Here it is: the end of regular season and the beginning of the end for a few of the NFL Wild Card contenders after this weekend. The Philadelphia Eagles will host the New Orleans Saints this weekend in what #WhoDatNation hopes will be the best game the Saints have played all year.
After a dominant reign at top spot in the NFC’s South division for almost the entire regular season, the Saints go into the post season as a Wild Card, not as divisional winners. Things unraveled towards the end of the season with their bipolar ‘hot one game, cold in another’ play.
Without rehashing too much of the past’s mishaps, let’s focus on what’s ahead and what New Orleans has to do in order to go to the next level.
*DON’T LET THE PAST BE THE FUTURE – the struggles against seemingly easy opponents, the losses on the road, the defensive shutdown, the offensive breakdown cannot shape what is to be a successful playoff run. Walk into Philly with a clean slate and a new plan of action.
*DON’T BE A ONE-SIDED, READABLE OFFENSE – the Saints have a massive amount of talented play-makers for QB Drew Brees to chose from. They have to learn to move away from the “typical” receivers and change the scheme of things. Go for the gumbo gusto. In this ‘do or die’ situation they need to dig deep into the offensive play book and come up with not just the big plays but consistent and efficient ones that move them down the field.
*PROTECT DREW BREES – the front line has been extremely inconsistent in protecting Brees as of late. If the Saints stand any chance to win against the Eagles they’re going to have to be able to keep Brees safe in the pocket and buy him ample time to find his receiving core.
*MAKE BIG DEFENSIVE PLAYS – the Eagles are ranked 1st in rushing yards per game, and 9th in passing. The Saints defense has got to put the pressure on Eagles QB Nick Foles who has only thrown two interceptions in the regular season. The Saints defensive line has only allowed 305.7 yards in regular season, ranked 4th in the league, but has allowed the opposing teams to set the tone for the game far too often. It’s time for the defense to either show up or go home.
*DON’T LET THE WEATHER BECOME A FACTOR – It is true that ANY dome team would struggle in Philly this time off the year. It’s cold, but its a mind set. The Saints have to break the cycle of poor playing in circumstances where the weather may not be ideal. Maybe dome teams should start simulating different weather scenarios in their domes during practices – maybe even simulate crowd noise levels – anything to try to gain a foot-up in these situations. I can almost guarantee the Eagles are just as cold as the Saints will be. It’s a mind set though, so learn to work with it, not against it.
*DON’T TAKE MIKE VICK BEING ON SIDELINE LIGHTLY – he may not be on the field reading the defense, but he will be a force in this game. The intel he will provide Eagles QB Foles will be valuable. Vick will be able to see things from a different perspective than the coach or offensive coordinator and will be able to give Foles some great advice on how to launch an attack on the Saints D.
If New Orleans can get a win in Philadelphia this weekend, then they have the talent to go all the way. I heard a great piece of advice given from a great leader to his army that seems so fitting to what lies ahead for New Orleans:
“Don’t make it harder than it has to be.” -Peyton Manning
What appropriate, yet so simple, words.
-Who Dat
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