How worried would you be to face the New Orleans Saints in the Superbowl?

[Patriot Missile]

So far every opponent has been good in the Superbowls New England has played in. The 28-3 miracle was actually their biggest win in ot when they won by 6.

Excluding the first two, every game has been close coming down to 1 or 2 plays. For once if they do happen to get there again I'd like to see a blowout in NE's favor. Will it happen? Probably not considering the opponents that are favored to get there.

 

[RobertWeathers]

You're probably right, but not if we both play our best game. They are solid, but we have a couple xfactures that are game changers.
OMG can you imagine how much Viking fans are going to hate us if we knock them out of SB again. yikes might be better to lose.

Believe me, I'm pulling for y'all. I can't stand Philly. MN is boring and I don't want to play a tough D. Hate Cam and CAR. I don't have an issue with the Rams, really but I like NO more.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

I would rather face a stationary QB like brees than cam.

NO to me overly relies on kamara and ingram on offense. If you shut them down, their passing game does not scare me.

 

[Roboturner913]

As a Saints fan, I'd give us a chance, but not a good one. Mainly because SP isn't going to outcoach Belichick.

Now, I wouldn't use that week 2 game as any kind of reference point...the defense was a trainwreck then. It was after that game they turned it around....they gave up I believe 1100 yards the first two games of the season, then went on a dominant run where they were the #1 defense in the league for a long stretch before levelling off a bit around week 12 or so, in large part because of injuries.

Which brings me to the big problem. We have I believe 17 guys on IR, and a lot of those guys are starters, or at least guys who would play a lot of snaps: Fairley, Breaux, Klein, Anzalone, Vaccaro, Fleener, Okafor, Strief, Stupar, Hughes, Kuhn. Then we have Hendrickson and Hoomanawanui that missed the last game, and Armstead, Kelemete and Kikaha who got hurt last game.

So that's a starter at corner, the #1, 2 and 3 guys at LDE, a starting DT, a starting left tackle, two starting LB's, a starter at safety, a starter at TE, the would-be 6th man at OL, the replacement 6th man at OL, starting FB, a solid depth DT, the special teams captain and 4th LB. The injuries have been insane and I'm not sure there's going to be enough manpower left to get win more than one playoff game.

We are also relatively thin at WR and as somebody mentioned, if you take Kamara out of the game the offense loses a lot of its juice since he is not only a starting caliber RB but the closest thing we have to a zone beating slot WR. As good as the defense has been this year the offense has been a bit of a letdown at times compared to what we've been used to seeing over the last 10 years.

I think we could beat any of the NFC teams at home. We could probably beat Philly on the road since they're stuck with Foles now. I don't see us being able to win at Minnesota or the Rams. I think we could beat any AFC team, except the Patriots.

 

[mitsudriver]

The real question is would the boo's for Goody break the loudest stadium record?

 

[Patriot Missile]

I'd pretty much sum up New Orleans defense as a very good one this year. Combine that with a excellent running game and a QB that can make all the throws which gives them a chance in every game. I'd prefer Philly over NO every day without Wentz.

But not our call, the Pats still have to win next week and then 2 games after that. Sometimes I wonder if some fans just think its a given to get the big game?

 

[TinhWoodhead]

Brees should have 2 SB rings like Big ben & the Mannings but not at the Pats expense!

 

[jam757]

In order of biggest threat and toughest Super Bowl opponent:

1. Vikings- brutally tough D but the main reason I put them here is this would be a home game in the Super Bowl which is just ridiculous and a major advantage.
2. Rams- I could easily place them higher as this would present major challenges with having to stop Gurley. This team is peaking right now and would be extremely dangerous.
3. Eagles- many people are counting them out and they may certainly not make it but this is the best defensive team out of all of them and maybe with a Giants game plan and front 4 pressure they could do some damage. They would definitely be formidable but I don't know if they have enough offensive firepower with Foles
4. Panthers- they won in the regular season and Cam is hard to stop. I would not love this matchup although I think the Pats can play better D this time around.
5. Falcons- probably silly to even consider it but if this actually happened I would hate it. I do not want to relive the first three quarters of the last Super Bowl.
6. Saints- Pats seem to match up well against this team and the Saints although better than they were earlier in the season are a long shot to make it deep. I would welcome this match-up!

 

[pencilneckgeek]

Uh, I'd be excited. It's the Superbowl.

 

[Haterproof]

This is actually the sexiest Superbowl matchup of them all! Since we'll probably never get a Brady vs Rodgers Superbowl Brady vs Brees is as close as it gets! The battle of 2 Big 10 QBs! TBH I still wouldn't want to face Brees in a Superbowl. He's one of a few QBs that can go touchdown for touchdown with Brady if the game turns into a shoot-out!

 

[YOUGOTMOSSED]

They have the most balanced team in the NFL to me. Drew Brees doesn't have to win by himself with two great running backs averaging more than 5 yards a carry. The defense has a great pass rush and a secondary that has loads of ints. I think they'd be the hardest team the Patriots would have faced in the Superbowl.

Regardless of the outcome, Goodell gets boo'ed out of the stadium.

 

[FCB02062]

I'm worried about winning the division round, never mind facing and beating a team the. pats destroyed this season...

 

[jam757]

This is actually the sexiest Superbowl matchup of them all! Since we'll probably never get a Brady vs Rodgers Superbowl Brady vs Brees is as close as it gets! The battle of 2 Big 10 QBs! TBH I still wouldn't want to face Brees in a Superbowl. He's one of a few QBs that can go touchdown for touchdown with Brady if the game turns into a shoot-out!

It would be a great game, most likely a shoot out. I actually like the Saints the most out of all the NFC teams. I lived in NOLA for 12 years so been to the dome a few times, including the Saints playoff win against the Rams, maybe 2003-2003. I saw a great Pats- Saints game and a Bledsoe win 30-28 I think it was.

 

[jam757]

I'm worried about winning the division round, never mind facing and beating a team the. pats destroyed this season...

Is Baltimore or the Chiefs our worst opponent? Everyone is talking up JAX beating Pittsburgh but I think they'll get waxed by the Steelers. I'd rather play JAX than Ravens or Chiefs based on prior history. Also, Blake Bortles is not coming in to a snowy Foxboro and beating anybody!

 

[drewskie]

The NFC team I worry about the most is Minnesota. They have an incredible defense, some great playmakers on offense, and the game would be IN Minnesota. I know there are Super Bowls where we haven't had the crowd, but this would be ridiculous.

I'm not sold on MIN. While I acknowledge they have a great defense (perhaps the only NFC defense with Pro Bowlers at every level of the defense outside of perhaps the Rams), which offensive play makers do you speak of? Here are their skill position players:

Running backs

• 31 Mack Brown
• 30 C. J. Ham FB
• 21 Jerick McKinnon
• 25 Latavius Murray

Wide receivers

• 13 Stacy Coley
• 14 Stefon Diggs
• 18 Michael Floyd
• 19 Adam Thielen
• 11 Laquon Treadwell
• 17 Jarius Wright

Tight ends

• 86 Kyle Carter
• 89 David Morgan II
• 82 Kyle Rudolph

Decent offense? Sure, especially with Thielen who impresses me. But not much else IMO.

 

[YOUGOTMOSSED]

I'm worried about winning the division round, never mind facing and beating a team the. pats destroyed this season...

Who worries you in the divisional? KC? Ravens? or possibly those mighty Tennessee Titans? Seems like light work to me.

Sounds like you worry too much.

 

[jam757]

I'm not sold on MIN. While I acknowledge they have a great defense (perhaps the only NFC defense with Pro Bowlers at every level of the defense outside of perhaps the Rams), which offensive play makers do you speak of? Here are their skill position players:

Running backs

• 31 Mack Brown
• 30 C. J. Ham FB
• 21 Jerick McKinnon
• 25 Latavius Murray

Wide receivers

• 13 Stacy Coley
• 14 Stefon Diggs
• 18 Michael Floyd
• 19 Adam Thielen
• 11 Laquon Treadwell
• 17 Jarius Wright

Tight ends

• 86 Kyle Carter
• 89 David Morgan II
• 82 Kyle Rudolph

Decent offense? Sure, especially with Thielen who impresses me. But not much else IMO.

Agree, from a talent standpoint not nearly as much to worry about as say the Rams. The Pats do play well on the road so maybe I should discount the home-field advantage in the dome.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

I'm not sold on MIN. While I acknowledge they have a great defense (perhaps the only NFC defense with Pro Bowlers at every level of the defense outside of perhaps the Rams), which offensive play makers do you speak of? Here are their skill position players:

Running backs

• 31 Mack Brown
• 30 C. J. Ham FB
• 21 Jerick McKinnon
• 25 Latavius Murray

Wide receivers

• 13 Stacy Coley
• 14 Stefon Diggs
• 18 Michael Floyd
• 19 Adam Thielen
• 11 Laquon Treadwell
• 17 Jarius Wright

Tight ends

• 86 Kyle Carter
• 89 David Morgan II
• 82 Kyle Rudolph

Decent offense? Sure, especially with Thielen who impresses me. But not much else IMO.

Thielen is the obvious guy, but Diggs has been impressive when I've seen him play this year. I also think McKinnon is a versatile weapon out of the backfield, similar in the passing game to James White but also runs more (138 carries, 51 receptions). They also have a big tight end in Rudolph. He's not Gronk, but he's a good player.

The Vikings defense gets a ton of credit, and deservedly so. But this offense is 10th in both points and yards. They've been very productive all year long, even after losing star rookie Dalvin Cook.

 

[Gwedd]

Uh, I'd be excited. It's the Superbowl.

THIS ^^^^^^^ I'm right there with ya. I really don't have a preference right now. Just get in first, then take it from there.

 

[RobertWeathers]

As a Saints fan, I'd give us a chance, but not a good one. Mainly because SP isn't going to outcoach Belichick.

Now, I wouldn't use that week 2 game as any kind of reference point...the defense was a trainwreck then. It was after that game they turned it around....they gave up I believe 1100 yards the first two games of the season, then went on a dominant run where they were the #1 defense in the league for a long stretch before levelling off a bit around week 12 or so, in large part because of injuries.

Which brings me to the big problem. We have I believe 17 guys on IR, and a lot of those guys are starters, or at least guys who would play a lot of snaps: Fairley, Breaux, Klein, Anzalone, Vaccaro, Fleener, Okafor, Strief, Stupar, Hughes, Kuhn. Then we have Hendrickson and Hoomanawanui that missed the last game, and Armstead, Kelemete and Kikaha who got hurt last game.

So that's a starter at corner, the #1, 2 and 3 guys at LDE, a starting DT, a starting left tackle, two starting LB's, a starter at safety, a starter at TE, the would-be 6th man at OL, the replacement 6th man at OL, starting FB, a solid depth DT, the special teams captain and 4th LB. The injuries have been insane and I'm not sure there's going to be enough manpower left to get win more than one playoff game.

We are also relatively thin at WR and as somebody mentioned, if you take Kamara out of the game the offense loses a lot of its juice since he is not only a starting caliber RB but the closest thing we have to a zone beating slot WR. As good as the defense has been this year the offense has been a bit of a letdown at times compared to what we've been used to seeing over the last 10 years.

I think we could beat any of the NFC teams at home. We could probably beat Philly on the road since they're stuck with Foles now. I don't see us being able to win at Minnesota or the Rams. I think we could beat any AFC team, except the Patriots.

Yea you guys have been killed with injuries. Healthy I think y'all are the best in the NFC.