Saints Report #14 - December 17, 2017

On Sunday the Saints moved to 10 – 4 with a win over the visiting New York Jets.  The game was closer than the final score of 31 – 19 would indicate.  The Jets gave the Saints all they could handle. 

The Jets ran the ball pretty well all day and it looked like the Saints were wearing down.  For most of the game, the Saints could not run the ball, as the Jets were providing a blue print for the league to watch.  Mark Ingram had two impact plays, and Kamara had a touchdown catch, but Brandon Coleman fumbled twice deep in Jet territory, on consecutive catches no less.  Michael Thomas did much of the baling with one great catch after another, and the Saints defense turned back an inexperienced Quarterback when they needed to. 

This was not a playoff caliber performance, but the W goes in the record book, and that’s what counts..

The Saints deservedly had 6 players named to the Pro Bowl although oddly, no offensive lineman.  They had an amazing draft that may net them rookies of the year offensively and defensively.  Their defensive secondary is young, and light years ahead of what they usually have.

It's been a year of huge strides with great promise for the future.

And yet.....

They haven’t clinched the division title.

They haven’t clinched a playoff spot.

They haven’t clinched a home playoff game.

The Falcons and Panthers are both breathing down their necks, and the Saints could face one or both for a third time in the playoffs. 

They’ve lost AJ Klein for the year and he was Captain of the Defense and a key factor in beating his former team, the Panthers.

To get to the Super Bowl they will have to do something they’ve done only once in their history – win a road playoff game.

To win the Super Bowl they probably have to win two games in a row in Minneapolis.

All of this because they play in the super-competitive NFC South which is very likely to produce both wild card teams.  Falcons and Panthers.  Sean Payton probably dreams about them.

So the Saints must close the season with two wins – at home against the Falcons, then on the road at Tampa. 

Merry Christmas.  ‘Tis the season.