Since the Saints Got Smoked, Does This Mean They're Lousy?

[JeffGollin]

I didn't want to have this buried in the Indy - NO thread, because it really relates to a different topic. (I'm trying to make a different point).

I'll bet the lopsided loss by New Orleans to the Colts won't mean that either the Saints or their fans will get down on themselves nor will they write off the season. They know what the team has done in the recent past, realize they still have 15 games left to be won during the regular season and have every reason they'll be in the playoff hunt come December.

The Cardinals are going up against an improved Niner football team. (I'd maintain that, if the Niners turn out to be as good as all the hype, then they'd have to be considered the favorite to win the division). As such, if the Cardinals were to lose to the Niners Monday Night (especially if the margin was close), it wouldn't be the end of the world. We'd still have 15 games left to be won along with the opportunity to beat them when we play them again in our house.

This doesn't mean that I don't think Monday night's game isn't winnable or that we won't have begun to create a hole we will have to dig our way out of should we not win. But I feel that, in the recent past, this team has given way to the temptation of putting most or all of its emotional marbles on one "make or break" game only to be devestated when we didn't win it. (For example, it took us several games to recover from the StL and Chicago losses).

It's a 16 game season. If we make sure "we don't look back" and consistently put forth our best effort, we're going to win more than our share and good things will start happening.

 

[TheCardFan]

The Saint made it to the NFC Championship game...so, there fans already know they are good.

And it's not like they lost to another team that hasn't won recently...they lost to the Super Bowl Champs at home!

 

[Mulli]

The Saint made it to the NFC Championship game...so, there fans already know they are good.

And it's not like they lost to another team that hasn't won recently...they lost to the Super Bowl Champs at home!

I know some would like to think that, but I don't think the Saints win a game this year.

just kidding

 

[nashman]

Saints should be somewhat concerned that their vaunted offense scored a whopping 3 points in an entire game!!! Thats reason to worry!

 

[CardLogic]

It's a 16 game season. If we make sure "we don't look back" and consistently put forth our best effort, we're going to win more than our share and good things will start happening.

I really think this will be one of Ken Whisenhunt and his staff's defining impacts for the Cardinals this season. Nearly every one of the coaching staff has worked on winning programs. They will not allow the team to go into a defeatist funk, i.e. - loser mentality, over a tough loss!

 

[82CardsGrad]

Nothing more than a very good team in the NFC getting spanked by the AFC, again...

Games like this really illustrate just how much better the AFC is versus the NFC. The Saints will go on to make the playoffs this season, and may make it all the way to the Super Bowl. That's how weak the NFC truly is...

 

[jefftheshark]

If the Cards lose on Monday night, then the Saints (like us) were merely a victim of the NFL schedulers.

If the Cards win, then yes, they suck.

JTS

 

[Cheesebeef]

I'll bet the lopsided loss by New Orleans to the Colts won't mean that either the Saints or their fans will get down on themselves nor will they write off the season.

right Jeff...I'm sure everyone is completely ******-dorey today in the wake of a complete and utter thrashing on national TV while it's vaunted offense didn't score a TD for the first time in two years. Come on now. They probably don't think their season is over (nor should they considering a) what they were last year b) they were playing the Colts and c) they play in the NFC, but I don't think you'd find a lot of smiling faces in the locker-room or on their message boards right now.

I also fail to see what the Saints have to do with us considering a, b, and c above.

 

[Duckjake]

right Jeff...I'm sure everyone is completely ******-dorey today in the wake of a complete and utter thrashing on national TV while it's vaunted offense didn't score a TD for the first time in two years. Come on now. They probably don't think their season is over (nor should they considering a) what they were last year b) they were playing the Colts and c) they play in the NFC, but I don't think you'd find a lot of smiling faces in the locker-room or on their message boards right now.

I also fail to see what the Saints have to do with us considering a, b, and c above.

I don't think a blowout loss would be as damaging as another loss like St.Louis or Chicago. As mentioned before the '98 team was crushed two weeks in a row and rebounded. What we don't need is to have the game in hand and lose it on some freak play.

 

[AZCB34]

right Jeff...I'm sure everyone is completely ******-dorey today in the wake of a complete and utter thrashing on national TV while it's vaunted offense didn't score a TD for the first time in two years. Come on now. They probably don't think their season is over (nor should they considering a) what they were last year b) they were playing the Colts and c) they play in the NFC, but I don't think you'd find a lot of smiling faces in the locker-room or on their message boards right now.

I also fail to see what the Saints have to do with us considering a, b, and c above.

My guess is if someone here ventured over to a Saints board today, there will be fire and brimstone posting going on where the world has ended and the sky is falling and the season is over and there are probably 3 posters playing the role of Kevin Bacon in Animal House..."ALL IS WELL!!! REMAIN CALM!!!"

 

[Pariah]

The Saints better be concerned about their season. They looked like the Saints of old in the second half. And they didn't look much better than that in the first.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I don't think a blowout loss would be as damaging as another loss like St.Louis or Chicago. As mentioned before the '98 team was crushed two weeks in a row and rebounded. What we don't need is to have the game in hand and lose it on some freak play.

eh, a loss is a loss. I don't think losing this game either way (if they are to lose it) will have a carry-over effect for their first home-game.

 

[blindseyed]

The Saints better be concerned about their season. They looked like the Saints of old in the second half. And they didn't look much better than that in the first.

That's what I was thinking too after the half. For a sec I thought of the coach having a sophmore slump, lst year was a fluke kinda thing etc.. but I really can't say that unless they start playing like this for the next 3-4 games...then I might say that.

 

[Goober Man]

The Saints aren't lousy..Just their CB that got burnt for 3 TD's is lousy

 

[Mulli]

On ESPN this morning, the highlight guy screamed with joy as Reggie Bush ran up the middle for ten yards. The he said houseguest finished with 39 yards. Oops.

 

[jmt]

Why do most folks think the Saints are so good? They had an easy schedule last year and rode some emotion retrurning to the Big Easy. With a tougher schedule and no longer under the radar they are like the rest of the NFC - mediocre. They could as easily miss the playoffs as go to the Super Bowl.

 

[Skkorpion]

1. I don't buy into this "the whole NFC is weak" theory. Case in point, if Chicago finds a QB who can manage the game without a multitude of stupid turnovers, they might be the best team in football.

2. The Saints are not as bad as they played last night, nor are they as good as their last year's record. The defensive weaknesses are real and John Madden didn't bother mentioning that the Saints deep safeties were constantly being suckered into the middle, leaving the CB to take all the blame for 3 TDs.

Drew Brees displayed panic. Watch other teams copy the Colt's defensive plan, forcing Brees to scramble and throw deep, on the run. I doubt he can do it.

3. We are not Chicago; we are not the Saints. If we lose Monday night, it probably will mean nothing more than a 1 in the loss column, unless ... we lose looking totally inept, making fundamental mistakes, drawing multiple penalties.

 

[cardsfanmd]

I dont care about who is better between the AFC and NFC. I am not a fan of either. I am an Arizona Cardinal's fan. Hold on, I do hope the AFC is better. I hope we smash all of the teams in our division and head straight to the playoffs.

 

[82CardsGrad]

1. I don't buy into this "the whole NFC is weak" theory. Case in point, if Chicago finds a QB who can manage the game without a multitude of stupid turnovers, they might be the best team in football.

2. The Saints are not as bad as they played last night, nor are they as good as their last year's record. The defensive weaknesses are real and John Madden didn't bother mentioning that the Saints deep safeties were constantly being suckered into the middle, leaving the CB to take all the blame for 3 TDs.

Drew Brees displayed panic. Watch other teams copy the Colt's defensive plan, forcing Brees to scramble and throw deep, on the run. I doubt he can do it.

3. We are not Chicago; we are not the Saints. If we lose Monday night, it probably will mean nothing more than a 1 in the loss column, unless ... we lose looking totally inept, making fundamental mistakes, drawing multiple penalties.

Oh c'mon now... You don't REALLY believe that do you??

And, do you really believe that teams like the Pats, Colts, Chargers, Ravens, Bengals, Broncos, Jets, Bills, Steelers, Jaguars... don't represent better quality than an equal number (oh heck, throw in the whole lot of them) from the NFC??

 

[Duckjake]

eh, a loss is a loss. I don't think losing this game either way (if they are to lose it) will have a carry-over effect for their first home-game.

I wasn't talking about the team. I was talking about the fans.

 

[Cheesebeef]

1. I don't buy into this "the whole NFC is weak" theory. Case in point, if Chicago finds a QB who can manage the game without a multitude of stupid turnovers, they might be the best team in football.

Skkorp - so if Chicago fills the most important position in all of football, they can be the best team in football? Yeah, maybe okay (even though I think Benson's a downgrade over TJ, who I know you loathe), but how easy is it to get that guy? It's not - thus, they are who we thought they were! Probably the best team in the NFC, but bantha fodder for the AFC Champ.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Skkorp - so if Chicago fills the most important position in all of football, they can be the best team in football? Yeah, maybe okay (even though I think Benson's a downgrade over TJ, who I know you loathe), but how easy is it to get that guy? It's not - thus, they are who we thought they were! Probably the best team in the NFC, but bantha fodder for the AFC Champ.

Not only the AFC Champ, but the Pats, Ravens & Chargers as well...

 

[Cheesebeef]

Not only the AFC Champ, but the Pats, Ravens & Chargers as well...

eh, the Ravens are a bit over-rated IMO and I don't know about you, but I had every expectation that Indy would beat them last year. They got by playing in a bad division, playing solid defense, but that offense just doesn't scare anyone and they lost Adalius Thomas. And as far as the Chargers go, with Norv at the helm, I'd expect Lovie to completely outcoach him and have a shot to win, just because Turner is that inept.

But yeah, the Pats and the Colts would maul the Bears.

 

[Skkorpion]

Oh c'mon now... You don't REALLY believe that do you??

And, do you really believe that teams like the Pats, Colts, Chargers, Ravens, Bengals, Broncos, Jets, Bills, Steelers, Jaguars... don't represent better quality than an equal number (oh heck, throw in the whole lot of them) from the NFC??

1. Yes, I believe it.

2. Broncos? 9-7 in 06. When was their last playoff win?

3. Bills? 7-9 in 06. 5-11 in 05. Last time in the playoffs?

4. Steelers? 8-8 in 06. Whole new staff, scheme. How good are they?

Yup. Whole lot of quality there, huh? The others you mention are good but some have worts:

5. Jaguars? 8-8 in 06. 9-7 in 04. One good season in between. New QB, bevy of failed WRs, new offense.

6. Bengals? 8-8 in 06. 8-8 in 04. One good season in between. 0 playoff wins under this coach?

7. Jets? 4-12 in 05. Good year last year. QB with a ruined shoulder. Jury still out.

8. San Diego. Great talent. Last playoff win? New coaches. Norv Turner? Puhlease.

9. Ravens? 9-7 in 04. 6-10 in 05. 6-10 in 06. GREAT TEAM!

Yup. Whole lot of recent dominance there. Especially those Ravens.

 

[Cheesebeef]

9. Ravens? 9-7 in 04. 6-10 in 05. 6-10 in 06. GREAT TEAM!

Yup. Whole lot of recent dominance there. Especially those Ravens.

Uh, Skkorp (or should I call you 40 with this kind of complete whiffing of set in stone facts? ), the Ravens were 13-3 in 2006.