Week 15: Saints (7-6) @ Bears (7-6) 7:15 PM NFLN/WPWR LOCAL

[UMFan83]

Total Yards

 

07: 28th

08: 17th

 

Passing Yards

 

07: 27th

08: 28th

 

Rushing Yards

07: 24th

08: 6th

 

PPG

 

07: 16th

08: 16th

 

Numbers don't tell everything...We'll lose tomorrow just watch

 

So what tells you last year's defense was better?

 

Our secondary didn't do the whole thing this year where they play well for 3 1/2 quarters and then the last 3min of the game they lose the game...I was wrong I get it, but u didn't prove much by those numbers that last year was much worse

 

I didn't say last year was much worse. You said that last year it was better. And the last 3 minute issues is largely due to scheme issues in my mind. They need to be more agressive in those situations than they are.

[rchap24]

Total Yards

 

07: 28th

08: 17th

 

Passing Yards

 

07: 27th

08: 28th

 

Rushing Yards

07: 24th

08: 6th

 

PPG

 

07: 16th

08: 16th

 

Numbers don't tell everything...We'll lose tomorrow just watch

 

So what tells you last year's defense was better?

 

Our secondary didn't do the whole thing this year where they play well for 3 1/2 quarters and then the last 3min of the game they lose the game...I was wrong I get it, but u didn't prove much by those numbers that last year was much worse

 

I didn't say last year was much worse. You said that last year it was better. And the last 3 minute issues is largely due to scheme issues in my mind. They need to be more agressive in those situations than they are.

 

Alright I'm wrong you win...end of argument :good:

[Guest]

This sucks, looks like its going to be somewhat warm and dry. When I first looked at the weather on Sunday it said the low was going to be 8, now the low is going to be 25.

 

At game time:

 

Temperature: 29° F

Feels like: 18° F

 

With a 30% chance of flurries by 8 pm, per weather.com.

[rchap24]

This sucks, looks like its going to be somewhat warm and dry. When I first looked at the weather on Sunday it said the low was going to be 8, now the low is going to be 25.

 

At game time:

 

Temperature: 29° F

Feels like: 18° F

 

With a 30% chance of flurries by 8 pm, per weather.com.

 

The flurries could make this game alot easier...come on mother nature...raise that to about 70%

[OleMissCub]

The existence of a running game this year as opposed to last year's game might help the Saints a touch. Takes more pressure off Brees. Bush and Deuce didn't play in the game last year.

 

I've been so pleased with what Pierre Thomas has done this year. He's averaging 4.9 ypc in 94 attempts this season.

 

Bears will still win.

[rawaction]

The existence of a running game this year as opposed to last year's game might help the Saints a touch. Takes more pressure off Brees. Bush and Deuce didn't play in the game last year.

 

I've been so pleased with what Pierre Thomas has done this year. He's averaging 4.9 ypc in 94 attempts this season.

 

Bears will still win.

 

Thomas went for 105 on 20 carries in last year's game (and 12 for 121 in the air!). Bush and McAllister were healthy in the playoffs the year before (though Thomas wasn't there), and they didn't run well at all. I think the difference is the Bears run D was good in 06, they were bad in 07. They are good again in 08. I don't see the Saints running much this year, though they should be able to run enough to make it worth their while if they choose.

[Handlebar McSkullet]

I don't see either team as being much different from the teams the previous two years. Saints still don't stop the run well enough. Bears still need to force Brees into turnovers. I think the short week, travel and cold are going to be too much for the Saints to overcome. These teams are completely different, but are on the same level of being slightly better than average to good football teams. When the matchup is so even, intangibles such as those I mentioned should make the difference.

 

I'll add a Saints fans stamp of approval onto this post.

 

Saints are pretty much fried toast in games in those elements. Only consolation is that Reggie looks to be back from the DL playing very well and Pierre Thomas has never played as good as he has recently.

 

Bears win.

 

The Saints are going to stomp the Bears. Cold weather, unless accompanied by snow or rain, doesn't mean a thing.

 

It is much harder to run a vertical passing game in the cold. Need to wear gloves or lose feeling in your hands, the football is hard, tougher to stay loose for the receivers. Not saying it is impossible, just that it would be crazy to think the Saints wouldn't much rather be playing in their dome than outdoors in Chicago.

 

Fine but its irrational to think that the Bears passing defensive ranking jumps 20 spots if the temp at game time is 20 degrees or cooler.

 

No more irrational than dismissing the Saints being 1-5 on the road. The outdoor cold night clearly plays in the Bears advantage in a game againt the dome-homed Saints.

 

Yes, actually, its much more irrational. The Saints 6 road games were played against teams not named the Chicago Bears, who now currently have the 28th ranked passing defense. The cold might be an advantage, but not like the advantage of having the number one ranked passing offense versus the 28th ranked passing defense.

[UMFan83]

I don't see either team as being much different from the teams the previous two years. Saints still don't stop the run well enough. Bears still need to force Brees into turnovers. I think the short week, travel and cold are going to be too much for the Saints to overcome. These teams are completely different, but are on the same level of being slightly better than average to good football teams. When the matchup is so even, intangibles such as those I mentioned should make the difference.

 

I'll add a Saints fans stamp of approval onto this post.

 

Saints are pretty much fried toast in games in those elements. Only consolation is that Reggie looks to be back from the DL playing very well and Pierre Thomas has never played as good as he has recently.

 

Bears win.

 

The Saints are going to stomp the Bears. Cold weather, unless accompanied by snow or rain, doesn't mean a thing.

 

It is much harder to run a vertical passing game in the cold. Need to wear gloves or lose feeling in your hands, the football is hard, tougher to stay loose for the receivers. Not saying it is impossible, just that it would be crazy to think the Saints wouldn't much rather be playing in their dome than outdoors in Chicago.

 

Fine but its irrational to think that the Bears passing defensive ranking jumps 20 spots if the temp at game time is 20 degrees or cooler.

 

No more irrational than dismissing the Saints being 1-5 on the road. The outdoor cold night clearly plays in the Bears advantage in a game againt the dome-homed Saints.

 

Yes, actually, its much more irrational. The Saints 6 road games were played against teams not named the Chicago Bears, who now currently have the 28th ranked passing defense. The cold might be an advantage, but not like the advantage of having the number one ranked passing offense versus the 28th ranked passing defense.

 

Well they did lose to the 23rd and 27th rated pass defense on the road this season...(Atlanta and Denver)

 

The Bears have also beaten the 5th and 6th best Passing Offenses this season (Philly and Indy) although the difference between them and NO statistically is pretty big.

[jersey cubs fan]

I don't see either team as being much different from the teams the previous two years. Saints still don't stop the run well enough. Bears still need to force Brees into turnovers. I think the short week, travel and cold are going to be too much for the Saints to overcome. These teams are completely different, but are on the same level of being slightly better than average to good football teams. When the matchup is so even, intangibles such as those I mentioned should make the difference.

 

I'll add a Saints fans stamp of approval onto this post.

 

Saints are pretty much fried toast in games in those elements. Only consolation is that Reggie looks to be back from the DL playing very well and Pierre Thomas has never played as good as he has recently.

 

Bears win.

 

The Saints are going to stomp the Bears. Cold weather, unless accompanied by snow or rain, doesn't mean a thing.

 

It is much harder to run a vertical passing game in the cold. Need to wear gloves or lose feeling in your hands, the football is hard, tougher to stay loose for the receivers. Not saying it is impossible, just that it would be crazy to think the Saints wouldn't much rather be playing in their dome than outdoors in Chicago.

 

Fine but its irrational to think that the Bears passing defensive ranking jumps 20 spots if the temp at game time is 20 degrees or cooler.

 

No more irrational than dismissing the Saints being 1-5 on the road. The outdoor cold night clearly plays in the Bears advantage in a game againt the dome-homed Saints.

 

Yes, actually, its much more irrational. The Saints 6 road games were played against teams not named the Chicago Bears, who now currently have the 28th ranked passing defense. The cold might be an advantage, but not like the advantage of having the number one ranked passing offense versus the 28th ranked passing defense.

 

Well they did lose to the 23rd and 27th rated pass defense on the road this season...(Atlanta and Denver)

 

And Minnesota at hime (20). Pretending the only thing that matters is the Saints are good through the air and the Bears are bad defending it doesn't make much sense.

[rawaction]

I don't see either team as being much different from the teams the previous two years. Saints still don't stop the run well enough. Bears still need to force Brees into turnovers. I think the short week, travel and cold are going to be too much for the Saints to overcome. These teams are completely different, but are on the same level of being slightly better than average to good football teams. When the matchup is so even, intangibles such as those I mentioned should make the difference.

 

I'll add a Saints fans stamp of approval onto this post.

 

Saints are pretty much fried toast in games in those elements. Only consolation is that Reggie looks to be back from the DL playing very well and Pierre Thomas has never played as good as he has recently.

 

Bears win.

 

The Saints are going to stomp the Bears. Cold weather, unless accompanied by snow or rain, doesn't mean a thing.

 

It is much harder to run a vertical passing game in the cold. Need to wear gloves or lose feeling in your hands, the football is hard, tougher to stay loose for the receivers. Not saying it is impossible, just that it would be crazy to think the Saints wouldn't much rather be playing in their dome than outdoors in Chicago.

 

Fine but its irrational to think that the Bears passing defensive ranking jumps 20 spots if the temp at game time is 20 degrees or cooler.

 

No more irrational than dismissing the Saints being 1-5 on the road. The outdoor cold night clearly plays in the Bears advantage in a game againt the dome-homed Saints.

 

Yes, actually, its much more irrational. The Saints 6 road games were played against teams not named the Chicago Bears, who now currently have the 28th ranked passing defense. The cold might be an advantage, but not like the advantage of having the number one ranked passing offense versus the 28th ranked passing defense.

 

Well they did lose to the 23rd and 27th rated pass defense on the road this season...(Atlanta and Denver)

 

I was coming to post this. You can't just completely rule out the Saints road troubles (historically actually) because they have the #1 pass offense. Otherwise, they'd be better than 1-5 on the road. And I pointed out before, they got blown out twice on the road. Came back late twice to avoid blowouts. And blew a 2-TD lead once in their road losses.

[UMFan83]

FWIW, the Bears have been better at pass D the last few weeks now that Peanut is healthy and Graham is improving.

 

159 passing yards to Jax

200 passing yards to Min (including a 99 yard TD. So 101 on the other plays)

207 passing yards to St. Louis

227 to Green Bay

 

These are all below the Bears season average. Granted non of these teams are exceptionally good at throwing the ball, but earlier in the season we were making people like Brian Griese look like Dan Marino.

[UMFan83]

One more stat. In Dome games (Superdome + Georgia Dome), the Saints have averaged 330 passing yards. In non-Dome games, they have averaged 278.2 yards. 52 yard dropoff

[jersey cubs fan]

Not sure if it's been mentioned but Bears are 3 point favorites.

 

Also, while it may be dry tomorrow night, that's been a crappy field recently and didn't it rain/snow/sleet for a couple days already?

[UMFan83]

Not sure if it's been mentioned by Bears are 3 point favorites.

 

Also, while it may be dry tomorrow night, that's been a crappy field recently and didn't it rain/snow/sleet for a couple days already?

 

Snowed last night and rained a crap load during the day yesterday.

[OleMissCub]

 

Well they did lose to the 23rd and 27th rated pass defense on the road this season...(Atlanta and Denver)

 

And Minnesota at hime (20). Pretending the only thing that matters is the Saints are good through the air and the Bears are bad defending it doesn't make much sense.

 

The Denver game was 34-32 and was lost thanks in large part to that hack Gramatica missing TWO field goals. Brees had 421 yards in the loss. The Minn game was 30-27 and in that game Gramatica missed TWO field goals again including one that was blocked and returned for a touchdown.

 

The Saints have gone through two kickers and thankfully their third one is pretty damn good. They got some kid named Garret Hartley from Oklahoma who has gone 11 for 11 since firing the other kickers.

 

The Atlanta game (34-20) was just a pathetic showing on the part of the Saints D. Brees did have 422 yards passing though.

 

Brees will most likely do well against your pass D like he did against those other crappy pass D's (though the cold weather may effect him), so the question is whether the Bears can keep up and outscore them?

[UMFan83]

Shouldn't be hard to score more than 20 like Atlanta gave up to NO. I am not sure about more than 32 but its possible.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

If special teams is a problem for them, as it seems to be, then that's even better for the Bears.

[OleMissCub]

Argh, if you could have had the Saints offense with the Bears defense in 2006, they would have torched Indy.

[OleMissCub]

If special teams is a problem for them, as it seems to be, then that's even better for the Bears.

 

Special teams isn't a problem anymore. Did you miss where I said our latest kicker is 11-11?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

If special teams is a problem for them, as it seems to be, then that's even better for the Bears.

 

Special teams isn't a problem anymore. Did you miss where I said our latest kicker is 11-11?

 

They've also had a kick blocked, which is never good.

[OleMissCub]

If special teams is a problem for them, as it seems to be, then that's even better for the Bears.

 

Special teams isn't a problem anymore. Did you miss where I said our latest kicker is 11-11?

 

They've also had a kick blocked, which is never good.

 

That blocked kick was mostly due to Gramatica's dumbass.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPRStyDjJWc

 

ugh, watching that highlight again pretty much sums up everything about the Saints. That's how they lose.

[cubweiser03]

Id really like the Saints to run a 3 TE offense like the Jags did, probably not gonna happen though. :-)) In the NFC Champ game Brees said he was really surprised by all the man coverage the Bears used that game. 2 weeks ago the Pack used a lot of man got absolutely shreaded. The Bears O needs to be prepared to score 30 and not try to play possession football and keep Brees off the field, that always seems like a failed strategy to me.

[NOLA]

I've been busy lately and the Peavy thread has taken all my spare time, but aren't Duece, Grant and Will Smith out for the season after losing the appeal? If so, Sedrick Ellis better have a monster game. Perfect Saints irony: New Orleans loses after getting steamrolled by a Tulane product-Matt Forte.

That all said, when the hell are the Saints actually going to play the Bears in the Dome? Seriously?!?

 

Yes OMCub, I agree. That is always how the Saints lose. See the missed extra point on the last play of the season in 2004.

[Handlebar McSkullet]

I've been busy lately and the Peavy thread has taken all my spare time, but aren't Duece, Grant and Will Smith out for the season after losing the appeal? If so, Sedrick Ellis better have a monster game. Perfect Saints irony: New Orleans loses after getting steamrolled by a Tulane product-Matt Forte.

That all said, when the hell are the Saints actually going to play the Bears in the Dome? Seriously?!?

 

Yes OMCub, I agree. That is always how the Saints lose. See the missed extra point on the last play of the season in 2004.

 

The NFLPA filed an injunction in federal court in Minnesota, and the Judge granted a temporary injunction until he can rule on the suit. It precludes the NFL from carrying out the suspensions. So they are in.

[rawaction]

Don't let this go to the 2nd page. The season comes down to tonight (and probably every week hereafter).