Saints Pigskin Blog

Super Saints Weekly 228

Saints in Playoff Position

            The Saints put themselves in excellent position this week by completing the season sweep of the Atlanta Falcons.  The victory was key in snapping a two game losing streak; however, perhaps the biggest key to this victory is the fact that the win put the Saints in control of the division, along with in the hunt for a possible bye and home field advantage in the playoffs.

            This win, combined with the Giants and Bears losses, has put the Saints right in the thick of the hunt for a first round bye.  With <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Carolina, Giants, and Cowboys all left on the schedule for the Saints, they will have the opportunity to try and eliminate the competition for one of the two byes in the playoffs.  This could turn out to be huge for the Saints for two big reasons.  The first is the home field advantage could be huge considering the electric atmosphere that the Saints fans create for Saints home games.  The second reason this could be huge for the Saints is that the influx of money that a playoff game could bring to the city could really help in getting the Big Easy back on the right track.

            While the Saints still have a lot of work ahead of them to get a home playoff game and a bye, they have done everything they can thus far to put themselves in a good position down the stretch.  Hopefully the team will be able to continue to win against some of their key opponents and give them a shot to achieve this goal.  If they are able to do this then the atmosphere and excitement surrounding that game will likely be just as energetic as the Saints first home game against the Falcons was early in the season. 

Game Recap

             The Saints managed to break their losing streak this week against the division rival Atlanta Falcons.  Overall the Saints looked good and seemed to be playing with a purpose once again.  This was a key victory for the Saints as it concerns their playoff hopes.  With this week’s win against the Falcons, the Saints are now 7-4 and very much alive in the playoff hunt and possible divisional crown.  Hopefully they will be able to continue with this new momentum through the remainder of their schedule & into the playoffs.

Player of the Game

            This week’s Player of the Game is Drew Brees in his performance against the rival Atlanta Falcons.  Brees had yet another excellent game, finishing with 349 yards passing, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.  His performance helped the Saints to elevate their play and get the victory.  If Brees and the Saints can continue play like this, then this could be the first win of many down the stretch.  With his performance this week, Brees set a league record for most yards passing over a five game stretch with 300 plus passing yards over each. 

Saints vs. 49ers

            The Saints will be facing one of the league’s hottest teams this week when they square off against the 49ers.  The 49ers have over achieved as have the Saints this year and this game promises to be a pretty solid match up.  In order for the Saints to win this game they will have to make sure they limit turnovers.  Defensively the team will need to limit the effectiveness of the rushing attack and keep pressure on the 49ers’ young quarterback.  Offensively the Saints would likely be well served to try and gain an early lead and then let the running game milk the clock as they try and keep the ball out of their opponent’s hands.  If the Saints are able to do this, then they should be able to pull out a victory. 

Q & A

            Q & A is the question and answer section.  If you have a question you would like answered, email it to SuperSaintsWeekly@yahoo.com with the subject heading of Q&A and we will try to answer the question to the best of our ability.

Q – JB, I'm just wondering what is up with SSW?  In past years, I found the newsletter to be well informed and the coverage had some depth to it.  This year, you really must be busy with work or something, because the reports are so brief that I get the impression you're doing them out of obligation.  This year, it seems to lack the same intensity...  I don't know.  Just wanted to check and make sure you're okay. – A concerned reader

A – Overall I must admit that the SSW has been shorter recently, due in part to many factors, one of which is time, but another of which is that overall the Saints season is going well & their play in many cases is speaking for itself.  However, during the end of the season and the approaching off-season, you will see more of the in-depth articles that readers have grown accustomed to. 

Psycho’s View

            Overall the Saints season has been a pleasant surprise for many thus far.  While their record could be better, the team has done well and in most cases their losses have come by them beating themselves and not being dominated by their opponents.  If the Saints can continue to limit their turnovers and not give up the big plays, then they should be able to continue to find success down the stretch and make a strong push for the playoffs.  That hope might seem strange to many considering where the Saints were expected to finish in the division, but it is a welcome sight for weary Saints fans.  

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