A Few Thoughts on Saints Post Season

Was disappointing how Saints O failed to really turn the screw in the second half.  What struck me the most is how nervous a number of the players seemed to be, especially in 4th Qtr and OT.  Some of Brees passes were high and wobbly (by his standards anyway) and some of the WR juggled with the ball before bringing it in (Henderson and Meachem spring to mind).  Perhaps understandable given the magnitude of the game but hope they get over that in the Superbowl.

One thing that has me more confident about the Superbowl is how more similar Colts are to Cardinals rather than Vikings.  Don't get me wrong I think Indy are an outstanding team and much better than Arizona, but they have only a fair defence and not much of a running game.  I thought Bushrod and Stitchcomb did an excellent job on Vikes DE's and no reason to think they can't do the same against Freeney and Mathis.  Saints also shut down Cards running game after the opening TD and hopefully can do same to make Indy one dimensional (Hell of a dimension though).

Going into the Playoffs I thought momentum from the end of the regular season would be the key to victory, and the Saints losing last three would leave them one and done.  How many people would have put money on it being a Cowboys / Chargers Superbowl?  This season its been all about getting the momentum in that first playoff game and carrying that forward.  Cowboys and Chargers had strong finishes in Regular Season but didn't seem to bring that level to the playoffs, Chargers especially.  Yet teams like the Jets, regarded as the worst team in the playoffs, had a good game against the Bengals and carried that into the game against Indy.  Saints and Vikings both had great Divisional games which I why I think the Championship game was so close.

The Saints and Colts have both made a pretty compelling argument for resting players once homefield advantage is secured.  Saints especially looked fresh and fired up for the Divisional game which you could argue wouldn't have happened if they kept starters in.  I really think that if the Saints hadn't rested starters in the Panthers game they would have got beaten by the Vikings.  Maybe having the probowl between Championship game and Superbowl will have the same effect for the Saints that resting players (coupled with first round bye) had?

It's been interesting reading all the comments from fans about the Vikings game.  People seem to be on one end of the scale (Saints were overphysical, Refs cost Vikings the game) or the other (Its a mans game, calls went against both teams).  As always the truth is somewhere in the middle BUT I was well impressed at how Favre stood up to the punishment being dished out (at a level not really seen by the Saints this season).  I can picture Brady whining to the refs at most of those challenges.  I do think Saints got a break with the pass interference in OT but you can't say the refs won the game for the Saints when they were penalised 9 times for nearly 100 yards.

Can't wait for Superbowl, hoping the Defence can continue to force turnovers because if not giving that many yards to Manning could lead to bad things.  Am sure Brees will put points on the board so D will be crucial.

Final question for Saints fans - with Bushrod having a good season, do you think he will keep LT spot with Brown set to return next year?