Most important game of the regular season coming up

[pherein]

Pherein, way to represent the Saints, dude. I'm embarrassed for our fan base.

To the rest of you, nice stomping of the Jets today, and hope we have a great game.

om how so , I never brought up the topic, some sick degenerate did read the post

 

[Patjew]

Deacon your SAINTS BS is irrelevant....... if the PATS show up and play... WE WIN

Now you are embarassing US.

Deacon Blues is coming with respect. We give respect to those that give it to us around here.

 

[jmt57]

Back to the original question for a moment ...

Putting aside the "one game at a time" cliche, the first priority for any team is to win the division. The second priority is home field in the playoffs, and that is determined by a team's conference record.

In other words, the Dolphins game is at least two levels more important than the Saints game.

 

[PatsSox363804]

Back to the original question for a moment ...

Putting aside the "one game at a time" cliche, the first priority for any team is to win the division. The second priority is home field in the playoffs, and that is determined by a team's conference record.

In other words, the Dolphins game is at least two levels more important than the Saints game.

Todays game was the most important until the Dolphins game because those are the ones that wrap up the division. the Saints game is important if we want a bye, and of course we do, but not as important as winning the division at this point.

What Im saying is, I agree

 

[italian pat patriot]

Back to the original question for a moment ...

Putting aside the "one game at a time" cliche, the first priority for any team is to win the division. The second priority is home field in the playoffs, and that is determined by a team's conference record.

In other words, the Dolphins game is at least two levels more important than the Saints game.

i agree with you

however i'm excited to see Pats @ Saints next week

 

[convertedpatsfan]

Back to the original question for a moment ...

Putting aside the "one game at a time" cliche, the first priority for any team is to win the division. The second priority is home field in the playoffs, and that is determined by a team's conference record.

In other words, the Dolphins game is at least two levels more important than the Saints game.

No, it's not, because the Saints game counts towards winning the division too. I don't mean to repeat myself, but let's not forget that overall record is the most important factor in winning the division.

You could go 10-6 and lose all of your division games and still win the division. And you could go 6-10 and win all your division games and not win the division.

Division games can mean more, yes, but all games count towards winning the division. Just some have additional tie-breakers. Had we beaten the Colts and Denver, non-divisional foes, we would have had the division locked up.

If we lose to NO and Miami wins next week, they'll gain a game on us. We'll only be a game ahead in the division and playing the Dolphins with first place on the line. Meanwhile, if we beat NO and Miami loses, we gain a game on them. And the match-up against the Dolphins doesn't decide first place. If we lose, we're still in first place in the division.

If we could only win one of the two games, yes, I agree, Miami would give us more tie-breakers so I'd want that win. But that doesn't mean the Saints game isn't important. And it doesn't mean we sacrifice one for the sake of the other.

The Saints game is the most important game of the season now, just like the Jets game was the most important game of the season last week. It's an opportunity to gain a game on the rest of the division. Why wait until the Miami game to do it?

 

[RobertWeathers]

i agree with you

however i'm excited to see Pats @ Saints next week

They are both hugely important w/ the 'Fins game a tad more important b/c of it's div and conference implications. Based on their remaining schedules and with regard to Pitt, Bal and Cinci losing, a 12-4 division-winning team will not come from the AFC North.

With reagrd to the 1st round bye race, it is very possible that SD will go 12-4 w/ an outside shot at 13-3 but very unlikely as they need to sweep their remaining games. Look at their schedule- much easier than the Pat's IMO:

Host KC, @ CLE, @ DAL, host CIN,, @ TN, host WASH. They lose to DAL, they'll be 9-3 in conf and 12-4.

If the Pats want the 1st round bye (which I assume that they do) Pats can drop NO, but CANNOT drop MIA or any other conf/div games.

My .02$

 

[MrNathanDrake]

The most important thing about the Saints game is proving we can beat a tough team on the road.


Our road record is currently 1-3!!

 

[102 Pat]

I think every game is important for the rest of the year. The best thing that could happen is to go into the game monday night with the Dolphins losing to Buffalo and giving the Pats the chance to clinch the AFC East when they face next week.

The Pats could have a 21 point lead over the Saints and I would not be comfortable till the game was over. The Saints have proven this year that no lead is too big too overcome.

For the Saints fans posting on here: What's the mood like down there? The fanbase much be really happy right now. Are the talks of a undefeated season increasing in the media?

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Actually the Saints game is one of the least important games left. It is an out of the conference game and if they are going to lose another game, it is better to lose out of the conference for tiebreakers.

I couldn't disagree more.

Of course, we have to take care of our business in the Conference and, especially, in the Division, but at some point we have to beat a quality team on the road, because, as anything other than the Number One seed, that's almost certainly what we're going to have to do to get to Miami in February.

None of the teams we've beaten this season have a record better than .500 this morning. And, we have yet to win a game on the road. Yes, Baltimore and Atlanta were tough opponents, but we all know that neither of them is going to be in Miami.

I think next Monday night is as good a time as any to show we can do both.

 

[PatsBoy12]

I still really hope we beat them.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Back to the original question for a moment ...

Putting aside the "one game at a time" cliche, the first priority for any team is to win the division. The second priority is home field in the playoffs, and that is determined by a team's conference record.

In other words, the Dolphins game is at least two levels more important than the Saints game.

In some theoretical world where the game is played on a chalkboard or video screen, the Miami game is "at least two levels more important" than next Monday's. But the truth of the matter is that the Pats have yet to beat a quality team (or any team) on the road this season. None of the teams we've beaten have a record better than .500 this morning.

I'm going on the assumption that we take care of business and win the Division. Now, I want to see what we can expect when we start playing in January. If we get into the playoffs by beating weak opponents and surviving against pesky Divisional opponent but losing to every team with a record above .500, I'm not sure how ambitious those expectations can realistically be.