Falcons: Sean Weatherspoon

[AsylumGuido]

(11-10-2011 10:41 PM)phocis850 Wrote:  Yet somehow you've still lost 3 games.

Yup. That opening night game against the Packers was a tough loss. The home team has won every opening Thursday night game since they began. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong in the game at Tampa and the Saints still had a shot at the end of the game. The Rams game was a classic trap game. The team will never admit it, but they were clearly looking ahead at the rematch the following week against the Bucs and this week's game versus the Falcons. It didn't help any that Pete Carmichael called the whole game. They really missed Payton's input.

Yes, they have lost three games, but they know the real season starts in November and have been stressing that for the past two weeks. The Saints have had their ups and downs so far this season, but you can most likely expect to see them at their best this Sunday. If the Falcons can beat them at their best then all the credit to them.

But, all things being equal, I simply see the Saints as a more talented squad from top to bottom. No disrespect intended to Atlanta.

[illmusic]

thank God games aren't won by what you think then both teams should be giving out their best efforts though, most def...whoever wins this is probably representing the South barring any crazy huge injuries

[AsylumGuido]

(11-11-2011 11:01 AM)illmusic Wrote:  thank God games aren't won by what you think then both teams should be giving out their best efforts though, most def...whoever wins this is probably representing the South barring any crazy huge injuries

Yup. I agree about the winner taking the division.

[phocis850]

Guido. Superstition and historical data doesn't make a loss any better. You lost three games because the other team played better football. We lost for the same reasons. The Rams are an inferior team. Even if you "look past them", the game was still played and you lost. Your "more talented squad" lost.

[AsylumGuido]

(11-11-2011 11:12 AM)phocis850 Wrote:  Guido. Superstition and historical data doesn't make a loss any better. You lost three games because the other team played better football. We lost for the same reasons. The Rams are an inferior team. Even if you "look past them", the game was still played and you lost. Your "more talented squad" lost.

Exactly. What has happened up until this week is immaterial. You were the one that pointed out the losses. As long as both teams play to the best of their ability I really like the Saints' chances to come out on top of a close game. As you have mentioned yourself, it will probably come down to QB play and given that alone I expect Ryan to see more pressure from the Saints defense than Brees will see. I believe this will result in some key stops, if not in a key turnover or two. I would be real surprised if both teams didn't turn the ball over at least once, though, given the defensive intensity.

[Joenate]

I really wouldn't call the Saints a very talented team at all. They have a below average defense and a pass happy offense. As of late, they have ran the ball more effectively than usual, but I wouldn't say there is anything talented about the team as a whole.

[Joenate]

Their offense has talent, but I am talking about in the grand scheme of things. All that "talent" and you lose to the Rams, who have only one win and that one win is against. . . . . .

[AsylumGuido]

(11-13-2011 12:32 AM)Joenate Wrote:  I really wouldn't call the Saints a very talented team at all. They have a below average defense and a pass happy offense. As of late, they have ran the ball more effectively than usual, but I wouldn't say there is anything talented about the team as a whole.

That below average defense is ranked 15th overall, one slot below Atlanta's ranking of 14th. Both are "above average". The Saints passing defense is ranked 14th, once again "above average", while the Falcon's defense is ranked 19th, or "below average". The Saints rushing defense is ranked 17th, therefore technically "below average" I suppose. The Falcons are ranked 7th in rushing defense.

While the Saints offense is ranked 1st overall, their passing defense is only ranked 2nd. Even though they can be envisioned as "pass happy" they still manage to sport the 9th ranked rushing game in the NFL. The Falcons rank out at 14th overall, 18th with the pass and 13th on the ground.