NFL – Seattle Seahawks upsets the New Orleans Saints in Wild Card Round

The Seattle Seahawks are working their way into the playoffs in the most bizarre way. And it’s all because of where they have come from. There is no doubt among fans and sports reporters alike: the weakest link in professional football can be found in the Western Division of the National Football Conference.

Just to get you into the right perspective, we have to consider that neither Seattle, the St. Louis Rams, the San Francisco 49ers nor the Arizona Cardinals had a winning season in this 2010. At 7-9 overall and 4-2 record in division play the Seahawks clinched division and made it into the Wild Card Round. That is despite their losing season. In other words, Seattle qualified into the playoffs just because they where the strongest team in the weakest division in professional football. As a matter of fact, the Seahawks could never link more then two wins during the regular season.

And yet, somehow, the Seahawks where able to put in 41 points over the New Orleans Saints, a team that not only holds a 11-5 record for the regular season but is also the Super Bowl defending Champions. So, the Seahawks have become the first NFL team to win a Playoffs game with a 7-9 record as the guys from Seattle completed an epic 41-36 upset against the Saints at the Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington.

The Seahawks’ quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was absolutely outstanding in this Sunday’s game. He completed 22 of his 35 attempts to push the chains 272 yards for 4-touchdown passes and 1 interception. This has been his personal best performance in a playoffs game. Such a great performance that it was good enough to outplay the Saints’ quarterback and Super Bowl MVP, Andrew Brees as he completed 39 of 60 for 404 yards (that’s almost twice as many as Hasselbeck) for two touchdowns and no interceptions.

It seems that everyone in Seattle was capable of getting their act together when it mattered most. As a matter of fact, Hasselback was able to find wide-open players with enormous ease. He sent a pair of touchdowns passes to tight-end John Carlson (even thought this guy only scored one TD in the regular season). He then connected with Brandon Stokley on a 45-yard touchdown right before the halftime break. He then found Mike Williams right after the break to complete a 38 yards on the Seahawks first drive in the third quarter. That was enough to give the Seahawks 31-20 lead over the Saints, and work its way up for an intense finish.

Marshawn Lynch was the man of the hour as he finished off the Saints with an nerve breaking 67 yard run with 3:22 left on the clock for a team with a losing season win its first ever playoffs game. Lynch took on a second down carry breaking off six tackles on his long run as eight different New Orleans players put hands on him. That, and a very stiff arm against cornerback Tracy Porter was enough to complete the longest scoring run of Lynch’s career and the Seahawks pass into the next round.

NFL- The New Orleans Saints defeat the Atlanta Falcons

They say that football is a game of the heart. Maybe. It is also a game of perseverance and a game of stamina. At 12-3 overall and 9-2 in the NFC, the Atlanta Falcons hold the best record in the NFL next to the New England Patriots. That is, had the Falcons managed to defeat the Saints, they would have a 13-2 record right next to the Pats. Still, the New Orleans Saints proved once again that they have the heart and the talent needed to take a go at defending the title they won last year. The Saints rallied for an 17-14 win over the Atlanta Falcons to secure their comeback into the postseason.

Critics had speculated that holding the best record in the league didn’t necessarily imply having the best team in the nation. And that sort of fell like the right description for what went on during Monday Night Football between the New Orleans Saints, the Super Bowl defending champions, and the Atlanta Falcons. Sure, the Falcons were coming from an 8-game winning streak. Sure, the Falcons at home had been just a bit short of brilliant with an impressive 19-3 record at the Georgia Dome under head coach Matt Ryan’s.

Drew Brees, the Saints starting quarterback and last year’s Super Bowl MVP, was quite effective when his team needed him most. Despite throwing to interceptions during the fourth quarter, he showed once again that he can really perform well under pressure.

At 11-4 the Saints had a couple of mishaps during the middle of the season, but the guys from New Orleans are showing that they have what it takes to fight again for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. The Saints had won 7 of its last 8 games before facing the Falcons.

It all went down to the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Chauncey Davis picked up Brees pass and went for a 26-yard touchdown in the open minute of the fourth quarter. That gave the Falcons the lead for the first time in the game. Drew Brees was then picked up again by John Abraham further into the fourth quarter. But it didn’t matter much.

Brees completed six straight passes in the 13-play drive that gave the Saints the win on the road. Just to get into the right perspective and so it stays on the record, we are talking about a magnificent 90-yard drive that ended with a 6-yard touchdown to rookie Jimmy Graham with little over 3 minutes remaining.

Drew Brees completed35 of 49 passes for 302 yards with one touchdown and 2 interceptions. His passer rating was on the 77.1 The Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan went for 15 of 29 passes for 148 yards and one touchdown with no picks.

The Saints will need the cheer for the Carolina Panthers during next week’s game. Should the Panthers managed to defeat the odds and win over the Falcons. It is not a very likely scenario. Oh contraire, it is very likely that the Falcons are going to wrap up their first division crown since 2004 and secure home court advantage through the NFC playoffs.

NFL – The New Orleans Saints defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers at home

by Stephen Lars on Nov.03, 2010, under Football, Sports News

Last week we were a bit harsh on the Saints. But let’s face it. Each and every one of us who got a bit excited with what the Saints brought into the NFL equation last season, couldn’t help but to feel a bit disappointed with what they where showing at the beginning of the season. Yes, we have to cut some slack. The Saints have missed a couple of their key-players to injury, but as the season evolves and their healing time sets in, the Saints have again returned to their Super Bowl form.

Drew Brees had an outstanding night. Not only did he outplayed Ben Roethlisberger, who is still not at his peak after his early season 4

NFL – New Orleans Saints take on Pittsburgh Steelers

Ok, so let’s talk about the New Orleans Saints. What’s going on with the defending Super Bowl Champions, huh? Ok, so let’s go back for a second. Sure, the Saints were known nationally as the New Orleans Aints, because for too long they had not made it to the Playoffs, then they didn’t win in the Playoffs and then the 2009 regular season kicked in and quarterback Drew Brees and Co. went on to put and end to the hegemony of the traditional big teams in football. They had a fabulous season, and they were bombproof in the postseason.

But heck, it’s about time that the Saints get out of the Super Bowl hangover, get their act together and start playing some real football. Sure, there is no need to panic. The Saints are in a much more comfortable place then, let’s say the Dallas Cowboys or the San Francisco 49ers, but heck, one can’t help but to notice that the Saints have lost their last two games in a row, including a noticeable upset against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

So yeah, they managed to defeat the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but they failed to crush the Arizona Diamond Backs and the Cleveland Browns by not making the field goal at the end of the game. I mean, they almost won, but almost won’t cut it if this guys really want to make it into the postseason and then have a shot at the Super Bowl.

Drew Brees is not at his finest. He has had 7 interceptions in his last 2 games and defensively, things are not looking that much brighter. The Saints have lost two games against rookie quarterbacks, and that’s never a good sign. Particularly considering that this weekend they have to face no other then the Pittsburgh Steelers who are coming in with Ben Roethlisberger, who despite not at his best shape ever, is certainly more experienced and a more precise quarterback then what the Saint’s have been dealing with lately.

At a -1 points favorite on the spread, and playing at home, the Saints are expected to make an effort and secure this win at home. The Steelers on the other hand have won 4 games in the road, and are looking strong. It’s going to get weird and funky this Halloween Sunday at the Big Easy.

NFL – Drew Brees Could lead the Saints back to another Super Bowl

by Stephen Lars on Aug.14, 2010, under Previews

Remember those many years where the New Orleans Saints were stacking up a losing season after the other. Their record was so obnoxiously low that even the home fans were at one point calling them the New Orleans Aint’s. Let’s take a quick look at their losing years. The Saints were founded back in 1966 as an expansion team. They played at the Tulane Stadium until 1974. It would take the franchise two more seasons to finally finish a regular season with a .500 average.

As if that was not enough, the people of New Orleans had to wait even longer, until 1987 for the team to see its first successful years, but the spell did not last too long and by 1992, the Saints were again on the losing end of the spectrum. Want to talk about playoffs wins? Well, then you would have to wait until the first postseason of the new millennium to see the Saints win their first ever Playoffs game against the then defending Champions the St. Louis Rams.

And then came Head Coach Sean Payton, and quarterback Drew Brees. It was the spring of 2006 and even before the game began, the fans were starting to believe that good things would follow after Payton and Brees. For the first time in franchise history, the Saints owner, Tom Benson, announced that the team had sold out the entire season on the Louisiana Superdome, with season tickets alone. Just to be clear here, there are 70,001 seats in the that Arena after the latest modifications.

The first home game was somewhat of a national event. The city was finally making its first steps since Hurricane Katrina devastated half of the city. It was a magical moment not only for the team but also for the NFL and the city of New Orleans. The people were showing their support not only to the team but also for what it represented: a city that could get back on its feet, a team that could start making a difference.

2006 was a key season. The Saints made it to the NFC Championship game were they lost to the Chicago Bears. That was their best performance yet. 2007 and 2008 went by without too much success. Then came their year. In 2009 the Aints became the Saints. They played it smart, and although they went on and sacrificed the perfect season, the team was able to win its first ever Super Bowl and bring back the Vince Lombardi Trophy to New Orleans.

Brees is got the keys

Now, for the first time in his professional career, and despite having had some great seasons in the past, the hard working and dedicated Drew Brees is finally joining Peyton Manning and Tom Brady a top of the NFL’s superstardom. Not only is he up for an enormous contract extension, he has received the respect of his fellow players as well as the fans.

He has a very difficult task in front of him. Two in a row is not such a common denominator when it comes to Super Bowl success. As of press time, the Saints are among the top three ranked teams in the Odds to win XLV Super Bowl. Sports betting industry leader Instant Actions Sports has already set up the lines for the first week of the NFL.

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