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It would be nice, but here are some random thoughts as to why it's not something we should EXPECT.
1. The further you go into the season without a loss, the more the media hypes the game, and the more your opponent gets "psyched." Bottom line: Your competition is playing at their highest level for 4 quarters.
2. The lowly Lions were within striking distance of the Saints for the first half (17-13), and that was in the Superdome ("our house"). If the Lions could do that for an entire half, don't rule out the possibility of another team reversing the table for 4 quarters.
3. Miami lost to the Colts, despite OUTRUSHING the Colts 239-61, and winning time of possession by an unbelievable 45:07 - 14:53. Colts had a +1 advantage in turnovers (1-0).
4. Oakland hung tough with the Chargers, losing by 4. The Raiders were UP BY 3 pts. at the 2:00 warning.
5. We haven't exactly been lighting it up with the pass rush. And as a result, we're giving up too many yards in the air. Against the Lions, Kolb had nearly 200 yds in the 1st half, when the game was close. So those who dismiss it as "garbage yards" didn't study the game tape.
Look, I could go on & on... but the plain truth is that there's only been one (1) team that went undefeated for the entire season (including postseason): The 1972 Dolphins. And actually, I think the '85 Bears had a shot had it not been for that game in Miami where the Dolphins' pride pulled off the upset on MNF. Anyway... it's tough to go unblemished.
Some have mentioned that getting that first loss out of the way might be the best thing. Well, there's many ways to look at that. If you think about it, if the Saints bring their BEST effort each week, it will be hard for ANY team to "whup 'em." :scared:
Video segment on Dolphins' "perfect season:" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC4Gnxt_2V4
But to put things in perspective, the '72 Dolphins didn't exactly have to run through a buzzsaw schedule. Most of their opponents that year had LOSING records. Here's some stats to show that the '72 Dolphins weren't exactly the most dominant team of the ages:
They had the easiest schedule of any Super Bowl Champion. Their opponents combined for an amazingly bad .365% winning percentage...
_@ Chiefs.....(8-6)....W 20-10
vs Oilers.....(1-13)...W 34-13
_@ Vikings....(7-7)....W 16-14
_@ Jets.......(7-7)....W 27-17
vs Chargers...(4-9-1)..W 24-10
vs Bills......(4-9-1)..W 24-23
_@ Colts......(5-9)....W 23-0
_@ Bills......(4-9-1)..W 30-16
vs Patriots...(3-11)...W 52-0
vs Jets.......(7-7)....W 28-24
vs Cardinals..(4-9-1)..W 31-10
_@ Patriots...(3-11)...W 37-21
_@ Giants.....(8-6)....W 23-13
vs Colts......(5-9)....W 16-0
............(70-122-4) .365%
All told, it's a difficult thing to go undefeated ...especially in this era of the NFL. Can the Saints do it: Yes. Will they do it? Uhhhh.... stay tuned. But if that first loss comes this year, I hope Debbie Downer doesn't post too often.
I'm still thinking 14-2, and 1st round bye throughout.
1. The further you go into the season without a loss, the more the media hypes the game, and the more your opponent gets "psyched." Bottom line: Your competition is playing at their highest level for 4 quarters.
2. The lowly Lions were within striking distance of the Saints for the first half (17-13), and that was in the Superdome ("our house"). If the Lions could do that for an entire half, don't rule out the possibility of another team reversing the table for 4 quarters.
3. Miami lost to the Colts, despite OUTRUSHING the Colts 239-61, and winning time of possession by an unbelievable 45:07 - 14:53. Colts had a +1 advantage in turnovers (1-0).
4. Oakland hung tough with the Chargers, losing by 4. The Raiders were UP BY 3 pts. at the 2:00 warning.
5. We haven't exactly been lighting it up with the pass rush. And as a result, we're giving up too many yards in the air. Against the Lions, Kolb had nearly 200 yds in the 1st half, when the game was close. So those who dismiss it as "garbage yards" didn't study the game tape.
Look, I could go on & on... but the plain truth is that there's only been one (1) team that went undefeated for the entire season (including postseason): The 1972 Dolphins. And actually, I think the '85 Bears had a shot had it not been for that game in Miami where the Dolphins' pride pulled off the upset on MNF. Anyway... it's tough to go unblemished.
Some have mentioned that getting that first loss out of the way might be the best thing. Well, there's many ways to look at that. If you think about it, if the Saints bring their BEST effort each week, it will be hard for ANY team to "whup 'em." :scared:
Standing Alone in History
Twice before 1972, the Chicago Bears had finished the regular season unbeaten, both in 1934 and 1942. But both times they lost NFL Championship game. Since 1972, four teams have won 12 or more games to start the season and flirted with equaling the Dolphins mark. All four times, the team in question came up short:
1985: The Bears went 12-0 before losing to the Dolphins
1998: The Broncos went 13-0 before losing to the Giants
2005: The Colts went 12-0 before losing to the Chargers
2007: The Patriots went 16-0 and won 2 playoff games before losing to the Giants in Super Bowl XLII
Link: http://www.mahalo.com/1972-miami-dolphins
Video segment on Dolphins' "perfect season:" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC4Gnxt_2V4
But to put things in perspective, the '72 Dolphins didn't exactly have to run through a buzzsaw schedule. Most of their opponents that year had LOSING records. Here's some stats to show that the '72 Dolphins weren't exactly the most dominant team of the ages:
They had the easiest schedule of any Super Bowl Champion. Their opponents combined for an amazingly bad .365% winning percentage...
_@ Chiefs.....(8-6)....W 20-10
vs Oilers.....(1-13)...W 34-13
_@ Vikings....(7-7)....W 16-14
_@ Jets.......(7-7)....W 27-17
vs Chargers...(4-9-1)..W 24-10
vs Bills......(4-9-1)..W 24-23
_@ Colts......(5-9)....W 23-0
_@ Bills......(4-9-1)..W 30-16
vs Patriots...(3-11)...W 52-0
vs Jets.......(7-7)....W 28-24
vs Cardinals..(4-9-1)..W 31-10
_@ Patriots...(3-11)...W 37-21
_@ Giants.....(8-6)....W 23-13
vs Colts......(5-9)....W 16-0
............(70-122-4) .365%
All told, it's a difficult thing to go undefeated ...especially in this era of the NFL. Can the Saints do it: Yes. Will they do it? Uhhhh.... stay tuned. But if that first loss comes this year, I hope Debbie Downer doesn't post too often.
I'm still thinking 14-2, and 1st round bye throughout.