Saints vs. Dallas may be biggest regular season game ever

Discussion in 'OTHER SPORTS Forum' started by islstl, Dec 6, 2006.

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  1. islstl

    islstl Playoff committee is a group of great football men Staff Member

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    The only other regular season game I can equate this to is the last game of the 91 season when the Saints beat the Cardinals 27-3 and won the division for the first time in their history.

    But with the division seemingly in the Saints control, this game could mean much much more. A first round bye and home field advantage guaranteed in the 2nd round of the playoffs.

    I think it is probably the only way the Saints make it to the Super Bowl, with only 1 possible road game at Chicago (and that's only if the Bears win their game, which they won't if Lovie doesn't replace Grossman with Griese).
     
    islstl, Dec 6, 2006
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  2. DownOnTheBayou

    DownOnTheBayou Say My Name!

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    Agreed. This game might be the game of the season. I wish it was on Mon. night instead. But with losing HT, I think the Saints will have to get in a shootout with Dallas. If Colston and Horn play, I like our chances.
     
    DownOnTheBayou, Dec 6, 2006
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  3. islstl

    islstl Playoff committee is a group of great football men Staff Member

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    I assume Payton saved Colston for this game and that he could have played if we needed him, which we didn't against the 49ers. Anybody have a beat on this?

    Also, Horn looks up in the air, damn shame he reaggravated the hammy/groin. Always a big risk with bringing someone back too soon from that kind of injury. I guess Payton thought we couldn't do without both Colston and Horn. And with the way the passing game struggled at the WR slot against the 49ers, he was justified in thinking that way.

    Our backup at NT is Atwan Lake. Have no idea if this guy is up to the task. I am sure Payton is game planning ways to bolster the run defense and hopefully confuse Romo. Key to the D will be our DBs probably having lots of 1 on 1 coverage as we try to max support the run defense with a safety up in the box. That's a scary proposition, especially for #22. Josh Bullocks will have to play the game of his career at FS.

    Turnovers are critical once again. Saints were +3 against the 49ers, making what would have been a really close game a blowout. Hopefully this is a trend as the D has struggled all year creating turnovers. I think you'll see lots of blitz packages, as Romo will eat us alive if he has time to throw.
     
    islstl, Dec 6, 2006
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  4. tirk

    tirk im the lyrical jessie james

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    rodney leisle gets the nod with willie whitehead filling in the middle at times if will smith can go. otherwise willie will have to play at end occasionally like the previous week.


    colston sat himself out after pregame warmups against atlanta so I guess thats what happened again against the niners. Both he and horn should be gametime decisions this weekend but that recurring groin injury is never a good thing so Id expect horn to be nothing more than a decoy for a qtr at best. colston has to play to even stand a chance.

    get ready for the reunion stories of payton and parcells. Payton was key in acquiring Romo at dallas and was tutoring him along. He also tried to get him here before settling on brees. Parcells reply was something like drink your warm milk and cookies and go lie down when payton called. Had his press conference on NFL network earlier where he said he called payton, dennis the menace, because he was hyper and brought cookies and coke while on the field instructing the offense. they said are you sure its not because of his looks? he said well there is quite a resemblance.

    fujita, copper and shanle are guys he took from dallas. maybe a few others. payton pretty much took what was expected to be a joke of a defense and patched it with players no one really saw as starters. hes got even more serious work to do this week. dallas should run with ease and romo's scrambling is gonna open things up.

    **jake delhomme out with partially torn ligament in thumb. Weinke to start. expect weinke to suck. not bad news for the saints.
     
    tirk, Dec 6, 2006
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  5. macatak911

    macatak911 CRAIG STELTZ = BEAST

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    According to the TP, Saints clinch playoff berth:

    Saints win AND:

    -Vikings loss or tie
    Panthers loss
    Eagles loss

    OR

    - Vikings loss or tie
    Giants loss
    Falcons loss

    OR

    -Vikings loss or tie
    Falcons loss
    Eagles loss
     
    macatak911, Dec 6, 2006
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  6. HatcherTiger

    HatcherTiger Freedom Isn't Free

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    I just wish the Saints would be healthy for the game. I swore I'd never put any more emotions into the Saints .... but they got me !
     
    HatcherTiger, Dec 7, 2006
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  7. islstl

    islstl Playoff committee is a group of great football men Staff Member

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    Something tells me Payton is saving his best gameplan for the cowgirls.
     
    islstl, Dec 7, 2006
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  8. islstl

    islstl Playoff committee is a group of great football men Staff Member

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    Horn definitely out. Colston is 50/50. Which means at best he will only contribute minimally in the game.

    So, Payton will have to definitely get even more creative than what he did against the 49ers. I trust he has plans. Big plans.

    Devery has to come through.
     
    islstl, Dec 8, 2006
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  9. DownOnTheBayou

    DownOnTheBayou Say My Name!

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    I got three words for Payton's gameplan on Sunday: Reggie, Reggie, Reggie. Expect to see Reggie touch the ball 25-30 times by way of run, pass, and sp. Plus Deuce should get a lot too. Last week proved our passing game is non-existent w/out Horn and Colston. If Colston doesn't play, our chances aren't so good.
     
    DownOnTheBayou, Dec 8, 2006
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  10. islstl

    islstl Playoff committee is a group of great football men Staff Member

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    Cowboys will jam the box. Guaranteed. Payton will have to construct some kind of passing game with the players we have. Maybe Copper burns his old team. And yes, Reggie will be all over the place Sunday Night.
     
    islstl, Dec 8, 2006
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