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

[drewskie]

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.

I've watched a lot of their games. Keenum is underrated if people think he's a scrub, but like Nick Foles if either of these two beat us then we probably weren't that great a team anyway. Not to mention their star rooke RB is no longer playing like you said.

That leaves Goff or Brees. Brees is one of the most historically underrated ATG QBs in the league but the biggest match up issue should both teams be fortunate enough to make it to SB 52 would be Kamara. Neutralize him, and I'd say the odds would be very good for us.

I think the Rams present the toughest match up IMO.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Bottom line for me is that I don't want the Pats to have to play any NFC team that is good enough to get to the SB and that has a QB who knows how to win the Big Game; that's an "X factor" that makes the other player and position match-ups secondary. So, on general principles, the Saints would worry me.
Otherwise, haven't thought about it that much. On to the Jetes and, hopefully, two more games in January.

 

[FCB02062]

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.

Any opponent worries me in a one off... Just ask the 2009 and 2010 Patriots

 

[PatsSox363804]

Our inability to get off the field lately on 3rd down would really concern me vs New Orleans who has 2 great backs and a hall of fame QB.

In reality if we must lose at least the Saints winning would make a lot of people I know happy but I would hate having to hear about it every day for the rest of the time I live in NOLA.

 

[YOUGOTMOSSED]

Any opponent worries me in a one off... Just ask the 2009 and 2010 Patriots

I suppose KC might be a valid concern considering that they beat us in the home opener. Fortunately, we now have James Harrison whom Eric Fisher cannot block . . . at all . . . even now.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

I've watched a lot of their games. Keenum is underrated if people think he's a scrub, but like Nick Foles if either of these two beat us then we probably weren't that great a team anyway. Not to mention their star rooke RB is no longer playing like you said.

That leaves Goff or Brees. Brees is one of the most historically underrated ATG QBs in the league but the biggest match up issue should both teams be fortunate enough to make it to SB 52 would be Kamara. Neutralize him, and I'd say the odds would be very good for us.

I think the Rams present the toughest match up IMO.

The Rams do have some tough individual matchups (Donald inside is probably my biggest concern on that side of the league), but all of the teams will have some very good players.

It's worth noting the Vikings beat both the Saints and Rams. Granted the Saints game was early and with Bradford, and the Rams game was much closer than the 24-7 score indicates (Keenum started and won that one).

But we won't be heavy underdogs to any of them, and we won't be heavy favourites either. It will be a good game, and I like our chances on a neutral field against any of them. But Minnesota won't be a neutral field.

 

[Soliel]

The pats will beat whoever is over there. I’m not worried until I post in gdt

 

[PatsFanInVa]

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?

Whereas in reality, that only has happened 50% of the time that the Pats with Brady have gone to the playoffs. It will only become the more likely result (based on performance) with a SB performance this year. Of course, it’s an overwhelmingly likely outcome that the Pats make the AFCCG.

Tongue in cheek, of course. The moment this type of thinking takes hold, the team is finished. On the other hand, there’s a close cousin to this type of thinking - the knowledge that it ain’t over until we say it’s over.

God damn, this has been a great ride!

 

[Deus Irae]

On the other hand, there’s a close cousin to this type of thinking - the knowledge that it ain’t over until we say it’s over.

"It's only 25 points! They've got this!"

- Patriots fans

 

[pherein]

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!

A shootout would be awesome, and Big plays by Gronk, Thomas a real death match
between Brady and Brees breaking all their records for a game and both playing the best game they can to their potential with nothing left in the tank. Would love that.
If Brees can get it together, and he seems to when its really needed, and the D plays equal to NE, wow.
I'm thinking like the Shootist with John Wayne, not gacy hes a serial killer
One last big game.
Think like your said that's going to bring in the most views. Cool if they did a gunslinger theme for SB
Wonder if Brees will call Brady before SB for advise like he did couple nights before facing PM lol
Hey, we can hope, don't really want anyone else.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

"It's only 25 points! They've got this!"

- Patriots fans

Who are these patriots fans and where are they on the game day threads?

 

[pherein]

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

Yeah what surprises me is I didn't think our depth to fill positions was as good as it is.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

A shootout would be awesome, and Big plays by Gronk, Thomas a real death match
between Brady and Brees breaking all their records for a game and both playing the best game they can to their potential with nothing left in the tank. Would love that.
If Brees can get it together, and he seems to when its really needed, and the D plays equal to NE, wow.
I'm thinking like the Shootist with John Wayne, not gacy hes a serial killer
One last big game.
Think like your said that's going to bring in the most views. Cool if they did a gunslinger theme for SB
Wonder if Brees will call Brady before SB , like he did couple nights before facing PM lol
Hey, we can hope, don't really want anyone else.

I don’t think Brady’s taking a call before the SB. Maybe “no offense - no pun intended - but let’s do this Monday.”

 

[PatriotsFan87]

To answer original question, they can be beat. Brees unfortunately took step down. Not because I am not a NO Fan. Just mean Brees seems to have regressed. However they have the most dynamic back since Barry Sanders. We really are ata huge disadvantage against them. They will win the Superbowl this year and ram it down collectively all our throats. In my honesst opinion, the superbowl will be kamara. Peyton and staff gets it because they had better scouts.

 

[PatriotsFan87]

When i say unfortunatly i mean we wont face saints where we shut down brees ànd wrs. We have to shut down the equivalent of barry sanders. We havent done well setting edge on outside at all. We make Superbowl, but lose because we don't have lbs now. This is my fear. And unfortunately what I see. Need strong lbs in outside.

 

[Roboturner913]

Brees has not regressed. His passer rating right now (103.6) is the highest it has been since 2013 and will be the 5th highest passer rating of his career (17 years). He's also going to break the single-season mark for completion percentage (currently 71.9). His yards per attempt is over 8. He leads the league in pass plays over 20 yards (69) and is in the top 5 in pass plays over 40 yards. His 4th quarter QB rating is 115.9.

The only thing about Brees that's any different between now and the last few years is he's not throwing for 5000+ yards, but that's because they figured out how to run the ball and play defense. He's only thrown the ball 506 times this season, he typically throws 650+ times a season (673 last year)

The only complaint I have about it is, it delays him breaking Manning's career yardage record by a couple or three games. Which now should happen around week 6 or 7 of next year. He'll be about 1400-1500 yards going into next season.

 

[Off The Grid]

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.

How ironic would it be, with all but a half dozen Super Bowls having been played in warm weather, if the first Super Bowl home field advantage wasn't until Super Bowl 52...and that it would be in the frozen tundra of Minnesota??

 

[Off The Grid]

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.

Good argument about their passing game, but it's not the passing games that scare you that win Super Bowls ~ it's the ones that execute under pressure.

If you don't believe me, consider 2 words: Randy Moss.

And then think about the 5 times we've won.

Scary? Nope. But stone cold effective.

***

As for Brees versus Newton, it's not even close.

Brees is an extraordinary Field General and a cold-blooded assassin who's already proven that he can overcome pressure and adversity to win a Super Bowl.

Newton is a pathetic, angry clown who's riding the coattails of the talent that he was blessed with. He doesn't love the game, he takes no pride in his work, and he doesn't give a rat's ass about winning, his teammates, or anyone.

With our defensive Front 6 having been decimated by personnel decisions over the last 2 Years, it'd be foolish of us to take Victory over anyone for granted, but I'd much rather face an idiotic jackass like Newton who doesn't work and isn't prepared.

 

[Off The Grid]

Any opponent worries me in a one off... Just ask the 2009 and 2010 Patriots

He's right. You do worry too much.

However, if "worries me" is your way of saying that you don't take Victory for granted on any given Sunday ~ or Saturday ~ then I'm right there with you.

***

2009? You should've known that we weren't going anywhere that year: The team was as close to unfocused as this team ever gets, the Moss/Welker offense was too predictable and stagnant...and we'd just loss Welker the week before.

2010? I agree: That was a classic example of On Any Given Sunday.

The Jets didn't suddenly become better than us. Fans just lose sight of ~ or in most cases never really understand ~ that every single Snap involves multiple calculated guesses on both sides, and that the Law of Averages absolutely dictates that the best team will occasionally but inevitably suffer a shocking loss to a lesser team.

The 1987 Miners ~ 13-2, and with Bill Walsh and Joe Montana at their peaks ~ got trounced by the 8-7 Vikings in the Divisionals, otherwise they 3 Peat.

 

[pherein]

Brees has not regressed. His passer rating right now (103.6) is the highest it has been since 2013 and will be the 5th highest passer rating of his career (17 years). He's also going to break the single-season mark for completion percentage (currently 71.9). His yards per attempt is over 8. He leads the league in pass plays over 20 yards (69) and is in the top 5 in pass plays over 40 yards. His 4th quarter QB rating is 115.9.

The only thing about Brees that's any different between now and the last few years is he's not throwing for 5000+ yards, but that's because they figured out how to run the ball and play defense. He's only thrown the ball 506 times this season, he typically throws 650+ times a season (673 last year)

The only complaint I have about it is, it delays him breaking Manning's career yardage record by a couple or three games. Which now should happen around week 6 or 7 of next year. He'll be about 1400-1500 yards going into next season.

And no chance for MVP lol, again, thanks for this I don't like to post Brees stats on this forum. He is always overlooked, plays with injuries like everyone else, and is the only reason the Saints are even considered to be a good team. He's not a TB, but a damn good QB, and a better QB than any in the NFC playoffs by a mile. You underestimate Brees in a playoff then you're making a mistake, just ask PM. He was just stuck with the worst defense in the NFL for years. The fact that he can remain so consistent is crazy.

but... lol