst defenses in the league, and we disappear against physical teams. If the refs jobbed us, then they were probably doing us a favor. We would get killed by most of the teams in the playoffs.

I agree that most every team who missed the playoffs by a game or two can blame the refs. I agree had the saints had a better defense they would have made the playoffs.

But its also true that the breaks dont always even out and this year the ball didnt bounce New Orleans way very much this year. Overall the Saints played better football this season than the Vikings and the Cardinals, but the saints will stay home. there were 'breaks" and bad calls in the Vikings game that ended any real chance we had for post season play.

In the end we didnt get it done so it dosesnt make much difference. Where it does make a difference to me is where some want to fire this coaching staff, dismantle the team and act like this was a really bad team.

The Saints players and coaches obviously worked very hard and never quit this year. If only our kicker had made a couple of easy kicks we would be in the playoffs. Not every team can say that, we were a lot closer to the playoffs than every team.

Our defense did improve from the previous year; but it must get better for us to contend for the super bowl as we did two years ago. On offense we need to be able to power run better.

Saying we had no chance had we made the playoffs is equally myopic to me. The saints appeared to me to be playing well enough late in the season to make a run in the playoffs. There are no powerhouse nfl teams the saints couldnt beat on a given sunday.

 

[RJ in Lafayette]

St dude and I are clearly on the same page, but this team's needs seem clear.

On offense, assuming Deuce does not return, we need a big running back for the rotation. That's it. It would be nice to add offensive linemen, a young tight end, a young quarterback. But in every offseason, a team has limited resources as far as draft picks, dollars, and available free agents who can be signed, and this year our resources are especially limited in the draft.

On defense, we need first for the highly paid defensive ends to step up and make plays. But we need on defense playmakers--anywhere on defense we could use players who step up, make big plays and make those around them better. This year we had zero playmakers on defense. Vilma played awfully well, but with Vilma you get a high level of execution and intelligence more than exceptional athleticism. He's close to being blue chip, but not quite. No one else at linebacker is a red chip.

Nobody in the secondary is red chip though Porter could be and McKenzie in 2007 was. Our safeties simply did not make positive plays in 2008. And nobody on the defensive line was a playmaker though Ellis soon will be and McCray met expectations.

Ideally, in the 2009 offseason--assuming no free agency losses who absolutely have to be replaced from outside--we would like to get a big running back, another defensive tackle, an athletic and fast weakside linebacker, a free safety, and a second defensive back. That's five players. You can get two in the draft. But that means getting two or three in free agency.