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Several years ago the NFL refined its plan to bring parity to the league. Looking at the NFC where no one team really stands out, some might call it mediocrity. Personally I think other leagues have a lot to learn from the NFL where the playing field stays so level any team, any year, has a chance to turn it around.
The draft is set up to give losing teams first shot at the talent. The salary cap keeps one team from buying all the talent(like the yankees do). The scheduling system gives weaker teams easier schedules. Free agency is set up so you get compensated if you lose more players than you get. Its a very clever system the NFL devised.
Like it or not, it works. We are in week 13 and 11 out of 16 teams remain in the hunt. And the best teams are susceptible to upset by the 5 teams out of the hunt. I dont think anyone here would be surprised if the bears were to lose to the packers. Twenty years ago a bottom team would have been 3 touchdown underdogs to the 49ers, nowadays 7 points is a big spread.
The saints are in great shape. If they beat the 49ers my guess is a win over Dallas or NY would be enough to get a wild card. Whichever of these teams the saints beat would likely be 9-7 with the saints and lose a tiebreak. If the saints beat two more games, one of them being carolina, they could win the division at 9-7. 10-6 probably will win the south. A 10-6 saints team might even get a bye in the playoffs.
The playoff contending teams look like this:
Bears 9-2
Saints 7-4
Cowboys 7-4
Seattle 7-4
Panthers 6-5
Giants 6-5
Philly 5-6
Falcons 5-6
Rams 5-6
SF 5-6
Vikings 5-6
2-9 Arizona at 5-6 St. Louis - You know, most forum saints fans see us as so much better than the 5-6 teams and do not worry about them. I think its a mistake to count out these teams. One of the five bottom feeders is going to climb back in the wildcard race. The saints have one of the tougher schedules going in. If we lose this week we fall back into the pack. So it helps every time a team gets eliminated. The rams will probably win, but we dont want them to.
5-6 Atlanta at 4-7 Washington - Yes, we played well against the falcons but the ball did bounce our way. I thought Vick had a whale of a game. Take away the hail mary we got and the touchdown catch White dropped which Dan in laf could have scored on and we might have lost. Funny, its usually us saying but for this play here or there we would have won. I am not counting the birds out but pretty much will if they lose this week. For some reason I bet they beat the skins, but we are pulling for the skins for sure.
5-6 Minnesota at 9-2 Chicago - You know, most know who to pull for games are no brainers, this one is not. If we win the division at, say 11-5, we could maybe be tied with the bears and get home field advantage. On the other hand, if we fall back and the Vikings win, they could be the 5-6 team that gets a wild card. I am going to be conservative on this and pull for the bears to eliminate the vikes, but its a game open to discussion. One thing for sure, the bears are beatable. Would Chicago kill for a Drew Brees at qb?
7-4 Dallas at 6-5 N.Y. Giants - Well, here is the big game to watch for many reasons. If the Giants win its even money that one of these teams makes the playoffs as the division champ and one as a wild card. If NY loses, Dallas becomes a heavy favorite to win the division and the Giants are in trouble. Add to the drama that we have to play both these teams on the road, games we will likely be underdogs in. If we lose both games we lose the tiebreaker with potential wildcard teams. I say pull for Dallas and put the giants in wildcard jeopardy. If I wasnt a saints fan though, I would be pulling for the giants to make that division even more interesting and to see. I predict the giants win and Romo struggles. If Romo gets replaced or hurt down the road, I predict Jessica Simpson drops him the same week.
6-5 Carolina at 5-6 Philadelphia - This is a great game for saints fans. Naturally we want Carolina to lose. The worst thing that happens is the panthers win and Philly gets eliminated. Philly is in trouble with McNabb hurt, but they have a fine defense and a good coach. It would me mighty huge for us if the panthers lose and they very well might.
7-4 Seattle at 7-4 Denver - I am kind of shocked Denver is starting Cutler while they are 7-4. We want Cultler to play well. The saints have a great chance to get a bye and a home playoff game. There is no reason for us not to pull for Denver.
5-6 San Francisco at 7-4 New Orleans - As always the most impt game each week is the one we play. SF is a much improved team with perhaps the best running back in the NFC. I think we will win, but remain amazed at how many people on here think we win easy. Its a must game for SF who can get right back in it with a win. It would also give them the tiebreak and put them one game behind us with the saints having tough road games ahead. If the saints win this game I think they are 90% in the playoffs. If they lose its a 50/50 bet that probably goes down the the last game.
The draft is set up to give losing teams first shot at the talent. The salary cap keeps one team from buying all the talent(like the yankees do). The scheduling system gives weaker teams easier schedules. Free agency is set up so you get compensated if you lose more players than you get. Its a very clever system the NFL devised.
Like it or not, it works. We are in week 13 and 11 out of 16 teams remain in the hunt. And the best teams are susceptible to upset by the 5 teams out of the hunt. I dont think anyone here would be surprised if the bears were to lose to the packers. Twenty years ago a bottom team would have been 3 touchdown underdogs to the 49ers, nowadays 7 points is a big spread.
The saints are in great shape. If they beat the 49ers my guess is a win over Dallas or NY would be enough to get a wild card. Whichever of these teams the saints beat would likely be 9-7 with the saints and lose a tiebreak. If the saints beat two more games, one of them being carolina, they could win the division at 9-7. 10-6 probably will win the south. A 10-6 saints team might even get a bye in the playoffs.
The playoff contending teams look like this:
Bears 9-2
Saints 7-4
Cowboys 7-4
Seattle 7-4
Panthers 6-5
Giants 6-5
Philly 5-6
Falcons 5-6
Rams 5-6
SF 5-6
Vikings 5-6
2-9 Arizona at 5-6 St. Louis - You know, most forum saints fans see us as so much better than the 5-6 teams and do not worry about them. I think its a mistake to count out these teams. One of the five bottom feeders is going to climb back in the wildcard race. The saints have one of the tougher schedules going in. If we lose this week we fall back into the pack. So it helps every time a team gets eliminated. The rams will probably win, but we dont want them to.
5-6 Atlanta at 4-7 Washington - Yes, we played well against the falcons but the ball did bounce our way. I thought Vick had a whale of a game. Take away the hail mary we got and the touchdown catch White dropped which Dan in laf could have scored on and we might have lost. Funny, its usually us saying but for this play here or there we would have won. I am not counting the birds out but pretty much will if they lose this week. For some reason I bet they beat the skins, but we are pulling for the skins for sure.
5-6 Minnesota at 9-2 Chicago - You know, most know who to pull for games are no brainers, this one is not. If we win the division at, say 11-5, we could maybe be tied with the bears and get home field advantage. On the other hand, if we fall back and the Vikings win, they could be the 5-6 team that gets a wild card. I am going to be conservative on this and pull for the bears to eliminate the vikes, but its a game open to discussion. One thing for sure, the bears are beatable. Would Chicago kill for a Drew Brees at qb?
7-4 Dallas at 6-5 N.Y. Giants - Well, here is the big game to watch for many reasons. If the Giants win its even money that one of these teams makes the playoffs as the division champ and one as a wild card. If NY loses, Dallas becomes a heavy favorite to win the division and the Giants are in trouble. Add to the drama that we have to play both these teams on the road, games we will likely be underdogs in. If we lose both games we lose the tiebreaker with potential wildcard teams. I say pull for Dallas and put the giants in wildcard jeopardy. If I wasnt a saints fan though, I would be pulling for the giants to make that division even more interesting and to see. I predict the giants win and Romo struggles. If Romo gets replaced or hurt down the road, I predict Jessica Simpson drops him the same week.
6-5 Carolina at 5-6 Philadelphia - This is a great game for saints fans. Naturally we want Carolina to lose. The worst thing that happens is the panthers win and Philly gets eliminated. Philly is in trouble with McNabb hurt, but they have a fine defense and a good coach. It would me mighty huge for us if the panthers lose and they very well might.
7-4 Seattle at 7-4 Denver - I am kind of shocked Denver is starting Cutler while they are 7-4. We want Cultler to play well. The saints have a great chance to get a bye and a home playoff game. There is no reason for us not to pull for Denver.
5-6 San Francisco at 7-4 New Orleans - As always the most impt game each week is the one we play. SF is a much improved team with perhaps the best running back in the NFC. I think we will win, but remain amazed at how many people on here think we win easy. Its a must game for SF who can get right back in it with a win. It would also give them the tiebreak and put them one game behind us with the saints having tough road games ahead. If the saints win this game I think they are 90% in the playoffs. If they lose its a 50/50 bet that probably goes down the the last game.
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