The Saints

FB94

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Don’t know about easily, but I think Brees would have done much better, and maybe the Saints defense worse than the rams. Love em or hate em, got to respect the Patriots.
 

Southpaw

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Saints played in a state of mediocrity outside their division. The last 4 games, playoff included, gave nothing to indicate they "would have". Now they just whine about what should have been.
 

PACardsFan

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Saints vs Patriots would have been more interesting due to the Brady/Brees matchup, but still tough to beat the Pats when they have a chip on their shoulder. After losing the SB last year, I just couldn't see them losing this one. Regardless of whether it was the Rams or Saints. I don't think Payton would have been schooled as badly as McVay was though.
 

JeffGollin

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Matchups seldom work on the basis of "Our offense smoked your defense; your defense smoked their offense, therefore our offense will smoke their defense." (or something like that).

Matchups are unique to the two teams going head-to-head and may involve a big receiver dominating a small CB on Team A but, in turn, being dominated by a 6-2 corner on Team B. (Multiply that by 11 and welcome to matchup hell).

All of which is to say that the Saints may have struggled vs. LA, but you never know what Brees might pull out of his butt vs. the Pats.

One thing that impressed me about Belichick was his ability to uncover opposing weaknesses during the game and then making adjustments in the 4Q to exploit those weaknesses.
 

Jetstream Green

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Matchups seldom work on the basis of "Our offense smoked your defense; your defense smoked their offense, therefore our offense will smoke their defense." (or something like that).

Matchups are unique to the two teams going head-to-head and may involve a big receiver dominating a small CB on Team A but, in turn, being dominated by a 6-2 corner on Team B. (Multiply that by 11 and welcome to matchup hell).

All of which is to say that the Saints may have struggled vs. LA, but you never know what Brees might pull out of his butt vs. the Pats.

One thing that impressed me about Belichick was his ability to uncover opposing weaknesses during the game and then making adjustments in the 4Q to exploit those weaknesses.

Great points, but the one thing that I adhere to in all of this is Belichick... give that guy weeks of preparation and the advantage is clearly in his favor
 

NJCardFan

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Actually, the Rams defense held up their end of the bargain. The Rams offense was the one that screwed the pooch. You couldn't ask their defense to play any better. The fact that they only allowed 1 TD is pretty remarkable. Most teams win those games but won't if they don't score any TD's.
 

slanidrac16

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Brees would have handled the Pats blitzing but the Pats would have had a entirely different game plan for the Saints. Face it. The patriots are simply very good and virtually impossible to beat when given time to prepare for an opponent.
 
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