Sports writers Jeff Duncan and Larry Holder are the fairy tale story tellers for the New Orleans Saints. Don't know what games they watch on Sunday's but it must not be the Saints. Duncan has a problem understanding the difference between competition and the NFL playoff system.
In a Times Picayune article dated 12/29/13 Duncan names 8 teams that made up 4 games to end the regular schedule. All 4 games had playoff implications so he makes the silly statement that those match ups confirm the greatness of the NFL. When teams can earn a playoff berth with a loosing or 500 breakeven record, that confirms only what everyone already knows. That the playoff system was designed to put more money in the owners and the league's pocket and was not designed to make the NFL more competative. Then Duncan then tops it off by declaring this season the best ever in the NFL. NOTE: there are only 13 teams in the NFL who ended the season with a winning record out of 32 teams. Best and most competative year in the NFL? Only if you believe in fairy tales.
On Dec. 15, the day of the game with the Rams which the Saints lost, Duncan wrote that "Payton has engineered the best coaching job of his career this season and thought he had a shot at coach of the year. He stated in the same article, "with extra attention to detail, Payton having his best season." Then Duncan jumps the gun to inform his readers that Payton could have his third 13 win season. It slipped his mind that the Saints had 3 more games to play and that it ain't over till its over. This was really an apple polishing story. Does any one remember the predictions that Reggie Bush was going to have a break out year at the start of his third season and that Ingram was going to have his break out year this year. That was the talk in the Times Picayune at the time but neither of those break out years happened.
Larry Holder in a Times Picayune article dated 1/1/14 tried to explain how the Saints could score 42 points in their final game against the Bucs but could only manage 36 points in their 3 previous losses. He asked, "on the field, what actually changed?" Then answers by saying "point to the offensive fire power." Like the Bucs were some kind of challenge with their 4 win season. What really happened in the previous 3 losses was the Saints played defenses that played the Saints receivers tight and did not let them run wild. Carolina played the Saints a loose zone defense that allowed separation with the receivers and ended up in a Saints win. That was reversed when Carolina played the Saints at home 2 weeks later, played the Saints receivers tight and won the ball game and division title. In all five of the Saints losses the defense of their opponents played the receivers tight. There was very little separation and the Saints best receivers were held in check.
The Saints beat only 3 teams with a winning record this regular season, the 49'er, Arizona and Carolina. All five losses were on the road. The two area's the Saints did not adjust too were their road games and the tight defense of their opponents. Payton and Brees never got a handle on that offensively. They lost 3 of the last 5 games and the division title after leading or tying for the division most of the season. As a result the Saints failed their own test of "finishing strong."
Saturday's playoff game on the road against the Eagles gives them a chance to make the necessary adjustments. The Saints will win the ball game if the Eagles play a loose defense like they did last week against Dallas. It they play the Saints tight the Saints should have learned something from their 5 losses and have a game plan to deal with the situation. Payton and Brees has not handled the problem well. Peter Finney in one of his articles a few weeks ago pointed out that after the loss to Seattle, Brees said the Saints were still a great team. Finney correctred Brees and said the Saints are a good team, not a great team. The regular season results support Finney's comment. Brees believed his own hype and the hype that goes along with many sports writers in New Orleans. It also seems like Brees and Payton have let the words, "prolific passer" and "offensive genius" go to their heads.
This writer thinks the game was best when the players and coaches had no ego problems. They just played and coached the game because they loved it. Has any fan noticed how Jimmy Graham is always looking for a flag from the ref's when defensive backs play him tight. I guess he does not like being challenged.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
