Back from the holiday and want to talk Saints.
Everyone in the world is talking about how they are going to be one-and-out in the playoffs. About how vulnerable they are. About how the invincibility of their 13-game win streak is a thing of the past.
Now, I have watched a lot of football this year. Some years I pay attention more than others. I often tune out once the Saints’ playoff hopes have been dashed officially or figuratively. This year I have been watching with rare gusto. Some thing I have noticed…
Announcers are not like Spaghetti charts.
When they are all in agreement, they are probably wrong. Right now they all have chubbies over Dallas and San Diego. San Diego is on a long winning streak but Dallas? They were openly mocking those guys a month ago. They were all talking about a “December collapse” that was inevitable for them because the team has played poorly in December in the past. So what happened? That talk got them fired up and they proved something against the Saints. Same for the Eagles, who were the toughest team in football until they got dey ass whipped by Dallas last week. Now they are a “team in trouble.” Expect the Saints to defy the expectations and bounce back.
There is a statistic for everything
I heard a guy say the Saints have never won coming off a defeat this year. I was so stunned by this “out-of-ass” statistic I couldn’t even think of a response. Now that I have had time I want to state the Saints have won every game after a bye this season.
It’s the defense
I have heard the defense blamed for a lot in the two losses at Dallas and Tampa and the general malaise of the team but it was the offense’s fault really. Here are the points scored on our defense all season: 27, 22, 7, 10, 27, 34, 27, 20, 23, 7, 17, 30, 23, 24, 20, 23. So the defense has been doing what they have all season. It was the offense that didn’t show up in the first part of the Dallas game and the second part of the Tampa game.
The Saints starters are going to have two weeks rest and have had a lot to think about heading into that first playoff game. I expect them to perform very well. But it’s shit like this that really pisses me off…
New Orleans Saints’ Charles Grant feels ‘heartache’ at fans’ reaction
He’s right. Don’t be a bandwagon fan. And, uh, just ignore that stuff about being 14-2.
I think the bandwagon fans do not appreciate the experience of Sean Payton as a coach. I trust he knows what he is doing. I also have faith that the players will do everything in their power to win… and I will make sure to wear my Saints t-shirt during the game, as I feel this also really helps the team 😉