CBS Sports picks Saints

[jakedog56]

From John Breech at CBS Sports:

"New Orleans (11-5) at Seattle (13-4), 4:35 p.m. ET (Fox): This is going to sound weird, but I think the fact that New Orleans lost 34-7 to Seattle during the regular season is actually going to help the Saints. The crowd noise in Seattle is a huge factor, but now that the Saints have heard it, they know what they're up against and they can adjust accordingly. As for Seattle's 34-7 regular season win, statistically, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson played one of his best games of the season and Drew Brees played one of his worst. Basically, it was a perfect confluence of events that led to the blowout. As long as there's no Beastquake in this game, I think New Orleans can pull off the upset. Saints 27-24 over Seahawks."


Ok, first we have to disregard the fact that he got the Seahawks record incorrect in the header.

I understand that picking games is a matter of opinion and that Breech is entitled to his own but his "logic" is seriously lacking on this one.
Basically he is stating that the 34-7 win was a fluke and cannot happen again.

While I do agree that the game will most likely not be any type of blowout close to the earlier game, I think that it is a lack of respect to the Seahawks players to state that it was a "perfect storm" scenerio. The Seahawks personal dominated the Saints personal. Stating that because they dominated them once means that they can't do it again is pretty stupid in my opinion.

Maybe he feels that if he is wrong, he is just quickly disregarded as foolish, but if he is correct then he is some kind of savant?

 

[Cave_Johnson]

Meh, upsets happen in the playoffs. The Seattle offense has looked pretty sub-par lately even when you consider the quality defenses they have played. Can't blame the guy.

 

[yossarian]

The saints are media darlings, there's a reason the saints got boatraced in the first game, Seattle's defense clobbered them and the saints defense wasn't good enough. Why would that change so significantly in the second hand when it's in Seattle? The media does this all the time, it's boring to write that the much better team will win, much more interesting to write about why they'll lose.

 

[dkmightyhammer]

Prisco is the worst from CBS. He really seems to have a grudge or something against Seattle.

 

[yossarian]

Prisco is the worst from CBS. He really seems to have a grudge or something against Seattle.

Prisco has been critical of the 49ers as well, he doesn't like the read option that much, but he does review the coaches film after games and I've found that his criticisms of the 49ers and Kaepernick usually have a basis.

 

[JDM]

Nothing Prisco has ever said has had any sort of basis.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

Nothing Prisco has ever said has had any sort of basis.

 

[gowazzu02]

Good, Never a good omen to have EVERYONE pick you to win.

At the end of the day they still have Drew Brees, so you never know.

No team thats left in the NFC is an easy out. This is the big boy conference.

 

[Wolvie]

Oh to be a sportswriter. Just gotta create buzz about your articles to try to elevate you in the industry. Especially in the day of facebook comments under the articles. Give us buzzards some red meat to fight over in the comments section and watch this simple article get a ton of hits

 

[Logicallylethal]

I hope everyone picks the Saints. Our guys play better with a chip on their shoulders.

 

[Banned 10x]

From John Breech at CBS Sports:

"New Orleans (11-5) at Seattle (13-4), 4:35 p.m. ET (Fox): This is going to sound weird, but I think the fact that New Orleans lost 34-7 to Seattle during the regular season is actually going to help the Saints. The crowd noise in Seattle is a huge factor, but now that the Saints have heard it, they know what they're up against and they can adjust accordingly. As for Seattle's 34-7 regular season win, statistically, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson played one of his best games of the season and Drew Brees played one of his worst. Basically, it was a perfect confluence of events that led to the blowout. As long as there's no Beastquake in this game, I think New Orleans can pull off the upset. Saints 27-24 over Seahawks."


Ok, first we have to disregard the fact that he got the Seahawks record incorrect in the header.

I understand that picking games is a matter of opinion and that Breech is entitled to his own but his "logic" is seriously lacking on this one.
Basically he is stating that the 34-7 win was a fluke and cannot happen again.

While I do agree that the game will most likely not be any type of blowout close to the earlier game, I think that it is a lack of respect to the Seahawks players to state that it was a "perfect storm" scenerio. The Seahawks personal dominated the Saints personal. Stating that because they dominated them once means that they can't do it again is pretty stupid in my opinion.

Maybe he feels that if he is wrong, he is just quickly disregarded as foolish, but if he is correct then he is some kind of savant?

I'm far from the over-confident fan, in fact I'm very nervous about this game, but the Hawks defense has only given up 27+ points once this season and that was in Indy. Does this dude really think the Saints are going to come to Seattle and put up that many points in a play off game. If he came out and said the Saints would win 16-13 or something like that I could take it seriously.

 

[Screamin12th]

the truth to the matter is the Saints DO have Drew Brees. We fans have watched this elite QB over many years. If anyone can carry that team to a big road win its Drew, There is just no way looking past that. He is a very special QB in the NFL and is as capable as anyone playing past or present in doing just that.

The First game the Hawks played outstanding on offense and defense, we have not seen the offense play a good game i believe since then against a good team. As a fan of the Hawks i am not afraid to admit this team was struggling when the season ended and they were not playing well on offense. Russel Wilson was not playing well also the last month and for them to beat the Saints they better find the fix. They will need another outstanding offensive game along with the continued dominating defense they have been playing to win. If they miss either one of those in the Saints game they very well could lose and lose badly.

 

[Wolvie]

I'm far from the over-confident fan, in fact I'm very nervous about this game, but the Hawks defense has only given up 27+ points once this season and that was in Indy. Does this dude really think the Saints are going to come to Seattle and put up that many points in a play off game. If he came out and said the Saints would win 16-13 or something like that I could take it seriously.

In order to get 27 on the Hawks, a decent chuck of it will have to be off of turnovers. If we play a clean offensive game, then we win hands down

 

[WizardHawk]

The saints are media darlings, there's a reason the saints got boatraced in the first game, Seattle's defense clobbered them and the saints defense wasn't good enough. Why would that change so significantly in the second hand when it's in Seattle? The media does this all the time, it's boring to write that the much better team will win, much more interesting to write about why they'll lose.

I see this ending more like Seattle vs Chicago in '06. We played them at their house and got the crap beat out of us by nearly the same score as Seattle>Saints this year. We then played them in the second round of the playoffs at their house again and were it not for a missed FG barely lost.

This is the NFL. You can seal club a team one week and lose to them the next. Game plans change and the luck of the bounce and be different. Drew Brees is a future HOF QB who is more than capable of carrying a team and making things happen. Add an up and down 'safe' offense that Seattle has been running and anyone thinking the Saints can't possibly win isn't a student of the game.

Sure, you like Seattle's chances and they should win, but it is far from a slam dunk.

 

[MrS]

in order for the saints to win our offense has to be as ineffective as it was against arizona. we will have to lose the turnover battle. we will have to let the saints run the ball. if those things happen, I guarantee we lose.

If we win the TO battle and dont let the saints have an effective running game, I dont see how they can beat us. we have too many great players in our secondary and our DL is playing too well to let them pass the ball on us. Brees will get yardage, but even if we keep him from going over 250 I would call it a success.

We have to run the ball effectively and control the clock, get a few turnovers and the game will be ours. Oh and score TDs and not FGs when we have opportunities. You do this by calling the right plays in the redzone.

 

[gohusk]

The offense has been pretty bad but the way our secondary is playing right now is absolutely ridiculous. All we have to do is generate a little bit of a pass rush and the Saints are going to have a real tough time putting points on the board. Anything can obviously happen but writing a bunch of fluff like "that can't happen twice" without explaining why it happened to begin with and what's changed to prevent it this time is pretty low-grade analysis.

 

[SeattleCoug]

I think 20 is the magic number usually. If we can break 20 points I like our chances.

 

[MrS]

The offense has been pretty bad but the way our secondary is playing right now is absolutely ridiculous. All we have to do is generate a little bit of a pass rush and the Saints are going to have a real tough time putting points on the board. Anything can obviously happen but writing a bunch of fluff like "that can't happen twice" without explaining why it happened to begin with and what's changed to prevent it this time is pretty low-grade analysis.

this is true, but we really dont want to get into a grind it out game with these guys where one big play can swing the outcome. we need our offense firing on all cylinders and our defense to dominate.

 

[SeattleCoug]

I think we can move the ball against the Saints D. They did finish a top 5 D but they have some key injuries. Harleson was just put on IR and he was their best LB at stopping the run. Also they already are playing a backup corner and a safety. There is a chance their other corner Lewis is out with a concussion but it sounds like he will play. Bottom line is we are facing a D that is more banged up then last time when we scored 34. Plus you add a healthier O-Line and potentially Harvin and I am hopeful we will be fine. Okung containing Cam Jordan will be key.

 

[octagondd]

I think we can move the ball against the Saints D. They did finish a top 5 D but they have some key injuries. Harleson was just put on IR and he was their best LB at stopping the run. Also they already are playing a backup corner and a safety. There is a chance their other corner Lewis is out with a concussion but it sounds like he will play. Bottom line is we are facing a D that is more banged up then last time when we scored 34. Plus you add a healthier O-Line and potentially Harvin and I am hopeful we will be fine. Okung containing Cam Jordan will be key.

They are banged up, but one thing that concerns me is our defense has not faced very many top notch offenses. In fact, NO is the only top 10 offense, as far as ppg, we played this season and they are ranked 10th. NO defense faced 4 teams in the top 10 for ppg and they still made the top 5 in points given up. Obviously alot of things factor in to this like which divisions we play and what time of the year we play a team and who is hurt, etc., but I expect NO to bring a much different game on Saturday. I think they tried out the stack the box approach to see how it would work, now they will bring a more balanced approach and of course will still bring pressure. We'll see if the replacement players on their defense can hold up, or if they can still stop the run with fewer guys in the box.