The Saints Owned Atlanta!

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Kent

Kent

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Hey all, as many of you know, I live about 30 miles outside of New Orleans and with that in mind... Last Night Was Awesome!

Did anyone else watch the game?
I'm still in awe of the fact that the saints are actually playing like a pro team and not just the redheaded step child of the NFL.

We shut Michael Vick down big time and managed to consistantly run a solid offense and defense.
Peyton + Brees + Bush = A Fresh Start
"P.B.B." + A Solid Supporting Cast = A Winning Season For The Saints?

Let me know what you all think?
(any comments are welcome as long as they are quality ;) )

:cheers: Go Saints! :cheers:
(formerly known as the Aints) :lol:
 
I hate to rain on the parade but...

I think the falcons beat themselves last night. They played so badly that I started to wonder if they weren't paid off to throw the game for NO on the re-opening of the dome. It's my understanding that stuff like that happens in NO. :)

NO is a good team this year. They've got a double threat at RB and a solid QB. Their defense is obviously quite capable as well and I have no doubt that they'll have a winning season. They've got a great chance of making the playoffs and doing well this year.

That being said, I felt that the Falcons (who are also having a breakout season) simply dropped the ball (literally). Let's look at the situation for a minute.

The Saints finished the game with 23 points, the falcons had 3.

7 of the saints points were from a blocked punt. You're not going to get many of those, and if it hadn't happened (which could easily have been the case) you're looking at 16 to 3.

Crumpler dropped the most unbelievably easy pass in the end zone off the bat. He was open, there was no excuse. If that one goes the other way you're looking at 16 to 7. The falcons were then in obvious scoring range when Lelie pulled a Crumpler and dropped a few. Those go the other way and it's 16 to 14. If that had been the score, Atlanta would have kicked a FG instead of going for it on 4th in the 4th quarter. If that kick goes through (would have been makeable) you're looking at a Falcons lead.

So basically the game hinged on a blocked punt and two dropped passes.

I'm not saying NO would have lost, they'd have played very differently. I'm just saying that the game hinged on 3 huge plays that could easily have (and should have) gone the other way.

Like I said earlier, the Saints are looking great this season. It's amazing what you can do with a few well placed draft picks and a trade or two.
 
If they would've lost, it would've been worse then loosing the homecoming game in a mid-80's coming of age movie. :D

I doubt it was fixed, but I'm sure the mindset was there that NO had to win this game.
 
That's an aweful lot of what-ifs and excuses in my opinion.
Also, it might seem like the Saints lucked out on the punt block but I wouldn't go so far as to say that since they did block a FG attempt later in the game.

Likewise, the way I saw it, Vick was literally shut down. What was his rushing total and what is the average for him?

And about dropped balls... There's nothing to that, it's simple- he messed up as many other players do. Pressure, bad gloves, drugs the night before, who knows the excuse? Regardless of that excuse, you end up with a dropped ball (not the first time it's happend and it will not be the last).

Also, with the way the Saint played, who's to say not getting the punt block touch down would have meant 16-3?
I mean, if the punt wasn't blocked it would have still been a turn-over on downs and that, based on the way Atlanta played, very well may have resulted in a touchdown (just not a punt block touchdown).

The this whole thing...
Crumpler dropped the most unbelievably easy pass in the end zone off the bat. He was open, there was no excuse. If that one goes the other way you're looking at 16 to 7. The falcons were then in obvious scoring range when Lelie pulled a Crumpler and dropped a few. Those go the other way and it's 16 to 14. If that had been the score, Atlanta would have kicked a FG instead of going for it on 4th in the 4th quarter. If that kick goes through (would have been makeable) you're looking at a Falcons lead.
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That's just like before... Lots of hypothetical stuff all based on the idea that dropping the ball is soemthing that doesn't normally happen. :indiff:

Combine that with the fact that not a single word is said about what the saints could have done (if things went differently) and you've got a big case of the Saints whipped tail and there's nothing to say but good game.

You say everything hinged on a punt block and two dropped passes.
I say everything hinged on a overwhelming Saints defense who stopped Vicks run, forcing a bad passing game, and then capitalizing with a solid offensive game on both the passing and rushing fronts.

Bottom line: If Atlanta dropped the ball is a way of saying the Saints won fair and square, then you're right, they did drop the ball (and the Saints just picked it up and ran into the end zone with it).

Btw, that was a joke about the Pay Off right?
 
Kent
That's an aweful lot of what-ifs and excuses in my opinion.
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Two dropped passes and a punt block isn't a lot of what-ifs. It's three plays that could have VERY easily gone the other way.

Kent
Combine that with the fact that not a single word is said about what the saints could have done (if things went differently) and you've got a big case of the Saints whipped tail and there's nothing to say but good game.
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Danoff
I'm not saying NO would have lost, they'd have played very differently.
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For the record, I'm not a Falcons fan and I'm partial to Drew Brees.

Kent
Btw, that was a joke about the Pay Off right?
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Yup.
 
The saints just owned the Falcons. Don't try to stick up for anybody.

Let's give a hand to the unsung heroes of the game: THE LINEMEN. All of the Saints' linemen on offense, defense, and special teams did a superb job.
 
Klostrophobic
Attention: Mike Vick isn't good at football.
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Michael Vick isn't the one that dropped two TD passes. Look, I'm not a huge Vick fan. I had him on my fantasy team last year and he didn't put up the yards for me. I've watched him play and he's not the greatest passer. But I know a pass that's on target when I see one and Vick is not the reason they lost that game.

The reason they lost was because of the blocked punt and two dropped passes. I don't usually see a game played as closely as that one where the score doesn't reflect it.

An even bigger reason they lost was because they seemed to have defeated themselves mentally and given up the game by the 4th quarter when they were obviously still in it.
 
Omnis
The saints just owned the Falcons. Don't try to stick up for anybody.

Let's give a hand to the unsung heroes of the game: THE LINEMEN. All of the Saints' linemen on offense, defense, and special teams did a superb job.
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Speaking the truth there. 👍
(repped)

Those guys on the line were able to make a real difference.

Also, about the what ifs... The reason I'm so harsh about that is because the hypothetical play-out of a football game is always a funny thing to me when I can just look at how things actually played out.

Fact is, passes were dropped but on most levels the Saints still out performed the Falcons. :P
 
Klostrophobic
Attention: Mike Vick isn't good at football.
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Attention : Mike Vick in the NFL.

I believe only good football players in the NFL. Hell, a first year NFL players makes a minimum salary $260,000 a season. Last I knew, he signed a deal with the Falcons for over $130 million for a few years. I didn't know any team would pay someone that much if they werent as you say, "good."

Mike Vick haters are just as bad as console fanboys. It's annoying. Even from Klos.
 
Jjacks
Attention : Mike Vick in the NFL.

I believe only good football players in the NFL. Hell, a first year NFL players makes a minimum salary $260,000 a season. Last I knew, he signed a deal with the Falcons for over $130 million for a few years. I didn't know any team would pay someone that much if they werent as you say, "good."

Mike Vick haters are just as bad as console fanboys. It's annoying. Even from Klos.
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Skill isn't measured in money. Vick is a fantastic scrambling QB, but he obviously hasn't been a champion QB.
 
Mike Vick is good on paper, and in video games, but not in real life. He's only just above average. If he were accurate with passes, he would be unstoppable. However, 10 out of 30 is not enough to make defenses tremble with fear.
 
No, he's definitely the worst starting QB in football (I don't consider Andrew Walter a starter or the Raiders a football team). It's just not even an argument. He's abysmal. Every once in a while he'll put together a nice 40-yard run or an amazing 55-yard TD pass while throwing off his front foot, across his body, but overall he's just so inaccurate that he shouldn't be starting.

I don't hate Mike Vick; I think he's the most exciting player to watch in football. It doesn't mean he's any good at it, though.
 
Klostrophobic
No, he's definitely the worst starting QB in football (I don't consider Andrew Walter a starter or the Raiders a football team). It's just not even an argument. He's abysmal. Every once in a while he'll put together a nice 40-yard run or an amazing 55-yard TD pass while throwing off his front foot, across his body, but overall he's just so inaccurate that he shouldn't be starting.

I don't hate Mike Vick; I think he's the most exciting player to watch in football. It doesn't mean he's any good at it, though.
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I don't argue that Vick isn't a great QB, he just isn't what I would consider "not good. " His current season statistics wouldn't help my case any however. He's currently ranked below the league average on QB rating, touchdowns, and yardage. Vick however, also has more rushing yards this season than Edgerrin James, Clinton Portis, and Reggie Bush. Vick is QB and still puts up bigger rushing yards than big name RB's. As for him not being a championship QB, it's still undecided. He's only had the chance to play the big game once. He's injured just about every season you look at. I agree, he hasn't shown much. This year, without injury, it's possible. The Falcons currently lead the NFL in offensive rushing yards per game. They've got 6 of the 7 fastest men in the NFL on their offense. 5 can be on the field at any given time.

Sleeper team maybe?
 
Snorer team. Actually, Daunte Culpepper is the worst starting QB this season.
 
I think the Falcons offense will have a lot of trouble against the Steelers this weekend. Troy Polamalu, the AFC Defensive Player of the Week will be shadowing Vick all night, and since they're only allowing a measly 78 rushing yards per game, they're going to force Vick to pass the ball, which usually doesn't have the best results.
 
Omnis
Snorer team. Actually, Daunte Culpepper is the worst starting QB this season.
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Hmm

Duante, Favre, Boller, McNair hasn't been great, Plummer's been pretty bad, Warner was bad enough to lose his job, people are begging for Tony Romo in Dallas, Grossman crapped the bed against the cardinals, naturally Walter and Brooks have had trouble, Chris Simms was god awful, Volleck and Collins lost their jobs pretty quickly, hell even big ben started out slow (though last weekend was a nice showing for him).

I think I'd take Vick over every single one of those guys (which isn't saying a whole lot).
 
Hmm... Good point. Though, I'd take McNair off of that list. He's been doing pretty well for the Ravens (at least during their lossless streak).



Now, Peyton Manning, THAT guy sucks!
 
Plummer has been atrocious. Just talking about this year, he's worse than Vick. I'd still take him over Vick, though, because he's shown he's capable in the past.

I like Boller a lot; a lot more than Steve McNair's corpse at the very least. Billy Volek is another guy who is better than the starting QB. He's nothing special, but he's serviceable.

Philip Rivers is amazing. He's going to be the best QB in football if Peyton Manning ever starts slowing down.

EDIT: I just noticed that Billy Volek is Rivers' backup which makes my statement about Rivers contradictory. Whatever, Volek should have been starting in Tennessee.
 
Did Peyton even have as good a debut? It's about time San Diego hit it big with a draft QB. They've turned over a new Leaf, so to speak.
 
Omnis
Hmm... Good point. Though, I'd take McNair off of that list. He's been doing pretty well for the Ravens (at least during their lossless streak).



Now, Peyton Manning, THAT guy sucks!
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I'll decide how I feel about McNair once his team faces a team worth putting them against this season.
 
danoff
Hmm

Duante, Favre, Boller, McNair hasn't been great, Plummer's been pretty bad, Warner was bad enough to lose his job, people are begging for Tony Romo in Dallas, Grossman crapped the bed against the cardinals, naturally Walter and Brooks have had trouble, Chris Simms was god awful, Volleck and Collins lost their jobs pretty quickly, hell even big ben started out slow (though last weekend was a nice showing for him).

I think I'd take Vick over every single one of those guys (which isn't saying a whole lot).
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Let's see how my picks did last weekend.

Daunte? Didn't play, but Harrington should have made the list.
Favre? 2 TDs one fumble... not too bad
Boller, McNair? Bye
Plummer? 1 TD, 2 Int - not so good
Warner? Still sucks last I checked, Leinart didn't make it look easy against Chokeland.
Bledsoe? Unknown
Grossman? Bye
Brooks still sucks last I checked, but Walter had a not-terrible game against Arizona with 1 TD and 1 Int
Simms still sucks, replacement Gradkowski got still has twice as many TDs in week's 6 and 7 as Simms had all season. Simms has 1 TD and 7 Int to his name so far this year - we'll see if he gets a chance to throw more picks before the season is over.
the Titans didn't play, but the guys I listed are officially gone/replaced anyway.
...and finally Big Ben managed a good game before getting knocked out. 3 TDs no picks. He's still 5/7 on the season.

And Vick? The guy I'd take over all of the ones listed above? Well, Vick managed a meager 4 TDs and 2 Ints this week with 40 yards rushing (Warrick Dunn only got 70 rushing yards). How do I know this? Because I'm a huge Vick fan? No. Because I'm losing to Vick and Dunn in fantasy football. Damn them! Damn Vick for making me right. Why did he not suck against Pitt? :mad:
 
Just to check back in, Bledsoe has now lost his job. Carr lost his job for half the game. Big Ben fell apart against Oakland. Leinart was poor against the league's worst pass defense. Gradkowski looked pretty bad....

Vick? Not bad at all.

I maintain that not only is Vick not the worst starting QB in the NFL, but he's one of the top QBs at the moment.
 
I don't know about that. He's had one decent game and a really good game. I hardly think that calls for him being named one of the best QBs in the league. I still contend that he's one of the worst in the league, but he's showing signs of improving now that he's not running all over the place. Lots of QBs have been great for two consecutive games.

Let's see how the rest of the NFL adjusts to the new Mike Vick.
 
Ok, let's look at the situation. Who is better than Vick?

Manning#1? Sure.
Manning#2? Ok.
Delhomme? Alright.
Hasslebeck? Marginal.
Brees? Yup.
Bulger? Yes.

Who else?
Walter? No.
Favre? No no no.
Smith? Nope.
Romo? Not yet.
McNair? Not these days (despite a good game last week).
Green? No.
Plummer? Nope, he might not even be better than Cutler.
Young? As much as I'd like to say yes... no.
Leinart? No way, not if you bomb against the easiest pass defense in the league.
Culpepper/Harrington? Nope.

Let's see that's 16, I'm missing a bunch.
Leftwich? Just lost his job
Lossman? Nope
Pennington? Maybe. He's pretty hot these days.
Fry? No
Rivers? No
Roethlis.... Ben? No... comeon no way. He's lost something. Maybe his appendix was more crucial than he thought.
Gradkowski? No
Brunell? Nope
Johnson? Don't think so, though he's been better recently

ok where are we... 25, still missing some
Carr just lost his job
ah, Palmer! Sure. He's better.
Kitna? Don't think so.

ok that's 28, 4 more... I know I can do this without looking it up.
Brady!!! Yes.
Vick? Well no, he's not better than Vick.

2 more
McNabb!!! Grudgingly I'm going to say yes. I hate McNabb.
1 more
Grossman (GOT IT!!)... that's a close one. Grossman has been on fire this year. But he's still quite young. I'm going with no given his collapse against the Cardinals.

Ok how many yes and maybe votes did I get?

10.

That puts Vick in the top 3rd in my estimation. I think that's about fair.
 
Vick will certainly be the first QB to rush for over 1000 yards. I feel it will be this season too. He's 5th in the league in first downs. Impressive for a QB. His QB rating last game was above 130. His average was like 72 or something before these past two games. With Vick now throwing and completing passes, his threat level has increased dramatically. To say he's one of the worst QB's in the NFL is ridiculous.
 
The Saints absolutely destroyed the Cowboys, and in spite of the fact that the 'boys have been hot lately. The saints have been improving all season, especially reggie bush. They're suddenly looking like one of the best teams in the league.
 
danoff
The Saints absolutely destroyed the Cowboys, and in spite of the fact that the 'boys have been hot lately. The saints have been improving all season, especially reggie bush. They're suddenly looking like one of the best teams in the league.
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No, they already were one of the best teams in the league. In my opinion, they've been the best of the NFC since the Dolphins crushed the Bears.
 

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