Reasons off the top of my head the Saints should be nervous

[Beef]

(12-27-2010 09:58 AM)Jesus Wrote:  Their defense is top ten.
They are also free of key injuries.

Aren't they down a starting DB or 2 as well as a couple starting LB's? And isn't Ivory a likely scratch?

And the "top 10 defense" is ridiculously misleading.

N.O. wins:
Minn = record: 5-9, passing: 25th, rushing: 9th, points scored: 9
SF = record: 5-9, passing: 22nd, rushing: 19th, points scored: 22
Carolina = record: 2-13, passing: 32nd, rushing: 14th, points scored: 14
TB = record: 9-6, passing: 21st, rushing: 6th, points scored: 6
Pitt = record: 11-4, passing: 16th, rushing: 10th, points scored: 17 (this was home @ NO, by the way)
Carolina = record: 2-13, passing: 32nd, rushing: 14th, points scored: 3
Seatle = record: 6-8, passing: 16th, rushing: 31st, points scored: 19
Dallas = record: 5-9, passing: 4th, rushing: 22nd, points scored: 27
Cinci = record: 4-11, passing: 13th, rushing: 27th, points scored: 30
Rams = record: 6-8, passing: 21st, rushing: 20th, points scored: 13

N.O. losses:
Atlanta = record: 12-2, passing: 14th, rushing: 8th, points scored: 27
Arizona = record: 4-11, passing: 31st, rushing: 30th, points scored: 30
Cleveland = record: 5-10, passing: 30th, rushing: 18th, points scored: 30
Baltimore = record: 11-4, passing: 17th, rushing: 13th, points scored: 30

Oddly, NO has 5 games where they've given up over 24 points, Atlanta only has 2 games above 24. Yet NO has a 4th ranked overall defense while Atlanta is ranked 9th overall somehow, doesn't make any sense. Atlanta has also played 7 games vs. teams with winning records, NO has only played 4. Not to mention, they gave up 30 points to both Arizona & Cleveland for shit sakes, LOL.

Add to this, Atlanta has 369 total points to NO's 354. And NO has given up 270 points while Atlanta has only given up 261. Yet some how NO's offense & defense is ranked higher, again this makes no sense. We also have 10 more interceptions than they do while also giving up 10 fewer than them. We're +7 ahead of them in the turnover ratio too.

We've scored more, given up less, played a much harder schedule vs more winning teams with way better stat rankings. Ryan has 10 less interceptions than Brees, our O-line has given up less sacks, and oh yeah we beat them in their house.

They are Over-rated, period. We're better than them & they will not beat us in the Dome.