Game No. 15 Open Thread: Saints vs. Eagles

by Sunil @ Canal Street Chronicles on Dec 23, 2007 9:23 AM CST in News

An update on Deuce.

As always, be sure to click over to Bleed Green Nation for the Eagles' perspective. [Insert joke about pelting Santa Claus with snowballs here].

Vegas has the Saints favored by three. There's the Dome-field advantage right there. Make this one count, guys.

The Saints ran for over 200 yards the last time these teams met -- something I don't expect them to repeat. However, they must maintain some semblance of a running game to keep the Eagles' defense honest. I wouldn't mind seeing some short passes to running backs because they are essentially long handoffs and strech the defense laterally.

Reggie is questionable, Marques is probably and E.J. is doubtful.. If this weren't an elimination playoff game, this means that Reggie would probably be doubtful (25/75), Marques would probably be questionable (50/50) and E.J. would just be out. I didn't know Marques' back was that bad. That's something that definitely bears watching.

Anyway, the stakes have all been laid out. We all know what the Saints need to do to win this game. They need to play like they did against Jacksonville, not like they did against Indianapolis. Minnesota hosts Washington in the night game -- the Saints need to win to keep the pressure on them.

As sports fans (and especially Saints fans), all we can really ask of our teams is that they play meaningful games at the end of the season; these certainly qualify. After the terrible start the Saints had this season, to be sitting at 7-7 with a legitimate chance to make the playoffs is a bit of an early Christmas present. I am often a pessimist, but I am especially impressed with the heart, the dedication and the will this team showed to be right here, right now, with a chance to advance further. This season hasn't necessarily been a success, but it shows me this is a different team than the Folding Hasletts of 2001-05.

Heart, dedication and will: If these are what the Saints bring to the field the next two weeks, there could be something special beyond.

Tweet Comment 59 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

One down, two to go

Soothsayer (just for kicks)

Karney

Blocked punt return for TD

With the questions about Deuce's health, it's not too early to start thinking RB in the draft. Although, I know that Sunil will experience ecstasy if the Saints draft this RB.

The Eagles' defense will get pressure on Brees, hopefully he'll burn them a few times.

The FO guys' data show that Jason David is one of the worst (if not THE WORST) CB's in the league. Nice to have empirical evidence to suppport what I've seen and wrote.

Should I start ReleaseJasonDavid.com?

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 11:19 AM CST reply actions

matty forte is sick!!!

by Sunil @ Canal Street Chronicles on Dec 23, 2007 11:23 AM CST up reply actions

Better Question

Would you leave Colston for Forte? Or is your heart big enough for both?

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 11:36 AM CST up reply actions

Easy

That's like asking me to choose between my children. You know, if I had children.

by Sunil @ Canal Street Chronicles on Dec 23, 2007 11:52 AM CST up reply actions

Subtle Perverted Joke Time

So you love them the same amount just differently? For Colston, you love his soft hands and ability to go deep. For Forte, you love his power and ability to hit the hole hard.

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 12:03 PM CST up reply actions

MOTHERTRUCKER

WTF

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 12:06 PM CST reply actions

Unreal

by Sunil @ Canal Street Chronicles on Dec 23, 2007 12:06 PM CST reply actions

Damn

If McKenzie is hurt, the difficulty for the Eagles offense just went from Veteran to Rookie.

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 12:08 PM CST reply actions

Great Pass and Catch

The announcer says that Henderson is the forgotten man. How the hell is Henderson forgotten? He drops too many passes to be a consistent threat.

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 12:15 PM CST reply actions

Record for consecutive completions

Drew tied the team record with 15 on this drive.

by Sunil @ Canal Street Chronicles on Dec 23, 2007 12:15 PM CST reply actions

Brees

Is he already the best Saints QB of all time?

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 12:19 PM CST up reply actions

There is is

There's the record. As far as your question, I'd say yes.

by Sunil @ Canal Street Chronicles on Dec 23, 2007 12:21 PM CST up reply actions

Best All Time

Who would be in the discussion? Brees, Archie, Hebert, and (gulp) Aaron Brooks? Is that it?

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 12:50 PM CST up reply actions

Jeff Blake

Just kidding.

by Sunil @ Canal Street Chronicles on Dec 23, 2007 1:02 PM CST up reply actions

The Billy Joes

Hobert and Tolliver

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 1:04 PM CST up reply actions

Explosive

Stecker showing his explosiveness. I bet his explosiveness rating is 87. Reggie Bush is a solid 64.

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 12:16 PM CST reply actions

Scrappiness Quotient

Stecker upped his league-leading SQ to an ungodly 2.34.

Reggie is only at .67.

by Sunil @ Canal Street Chronicles on Dec 23, 2007 12:17 PM CST up reply actions

Damn

At this rate he will be off the scale.

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 12:23 PM CST up reply actions

Nice drive

We're on pace for around 120 points here.

Coincidentally, the average Texas Tech football score.

by Sunil @ Canal Street Chronicles on Dec 23, 2007 12:17 PM CST reply actions

Fumbles

Man, is it raining in the Dome or something?

by Sunil @ Canal Street Chronicles on Dec 23, 2007 12:20 PM CST reply actions

Karma is a bitch

Asshole Eagles fans.

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 12:21 PM CST up reply actions

Defense

Nice to see the D Line stepping up for the weak secondary.

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 12:21 PM CST reply actions

Aaron Stecker, fantasy football monster.

by Sunil @ Canal Street Chronicles on Dec 23, 2007 12:24 PM CST reply actions

Jason David

Why is he on the field?

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 12:29 PM CST reply actions

Offense win games

Defense wins championships. We wouldn't win PeeWee league with this garbage.

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 12:34 PM CST reply actions

Come on

Can you keep contain on the edge, defense? My guess is no.

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 12:45 PM CST reply actions

Great

The offense is stalling and the defense couldn't stop a nursing home squad quarterbacked by my grandma.

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 12:52 PM CST reply actions

Let's Go

Offense. Put a scoring drive together.

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 1:09 PM CST reply actions

Stecker Suppression Factor (SSF)

The Eagles SSF went from -6 to +8.

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 1:11 PM CST reply actions

Sigh

I guess the punter needed to earn his checks for the season.

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 1:12 PM CST reply actions

Blitz pickup

If Stecker can't return -- and what a display of scrap that would be -- the Saints should use more 4-wide, tight-end sets, since the running backs aren't going to be great at it.

by Sunil @ Canal Street Chronicles on Dec 23, 2007 1:21 PM CST reply actions

Screens and shovels and draws

Put the defensive aggression at a disadvantage.

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 1:27 PM CST up reply actions

True

They ran their best screen of the season with Stecker.

They should be a better screen team.

by Sunil @ Canal Street Chronicles on Dec 23, 2007 1:33 PM CST up reply actions

Devery drops

There you are. I thought you may have gone away.

by Sunil @ Canal Street Chronicles on Dec 23, 2007 1:22 PM CST reply actions

Yep

Mentioned it earlier when he made a great catch. He drops too many to be a decent wide out. Let him walk when his contract is done.

Hey, the producers of Neccessary Roughness called, they want to know if Henderson will play Featherstone in the sequel.

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 1:25 PM CST up reply actions

Bullocks missed tackles

By my (unofficial) count that's four.

by Sunil @ Canal Street Chronicles on Dec 23, 2007 1:25 PM CST reply actions

Safe to say

Put Case-va-harn in.

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 1:26 PM CST up reply actions

All Day

Can McNabb have any more time to throw?

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 1:29 PM CST reply actions

Colston injury

On the radio they said he's spitting up blood. Ouch.

by Sunil @ Canal Street Chronicles on Dec 23, 2007 1:32 PM CST reply actions

Man UP

He needs to man up. Rub a little dirt on it and get back in there.

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 1:34 PM CST up reply actions

Call a running play

They will not expect it.

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 1:39 PM CST reply actions

Goddammit

WHat the hell kind of play call is that? Run up the middle or something.

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 1:40 PM CST reply actions

AUTOMATICA!!!!!!

Big score with them getting the ball to start the half.

by Sunil @ Canal Street Chronicles on Dec 23, 2007 1:41 PM CST reply actions

Kicking in the dome

Stop the celebrating Gramatica or your knee will buckle again.

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 1:41 PM CST reply actions

Correction

It was actually Bill Gramatica and not Martin whose knee was injured celebrating a FG.

Check this out about Martin.

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 1:52 PM CST reply actions

Mitchell Report

A fifty-five-yard firld goal ... added five yards to his kickoffs ... sounds suspicious.

by Sunil @ Canal Street Chronicles on Dec 23, 2007 2:02 PM CST up reply actions

For the record

I HOPE Gramatica is on steroids.

by Sunil @ Canal Street Chronicles on Dec 23, 2007 2:02 PM CST up reply actions

Thomas looks good

Shame it took injuries to the team's top-3 running backs for it to happen.

by Sunil @ Canal Street Chronicles on Dec 23, 2007 2:00 PM CST reply actions

Scrappiness beyond generally accepted limits ...

Can't watch Stecker ... too scrappy.

Also, Jammal Branch broke his leg. So we're down to 2 running backs.

This is a friggin' bodybag game.

by Sunil @ Canal Street Chronicles on Dec 23, 2007 2:03 PM CST reply actions

The Sheer Awesomeness

of the RETURN OF THE STECKER caused my computer to freeze up.

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 2:07 PM CST reply actions

That was not awesome

by Sunil @ Canal Street Chronicles on Dec 23, 2007 2:08 PM CST reply actions

Yep

As soon as I posted the Philly defense stopped them three times.

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 2:10 PM CST up reply actions

Run up the middle

Three straight up the middle. Really, not gonna try the play action pass or even a naked bootleg.

Yeah, who needs timeouts?

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 2:09 PM CST reply actions

Setting it up

Just trying to get the 99 yard TD play for the Eagles.

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 2:11 PM CST reply actions

STFU

Are the announcers retarded?

Check the stats and odds, and you will find that the vast majority of the time the offense will score in that situation. If the Saints score, Payton is gutsy for going for it, but no lets jump on the guy whose defense is garbage.

by southernsaint on Dec 23, 2007 2:13 PM CST reply actions