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Well, if the definition of 'parity' is that you can have one less win than the #1 seeded team and yet be completely out of the playoff picture... then Welcome to the Season of Undeniable Parity! Yes, even at 4-2 we are on the outside looking in. All of the 5-win teams in the NFC are in, along with one obligatory 2-win team from the NFC East. While there is nothing we can do about that rule, there is something that we MUST do about our defense if we are to have a legitimate shot at getting to this year's postseason party. But frankly I don't see our defense being able to improve significantly enough to take any pressure off of our offense who now must find creative ways to outscore opponents as their receivers streak unmolested down the gridiron. Our offense just has to keep scoring at every opportunity.
Can we do this? Yes... but if the defense doesn't figure out a way to take control of some games and make our share of takeaways, it might be a long cold season of 'where do we go from here' for this franchise when we review the 2020 season after Week 17. Looking solely at our record one might assume that this is one of those 'sky is falling' kind of speeches. But records can be deceiving. We could just as easily be 2-4 right now save for a few miscues by our opponents. We were supposed to be better than this. And with this kind of parity in the NFC this season we won't stay in the race without showing that we can assert our will on our upcoming opponents. With two tough road games in Chicago & Tampa Bay, we will either be moving on up into the playoff list or moving out of contention for good if we can't find a way to come out on top in these two marquee matchups.
I'll be doing all that I personally can to ensure a Saints victory in the Windy City. I've already picked the Bears to win in PTS, and I'm sure I can find something else to do on Sunday to avoid watching the live game broadcast as required for the ultimate game-winning insurance. But the rest is up to our players & coaches. And specifically our defensive backfield. If they continue to allow uncontested passes to be completed the rest of the way, there's nothing that any of us can do to 'wish' us into the playoffs. It's time to show who we really are as a team. Hopefully we are a much better team than what we've shown so far.
If there are any lucky shirts or socks out there... wear 'em if you got 'em! Our postseason dream depends on it!
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Keep in mind that in this new system, only the #1 seed in each conference gets a Bye.
The first playoff week plays out this way: #2 hosts #7; #3 hosts #6; #4 hosts #5.
Each successive week the lowest seed travels to the highest seed just as before.
***WEEK 7 - NFC Playoff Standings***
#1 Bye - Green Bay Packers
#2- Seattle Seahawks
#3- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
#4- Philadelphia Eagles
#5- Chicago Bears
#6- Arizona Cardinals
#7- Los Angeles Rams
***WEEK 7 - AFC Playoff Standings***
#1 Bye - Pittsburgh Steelers
#2- Kansas City Chiefs
#3- Tennessee Titans
#4- Buffalo Bills
#5- Baltimore Ravens
#6- Cleveland Browns
#7- Indianapolis Colts
Can we do this? Yes... but if the defense doesn't figure out a way to take control of some games and make our share of takeaways, it might be a long cold season of 'where do we go from here' for this franchise when we review the 2020 season after Week 17. Looking solely at our record one might assume that this is one of those 'sky is falling' kind of speeches. But records can be deceiving. We could just as easily be 2-4 right now save for a few miscues by our opponents. We were supposed to be better than this. And with this kind of parity in the NFC this season we won't stay in the race without showing that we can assert our will on our upcoming opponents. With two tough road games in Chicago & Tampa Bay, we will either be moving on up into the playoff list or moving out of contention for good if we can't find a way to come out on top in these two marquee matchups.
I'll be doing all that I personally can to ensure a Saints victory in the Windy City. I've already picked the Bears to win in PTS, and I'm sure I can find something else to do on Sunday to avoid watching the live game broadcast as required for the ultimate game-winning insurance. But the rest is up to our players & coaches. And specifically our defensive backfield. If they continue to allow uncontested passes to be completed the rest of the way, there's nothing that any of us can do to 'wish' us into the playoffs. It's time to show who we really are as a team. Hopefully we are a much better team than what we've shown so far.
If there are any lucky shirts or socks out there... wear 'em if you got 'em! Our postseason dream depends on it!
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Keep in mind that in this new system, only the #1 seed in each conference gets a Bye.
The first playoff week plays out this way: #2 hosts #7; #3 hosts #6; #4 hosts #5.
Each successive week the lowest seed travels to the highest seed just as before.
***WEEK 7 - NFC Playoff Standings***
#1 Bye - Green Bay Packers
#2- Seattle Seahawks
#3- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
#4- Philadelphia Eagles
#5- Chicago Bears
#6- Arizona Cardinals
#7- Los Angeles Rams
***WEEK 7 - AFC Playoff Standings***
#1 Bye - Pittsburgh Steelers
#2- Kansas City Chiefs
#3- Tennessee Titans
#4- Buffalo Bills
#5- Baltimore Ravens
#6- Cleveland Browns
#7- Indianapolis Colts