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It's hard to watch any Saints football season come to an end. While we (probably) didn't go into this season expecting the ultimate success, we did begin the season with the idea that our easy SOS would likely garner both a NFC South crown and a high seeding in the playoffs. Neither of these dreams are likely going into Week 18.
But we are still alive for the playoffs. Barely, but alive. That said, there are several teams that will be making the playoffs that are extreme longshots to go the distance and win the Superbowl. For the 13 playoff teams that will not win the Lombardi Trophy there will be the mixed emotions of both pride & disappointment. Not winning it all won't (completely) take away from the feeling of accomplishment of making it into the NFL's second season.
For the teams that won't be in the Final Fourteen, it would seem reasonable that they would like to end their season with a victory. The offseason is long and most of the players recognize that their personal situation in the league could change drastically from one season to the next. To a man, they all want to perform well. They want their coaching staff to view them as an asset worth keeping onboard the following year. And they want to spend the next 6 months feeling like a winner.
The same can be said about the Saints players. They truly want to win this final regular season game. They all realize that the odds of getting into the playoffs is very low, but that dim hope will still be a motivating factor. But even if a victory over the Falcons doesn't do the trick and get us in, winning still feel better than losing. And the same emotion is true for Saints fans as well. Though some here will insert that a victory today without advancing into the playoffs will feel both hollow & counterproductive, I personally would still rather spend my NFL offseason with a victory, a winning season, and a hope of better things to come. Of course for us fans, all we can tell ourselves is, "Stay tuned!"
That said, another loss would simply add to the misery of the 2023 season. I believe the majority of the postseason decisions by the GM have already been made. Getting swept by the Falcons won't change the way business will be done this offseason. It will simply cause more Saints fans to put less hope & emotional energy into 2024. Folks, we can be happy & hopeful without being gullible. But we can only be real Saints fans if we continue to show eager anticipation for every new football season just as we've always done for well over 50 years. No matter how things turn out later this evening, let's all be happy if we are able to close out the season with a WIN over Atlanta!
But we are still alive for the playoffs. Barely, but alive. That said, there are several teams that will be making the playoffs that are extreme longshots to go the distance and win the Superbowl. For the 13 playoff teams that will not win the Lombardi Trophy there will be the mixed emotions of both pride & disappointment. Not winning it all won't (completely) take away from the feeling of accomplishment of making it into the NFL's second season.
For the teams that won't be in the Final Fourteen, it would seem reasonable that they would like to end their season with a victory. The offseason is long and most of the players recognize that their personal situation in the league could change drastically from one season to the next. To a man, they all want to perform well. They want their coaching staff to view them as an asset worth keeping onboard the following year. And they want to spend the next 6 months feeling like a winner.
The same can be said about the Saints players. They truly want to win this final regular season game. They all realize that the odds of getting into the playoffs is very low, but that dim hope will still be a motivating factor. But even if a victory over the Falcons doesn't do the trick and get us in, winning still feel better than losing. And the same emotion is true for Saints fans as well. Though some here will insert that a victory today without advancing into the playoffs will feel both hollow & counterproductive, I personally would still rather spend my NFL offseason with a victory, a winning season, and a hope of better things to come. Of course for us fans, all we can tell ourselves is, "Stay tuned!"
That said, another loss would simply add to the misery of the 2023 season. I believe the majority of the postseason decisions by the GM have already been made. Getting swept by the Falcons won't change the way business will be done this offseason. It will simply cause more Saints fans to put less hope & emotional energy into 2024. Folks, we can be happy & hopeful without being gullible. But we can only be real Saints fans if we continue to show eager anticipation for every new football season just as we've always done for well over 50 years. No matter how things turn out later this evening, let's all be happy if we are able to close out the season with a WIN over Atlanta!
