but I get what you’re saying.

in one of the open game threads. I kinda wish they had lost to Miami, an AFC team, and got this whole “undefeated season” monkey off their back. I know they SAY they only look to the next game, but all the hype from the fans about going undefeated has to be weighing on them and the thought of going undefeated has to be on their minds. Would I like to see em go undefeated? Hell yeah! But part of me does kinda wish they would blow one just to get that pressure off the team and let them concentrate on the next opponent without the distraction.

If and when it happens, it might not work in our favor. Just keep winning and the rest will take care of itself. Says Confucius………………………… He is a Saint fan too !!!

we beat them Sunday in Tampa and clinch home field advantage week 14 and then rest many starters that week (game 15) and get the loss out of the way, Then, starters play first half vs Carolina last game of the season, and we hang on for victory in the second half and then rest 2 weeks before the first playoff game. That’ll do it in my opinion.

lose a game….but pleeeease be on the road!!!!

In 8 of the last 12 seasons, the last undefeated team went to the Superbowl. They didn’t mention how many of those won, though.

There is no ‘monkey’.
There is no ‘pressure’.
There is no distraction.

There is only the next game.
There is only victory or defeat.

All else is perception.

now depending on,were Carolina and Atlanta are at wk. 17 and they’re battling for a wild card,and we’re still undefeated, will Payton pull Brees and others (or not start) in the 2nd half of the Carolina game, lead or not,undef. season or not? will he trust Brunell to achieve 16-0 or would it really matter ?, hopefully, Home field through-out will be wrapped up before then..Will the Vikes lose any more games? We’re all thinking this? Who-Dat,We Dat….

Well I agree to a degree….late in the season the media hype surrounding this type of thing can be a distraction. I care, as you, first that my lifelong team the New Orleans Football Saints might have a chance to go to and win the Super Bowl! Undefeated would be nice but not at the cost of the big game. It could hurt so there is where I agree. But how would you tell a team to avoid that, by intentionally losing a game, of course not, do we want them to lay off, maybe not start starters, well maybe when it comes to a meaningless game. It’s a hard call but a great problem to be discussing about the SAINTS!
GGM, Voodoo MD

After the Vikings lose #2. And even then, they need to make someone take it away by sheer force of will.

The Saints are now playing for home field advantage, and they need to keep up the pressure on EVERY OTHER NFC TEAM. There is no pressure on them – they are applying it, not receiving it. All this other talk is smoke and mirrors by those trying to distract and deceive the team, sew doubt. Ignore it, just as the players do – focus on being 10-0…nothing else matters this week.

…y’know when you worry about 19-0? About 10:30-11:00 pm February 7th, 2010, THAT’S when.

I think once you get to the playoffs, the Saints players are disciplined enough to hit the reset button and know that everything that happened in the regular season doesn’t matter any more and play full throttle whether or not a perfect season is on the line or not. That being said, I think that no matter how hard you try, going into the playoffs undefeated has to add a little pressure, but it’s pressure to win and perform well since you have an added goal in addition to getting to and winning the Super Bowl. If home field is sewn up by the last couple weeks, I think you have to rest your starters, undefeated or not. Losing any of our major contributors means a less likely chance to win when the games really matter. If making sure that Brees (or anyone else for that matter) stays healthy for the playoffs means a less likely chance of going undefeated, so be it.

After I’m dead and gone I hope. LOL Can I take it if they lose one? Sure. But DAMN! wishing for it? I think not.

After a Superbowl victory, I think I could actually handle it. “The horror!”

Do you believe the Saints have a better shot at the Super Bowl if they are undefeated in the regular season? Or if they lose one or more games but still have home field advantage through the playoffs?

 Guess that is 2 questions.