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Re: NFL Wild Card: Saints at Seahawks
Taking wild-card route to Super Bowl not as tough as it used to be | NOLA.com
Crowd noise could drown out New Orleans Saints | NOLA.com
Taking wild-card route to Super Bowl not as tough as it used to be | NOLA.com
Brian Billick hesitated before answering the question, which was the first surprise.
After all, you would think the man who coached the 2000 wild card Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl title, using one of the greatest defenses in NFL history and a solid running game to hide a poor passing attack, would have a ready answer for: "Is it true wild cards must have a great defense and powerful running games to reach the Super Bowl?"
But the second surprise was his answer.
"That's certainly how we did it, but, I'll tell you, things have really changed since then," said Billick, who has been equally successful in the TV booth at NFL Network and Fox. "I think today it has been proven you pretty much need dynamic play at quarterback to win, particularly on the road. So while the ability to play defense and run is still important, it's somewhat diminished, and it's not quite the same priority if you have a Drew Brees or a Peyton Manning.
"In fact, I don't think the whole wild card on-the-road thing is as big an obstacle as it once might have been."
Crowd noise could drown out New Orleans Saints | NOLA.com
The New Orleans Saints will be hit with a double whammy inside Seattle's Qwest Field this afternoon.
Not only will they be exposed to the weather elements at the outdoor stadium -- a 60 percent chance of rain as of Friday evening -- but they also will be bombarded by one of the NFL's loudest crowds.
Thanks to a unique architectural design, with cantilever roofs hanging over the stands to keep fans dry, Qwest Field produces a noise level that has been measured at around 110-115 decibels, even when it's not a playoff atmosphere.
Many players and coaches around the league rank it as the toughest atmosphere to play in. And at least one statistic backs that up.
Since 2005, opponents have been flagged for more false-start penalties (104) than at any other stadium. Minnesota's Metrodome ranks second at 91.
During the '05 season, the New York Giants infamously committed 11 false starts during a 24-21 overtime loss at Seattle, including five in one drive.