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If you believed the Saints 42-10 drumming of the Carolina Panthers was the end of their stress before the playoffs you had a long day ahead of you. From the Saints blowout regular season finale to the surrounding teams in the NFC helping shape their destiny, week 17 came down to the very last second —literally.
First let us begin with the Saints going on the road, and making their final statement of 2019, before a 2020 arrives that they hope begins with a championship.
Saints offense: Hot knife.
— Lenny Vangilder (@LennyVangilder) December 29, 2019
Panthers defense: Butter.
Kamara goes 15 yards for the score! pic.twitter.com/gfav0hsrtd
— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) December 29, 2019
PICK-6 @AJKlein47 #Saints pic.twitter.com/KSKo2B7sDL
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 29, 2019
Saints offense looking like they want to match LSU yesterdaypic.twitter.com/5ZqGC0ClTJ
— PFF (@PFF) December 29, 2019
Some key stats that get you into the playoffs:#saints are:
— Charlie (@SaintCharlie) December 30, 2019
- 2nd in turnover differential at +15 (8 total giveaways was an NFL record)
- 5th in third down conversions 42%(offense)
- 6th in third down defense 34.76%
- 36.36% at home 33.33% away ♂️
The #Saints have set the NFL record for fewest turnovers in a season with 8. The previous NFL low was 10.
— AllSaintsConsidered.com (@AllSaintsBlog) December 29, 2019
The Saints are also 11-1 OUTDOORS over the past two years.
— John Hendrix (@JohnJHendrix) December 29, 2019
Highlights from the #Saints 13th win! pic.twitter.com/EesAc87iIK
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 29, 2019
As the Saints were wrapping up their 13-3 season, eyes were in Detroit in hopes of a major upset over the Green Bay Packers.
This is a Public Service Announcement from the Who Dat Nation to the @Lions. @Saints ⚜️⚜️⚜️ pic.twitter.com/cJgL8DqO5J
— Nader Mirfiq (@Nader723) December 29, 2019
Yo the Lions running all over the Packers and are in the redzone. Could they really fuck around and pull this off? Lol
— Chris Conner (@Impatientbull) December 29, 2019
David Blough winning a truck from a Saints fan because he caught a TD pass from Danny Amendola would be a perfect ending to this miserable season
— kyle meinke (@kmeinke) December 29, 2019
mood at halftime
— bria ⚜️ (@itsbriaaa) December 29, 2019
Saints winning 35-3
Lions winning 17-3 pic.twitter.com/XUXE3KB67f
Gayle Benson , Mickey Loomis and rest of Saints front office gathered around press box tv watching conclusion of Packers and Lions.
— Rod Walker (@RodWalkerNola) December 29, 2019
Unfortunately the Lions couldn’t hold on, but there was one last hope as the day continued for a New Orleans first round bye.
Being subjected to the Lions offense and the Seahawks defense today with our first round bye on the line has been the worst.
— Eric Ray (@EricRayweather) December 30, 2019
Seahawks are playing like they don't want to win the NFC West division. #SFvsSEA
— ⚜ WHO DAT Cool Breesy ⚜ (@Steve2duhO) December 30, 2019
Touchdown Tyler Lockett! #Seahawks pic.twitter.com/zwKaoiF1dZ
— SeahawksUnited (@SeahawksUnited_) December 30, 2019
There he goes! @MoneyLynch flies over the top for the touchdown!
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 30, 2019
Q4: SEA 14, SF 19 pic.twitter.com/42YGzHY3gr
The Seahawks play every game like they're screenwriters trying to craft the least believable possible ending to a sports movie
— Ken Tremendous (@KenTremendous) December 30, 2019
The Seahawks' delay of game with 22s left played a huge role in the outcome of the game. How’d it happen?
— Dieter Kurtenbach (@dieter) December 30, 2019
No TOs... spike the ball. Play clock re-started.
Fant crouched to get breath
Marshawn Lynch subbed on with roughly 23s left on the play clock.
No huddle until <10s. pic.twitter.com/uK3XHrcyEC
The final moments were total chaos, but this is some terrible game management. pic.twitter.com/9l2bwekoLm
— Dieter Kurtenbach (@dieter) December 30, 2019
How do you not review this??? @NFLOfficiating come on pic.twitter.com/PVycEkMUVs
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) December 30, 2019
WOW.@49ers stop the @Seahawks on the 1 yard line to win the game.
— NFL UK (@NFLUK) December 30, 2019
NFC West champions
NFC No.1 seed
What a regular season pic.twitter.com/IXQFZOdB48
The aftermath had Saints fans thinking about the road ahead and adversity from the past.
The #Saints will host the Vikings in the Wild Card Round next weekend at the @MBSuperdome! pic.twitter.com/GDlJIKCGm9
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 30, 2019
It’s looking like Saints vs Vikings. Brace yourself for a weeks long worth of Minnesota Miracle replays...
— Chris Rosvoglou (@RosvoglouReport) December 30, 2019
A #Saints win against the Vikings would put them in a divisional round game against the Packers in Green Bay, where the extended weather forecast for Jan. 12 shows a high of 25. Low of 21.
— Christopher Dabe (@cmdabe) December 30, 2019
Obviously the first-round bye would’ve been great for the Saints, but if they can’t beat the Vikings next weekend then they’re not the team we all think they are. Just win.
— Chris Rosvoglou (@RosvoglouReport) December 30, 2019
The bye week would have been nice, but feel like the Saints are playing their best football right now.
— John Hendrix (@JohnJHendrix) December 30, 2019
The Saints can now finally look forward to another playoff run. This one that they hope ends where it did ten years ago —in Miami and as super bowl champions.