I really would like to have seen the Saints at full strength in this matchup. The injury bug has hit us hard this year, especially on defense, which is a testament to Rob Ryan's work. (Joe Morgan is the only significant season-ending offensive injury I can think of, although a handful of other players missed a game or two here and there.)

Likewise. No glory in beating a crippled foe. Even less glory in losing to one.

Larry Holder ‏@LarryHolder 6m

Keenan Lewis: "I'll be there Saturday. I'll be ready to go."

Thank God. On the other hand, it's not like the Seahawks passing game is built around a great #1 WR. (Or maybe it will be with Harvin back. I forgot about him. Crap.)

I'll be pulling for NO but taking SEA -7.5. I believe in gimmick stadium.

Golden Tate notes the shade you've thrown at him, and wants to fight you about it. You're right of course, but he's Golden Tate, and he wants to fight you about it.

If Harvin plays I suspect his biggest impact is in the return game. Doubt he's a huge part of the offense. Bigger injury might be backup TE Luke Wilson. He's a much better receiver than his backups.

Being without Willson sucks but it doesn't seem like he ever gets targeted more than twice in a game. Although I fully fear Kellen Davis just randomly dropping a wide-open TD because of Willson being out.

Any chance in hell that number moves to 7?

mb if Russell Wilson gets hit by a bus

Well it's 7.5 on a lot of sites now, really that half point doesn't need that much help does it?

There's a chance. People do like breeees.
But it shouldn't as most people would load up on Sea - 7 pushing it back up. Well I think they would.

Seahawks receivers aren't much to worry about. Doubt Harvin even doubles his season total of 1 reception in this game. What a traderape by Minny.

well I was joking, but that 1/2 point is a pretty big half point. I don't think anyone here can really predict which way it will go, but I would guess you don't see 7 with -110 on each side

The Seahawks' offense is a few things. Generally, it starts with Lynch. Last time, the Rob Ryan seemed to decide to sell out to stop Lynch while generally covering our receivers 1 on 1. He did contain Lynch, but Ryan's scheme was weak against Seattle's second strongest aspect on offense. Seattle's WRs aren't the biggest, and they aren't the fastest, but they practice the **** out of beating 1 on 1 coverage down the sideline. E.g.


3-3-SEA 23 (7:54) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass deep left to 89-D.Baldwin pushed ob at NO 25 for 52 yards (27-M.Jenkins).

The Seahawks were in 11 personnel with Lynch in the backfield, Miller right end, Tate at right flanker, I think it's Kearse left at a flanker position off the line, and Baldwin in the slot on the line. Ryan sent 8. Baldwin knows he's the hot read and gestures at Wilson before the snap to acknowledge. He beats his man on what's essentially a go route up the seam, and Wilson had the ball out immediately after his 3 step drop.

Missing Lewis would be all kinds of bad news for the Saints, but even if he can erase Tate this time (Tate still put up 4/45 last time, and Tate usually plays X, so Lewis was probably covering Tate most of the time last time), the other corners had trouble with Baldwin and Kearse, and the LBs with Miller as we saw. I think the most interesting question for the Saints' defense is what Ryan will do with his safeties. If he gives Jenkins and company safety help, it opens things up for Lynch. If Harvin plays, that makes things even more complicated for Ryan, as he may command safety help on most downs, leaving things open for either Lynch or Baldwin.

Harvin is hot garbage, I hope his crippled ass plays and Pete tries to get him involved all game.

Willson practiced today.

I hope the saints don't emerge victorious

hawks O generally worries me, they are actually better at playing from behind then are ahead... once they get ahead the play calling just generally gets worse and worse

brees getting out fast, and forcing rustle to air it out might not be worst thing

there's no doubt this is the game to worry about if you're a hawks fan, i know that sounds dumb after the regular season game, but the first time a team gets homefield advantage/ends year as number one seed is usually when they choke...

if they get past NO beating them at home to go the SB will be tough

Harvin practiced again today:thumbup:

What percentage of teams have lost when they were in Hawks position?

According to this article, 1 seeds are only 7-9 in the divisional round in the last 8 years.

Not that that's predictive of anything, but it's still a surprisingly bad run for teams in that spot.

2013-Lol Denver/Flacbert, Ravens train
2012-LOL Packers, Giants Train
2011-LoL Falcons, Packers Train, LOL Pats (lose to the Jets/Sanchez)
2009-Ugh Titans, Lol Giants (best regular season team in their SB "run")
2008-Lol Cowboys/Romo
2007-LOL SD/Marty fired

Some crazy LOL things have happened to the 1 seeds lately.

pretty crazy that after the last 5 years people are still asking this

I believe in the Saints. I wanted them to win vs Philly because I thought they had a better chance to beat Seattle than GB/49ers. Of course if they do beat Seattle and the Panthers beat the 49ers I may not like the hot Saints team that rolls into Charlotte with two road wins in the books. The Panthers beat them at home last time but it certainly wasn't domination.

close game seahawks