POLL: How do you feel about the way the Saints season ended?

Defense greatly exceeded my expectations and I'm optimistic that next year will be even better.

I did expect a bit more from the offense.

All and all, I look for the Saints to go deeper into the playoffs next season.

 

Over the last 48 hours or so I could have clicked any one of the options.

Buuuuuutttttt . . . after taking a couple of deep breaths and doing a little thinking, I went with exceeded my expectations. Realistically, this team, I think, played over its head most of the year. At the beginning of the season, I thought the Saints were looking at somewhere between 10 and 13 wins. But with the early season win streak, my expectations, like most others, went through the roof.

The only loss that really left me scratching my head was to St. Louis. There was so much riding on that game and the Saints simply didn't come into as prepared as the Rams. That game also should have told me that this wasn't the year for the Saints.

 

11-5 was just about what I expected. The road playoff win in the cold exceeded my expectations a bit. All in all, I'd say it is a good building block. Gotta committ to the run more and continue to build. That will help fix alot of the road and weather condition issues we've been having trouble with.

 

1. Why oh why is Ingram still on this team?

2. We pay all that money to Brees and he of all people shits down his leg when we need him to come through the most. That is telling.

3. About what I expected even though I voted slightly pissed because of that vanishing act the QB pulled up in seattle. I hate the sea chickens about as much as I hate the gumps. Could have put them away but instead...

 

Defense overachieved and the offense got away from what they do best. Payton tried to go run-first with the wrong personnel.

 

Payton and Brees are 1 hit wonders. Drew is very good, Brady and manning are great. This team had no swag...

 

Defense not bad for one year under new coordinator. It will be better this fall. Not sure what to say about offense other than it being back under Payton after a year out, not to mention the coach not being directly involved for one draft. This was an OK season for management, coaches, and players to get their legs back under them. However, some off season personnel decisions need to be made, and the club needs to retool for the future.

 

I agree with all of this. The Rams game was frustrating although they had some flashes of being a decent team.

Many might disagree, but I think the Saints would have won about 3 out of 10 at Seattle if they re-played the playoff game in the same conditions (which I think is pretty good given the environment and quality of Seattle's team). There were just a few mistakes the Saints made that couldn't happen. It wasn't like they were outclassed though, which gives me optimism for the final few years of Payton/Brees.

My biggest negative from this season is all of the negativity from Saints fans. Even when things were going fairly well, it became a mob mentality of bashing Hartley, Ingram, and even Brees towards the end. I guess it's just the social media world we live in where it's cool to be overly critical.