NFC Championship: Bears vs. Saints - Sun Jan 21, 2 pm CST

[goonys evil twin]

 

Or the fact that the NO run defense was amongst the worst in the NFC, and their overall defense is fairly weak.

 

11th in the NFL is pretty good.

 

Over their last 7 games, including the Eagles playoff win, but not including the throwaway Panthers game, the Saints D are only allowing 14.5 points.

 

Over that same span, not including the throwaway Packers game, the Bears D is giving up 22 points. In that span, the Bears D gave up 31 points to the 29th ranked offense in the league (TB), gave up 22 points to the 21st ranked offense(DET), and then 24 points to the 19th ranked offense(SEA).

 

In their last 7 game span, Saints gave up 13 points to the 12th ranked offense(ATL), 17 points to the 5th ranked offense (DAL), and 7 points to the 13th ranked offense (NY), and 24 points to the 2nd ranked offense (PHI).

 

Again, this is an asinine comparison. The Bears were playing throwaway games for a months. New Orleans had something to play for before that last week.

[David]

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamdef.php

 

DVOA has the Saints as the #19 defense in the league.

 

I'll take the in-depth statistical analysis over the yardage and points totals every time.

 

EDIT - For those who don't know what DVOA is (although I'm sure most on here do) but want to know, here's a rundown.

 

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/methods.php

Edited January 18, 2007 by David

[OleMissCub]

I have no problem with everyone besides John Clayton picking against the Bears. It'll be that much more fun when the Bears stomp the Saints.

 

PREDICTION:

Bears 31

Saints 16

 

A bit of a bold prediction given what your defense has done lately.

 

Over the Bears last 10 games, not including the Packers game, they've given up an average of 20 points to teams whose average offensive ranking is 19!

 

And you expect to hold the No.1 offense in the league to 16 points?

[Soul]

 

Over their last 7 games, including the Eagles playoff win, but not including the throwaway Panthers game, the Saints D are only allowing 14.5 points.

 

 

By that logic, you may as well throw out the entire month of December for the Bears. None of those games really meant much.

 

I don't think you can throw away games, even so-called meaningless ones. Saints were 5-5 in their last 10 regular season games, including back-to-back losses and a real bad loss to Washington. They faced an Eagles team at home who they should have badly overmatched and yet almost lost.

 

They're in the same boat as the Bears. Not playing particularly well, but a good team.

 

These Saints----they're good, but they're also a 10-6 ballclub who have been beat before.

[jaydee]

duece and reggie aren't nearly as good playing real football as they are playing indoor football. That will probably end up being a bigger factor than most people think. I don't think either of them averaged even close to 4 yards a carry on real fields.

[Chocolate Milk]

Are you really trying to claim the Saints defense is better than the Bears defense? Really?

 

The Saints defense is obviously the weakpoint of their team. Total Yard rankings aren't a very good indicator of defensive performance. The Saints have generated only 19 turnovers over the course of the season (Compared to 43 for the Bears). They rank 22nd against the pass and 20th against the run according to DVOA (values successful plays). They aren't AWFUL but they aren't good either. They are slightly below average.

 

This is like saying the Bears have a better offense than the Saints because they score more points per game. We both know it isn't true.

[gflore34]

 

Or the fact that the NO run defense was amongst the worst in the NFC, and their overall defense is fairly weak.

 

11th in the NFL is pretty good.

 

Over their last 7 games, including the Eagles playoff win, but not including the throwaway Panthers game, the Saints D are only allowing 14.5 points.

 

Over that same span, not including the throwaway Packers game, the Bears D is giving up 22 points. In that span, the Bears D gave up 31 points to the 29th ranked offense in the league (TB), gave up 22 points to the 21st ranked offense(DET), and then 24 points to the 19th ranked offense(SEA).

 

In their last 7 game span, Saints gave up 13 points to the 12th ranked offense(ATL), 17 points to the 5th ranked offense (DAL), and 7 points to the 13th ranked offense (NY), and 24 points to the 2nd ranked offense (PHI).

 

Didn't the Eagles run for 120+ yards, along with 6.2 ypc? I understand the Saints have a high powered offense and will move the ball but, to trivialize the Bears offense is a mistake. I believe Jones and Benson are going to run for some big time yards this Sunday.

Edited January 18, 2007 by gflore34

[OleMissCub]

 

Again, this is an asinine comparison. The Bears were playing throwaway games for a months. New Orleans had something to play for before that last week.

 

That's a ridiculous excuse. You think Urlacher or Hillenmeyer were like "well, we're already gonna be in the playoffs, so I'm only gonna play 80% today."

 

These guys are professional athletes who love competition. If they are in the game, they are gonna be trying their best.

[OleMissCub]

 

Didn't the Eagles run for 120+ yards, along with 6.2 ypc? I understand the Saints have a high powered offense and will move the ball but, to trivialize the Bears offense is mistake. I believe Jones and Benson are going to run for some big time yards this Sunday.

 

The Eagles offense is ranked 2nd in the NFL. The game was played in a dome which is ideal for a run game.

[David]

 

Again, this is an asinine comparison. The Bears were playing throwaway games for a months. New Orleans had something to play for before that last week.

 

That's a ridiculous excuse. You think Urlacher or Hillenmeyer were like "well, we're already gonna be in the playoffs, so I'm only gonna play 80% today."

 

These guys are professional athletes who love competition. If they are in the game, they are gonna be trying their best.

 

And yet, you refer to the Saints last game as a throwaway...

 

By the way, DEVIN HESTER WAS IN THE SECONDARY FOR THE LAST 4 GAMES.

Edited January 18, 2007 by David

[Chocolate Milk]

 

Again, this is an asinine comparison. The Bears were playing throwaway games for a months. New Orleans had something to play for before that last week.

 

That's a ridiculous excuse. You think Urlacher or Hillenmeyer were like "well, we're already gonna be in the playoffs, so I'm only gonna play 80% today."

 

These guys are professional athletes who love competition. If they are in the game, they are gonna be trying their best.

 

The Bears had injury problems during those game and key players have come back from injuries since then.

[Soul]

 

Again, this is an asinine comparison. The Bears were playing throwaway games for a months. New Orleans had something to play for before that last week.

 

That's a ridiculous excuse. You think Urlacher or Hillenmeyer were like "well, we're already gonna be in the playoffs, so I'm only gonna play 80% today."

 

These guys are professional athletes who love competition. If they are in the game, they are gonna be trying their best.

 

LOL, you're the one who made excuses for the Saints in their throwaway game. You started it mandinga

[David]

duece and reggie aren't nearly as good playing real football as they are playing indoor football. That will probably end up being a bigger factor than most people think. I don't think either of them averaged even close to 4 yards a carry on real fields.

 

Another good point.

[jaydee]

:puker: Article about the Saints :pukel:

 

The way the Katrina angle keeps getting played up, I am hoping more and more that this game is a nasty lobsided blowout. It's getting obnoxious.

 

seriously, its sad that people pretend to care now about katrina now. Maybe people feel like they are doing their part in helping the situation by rooting for a a football team (which they aren't) then thats pretty sad.

 

If you wanted to root for a city with problems, you should have been rooting for baltimore.

Edited January 18, 2007 by jaydee

[OleMissCub]

Are you really trying to claim the Saints defense is better than the Bears defense? Really?

.

 

Definitely not overall. The Bears D is a beast. But the second half of the season y'all played poor offensive teams and gave up a ton of points. I showed you stats that showed that during OUR second half we played good offensive teams and gave up few points.

 

Right now I think the Saints D is better. The stats prove that easily.

[goonys evil twin]

Are you really trying to claim the Saints defense is better than the Bears defense? Really?

.

 

Definitely not overall. The Bears D is a beast. But the second half of the season y'all played poor offensive teams and gave up a ton of points. I showed you stats that showed that during OUR second half we played good offensive teams and gave up few points.

 

Right now I think the Saints D is better. The stats prove that easily.

 

no they don't. but your belief that they do prove you don't know much about football.

[jaydee]

Are you really trying to claim the Saints defense is better than the Bears defense? Really?

.

 

Definitely not overall. The Bears D is a beast. But the second half of the season y'all played poor offensive teams and gave up a ton of points. I showed you stats that showed that during OUR second half we played good offensive teams and gave up few points.

 

Right now I think the Saints D is better. The stats prove that easily.

 

So somehow what happens in week 12 or 10 or 13 matters now? :roll:

[David]

Are you really trying to claim the Saints defense is better than the Bears defense? Really?

.

 

Definitely not overall. The Bears D is a beast. But the second half of the season y'all played poor offensive teams and gave up a ton of points. I showed you stats that showed that during OUR second half we played good offensive teams and gave up few points.

 

Right now I think the Saints D is better. The stats prove that easily.

 

no they don't. but your belief that they do prove you don't know much about football.

 

Cut him some slack. His bias is obvoiusly getting in the way.

[Chocolate Milk]

Right now I think the Saints D is better. The stats prove that easily.

 

Completely and totally absurd.

[OleMissCub]

 

LOL, you're the one who made excuses for the Saints in their throwaway game. You started it mandinga

 

There is a difference in a throwaway game and another game. I didn't factor our throwaway game (where our starters played ONE series) just like I didn't factor your throwaway game into the stats (which in my opinion was hardly played like a throwaway game, given that Jones and Benson had over 20 combined carries and Hester returned 6 times)

[YearofDaCubs]

Are you really trying to claim the Saints defense is better than the Bears defense? Really?

.

 

Definitely not overall. The Bears D is a beast. But the second half of the season y'all played poor offensive teams and gave up a ton of points. I showed you stats that showed that during OUR second half we played good offensive teams and gave up few points.

 

Right now I think the Saints D is better. The stats prove that easily.

Amazing you think this way. So what you are saying is the Bears are going up against the best offense in the NFL and also having to deal with a defense much better than theirs? OK.

[goonys evil twin]

 

LOL, you're the one who made excuses for the Saints in their throwaway game. You started it mandinga

 

There is a difference in a throwaway game and another game. I didn't factor our throwaway game (where our starters played ONE series) just like I didn't factor your throwaway game into the stats (which in my opinion was hardly played like a throwaway game, given that Jones and Benson had over 20 combined carries and Hester returned 6 times)

 

What do either of those things have to do with the defense?

 

You really don't know much of anything about the Bears. That much is quite clear. I'm liking how much people are overlooking them and focusing on the supposed really hot Saints. They lost to the Redskins late in the season when the playoff seedings were up in the air. They lost many games during the season. Yet, for some reason, it's the Bears that have to prove something here. It's amusing.

[OleMissCub]

Are you really trying to claim the Saints defense is better than the Bears defense? Really?

.

 

Definitely not overall. The Bears D is a beast. But the second half of the season y'all played poor offensive teams and gave up a ton of points. I showed you stats that showed that during OUR second half we played good offensive teams and gave up few points.

 

Right now I think the Saints D is better. The stats prove that easily.

 

no they don't. but your belief that they do prove you don't know much about football.

 

How do the stats not prove this???

 

Look at your last 3 "real" games:

 

You gave up 31 points to the 29th ranked offense in football! Then a week later gave up 21 points to the 22nd ranked offense. Then last week you gave up 24 points to the 19th ranked offense.

 

Our last 3 "real games:

 

16 points to the 13th ranked offense, 7 points to the 14th ranked offense, then 24 points to the 2nd ranked offense.

[David]

 

LOL, you're the one who made excuses for the Saints in their throwaway game. You started it mandinga

 

There is a difference in a throwaway game and another game. I didn't factor our throwaway game (where our starters played ONE series) just like I didn't factor your throwaway game into the stats (which in my opinion was hardly played like a throwaway game, given that Jones and Benson had over 20 combined carries and Hester returned 6 times)

 

What do either of those things have to do with the defense?

 

You really don't know much of anything about the Bears. That much is quite clear. I'm liking how much people are overlooking them and focusing on the supposed really hot Saints. They lost to the Redskins late in the season when the playoff seedings were up in the air. They lost many games during the season. Yet, for some reason, it's the Bears that have to prove something here. It's amusing.

 

Didn't you realize that Rex Grossman starts at quarterback for the Bears, and that he throws 5 interceptions everytime he takes a snap?

[Chocolate Milk]

Saints win 50-3 this weekend. Best Defense, Best Offense, and Best Special teams in the NFL. They didn't lose a single game the entire season.