Congratulations to Seahawks fans and to the Seahawks. Great season, great victory, and the march goes on.
{Doffs Cap}
I also want to congratulate the FBGs Saints, Seahawks and other fans who have made two great threads. This was the offseason for FF and somehow we generated a 43-pager field with a lot of great comments and discussion and also some pretty funny (and occasionally absurd) stuff.
Seahawks and Saints fans may seem different in styles but I remain convinced we have a lot in common, primarily we bring it on Sunday, are knowledgeable, and help our teams win games far more than almost any other stadium (and I really can't think of any others, really).
The comments about the game are pretty straightforward. I realize that as a Saints fan this cannot nor will it be accepted as 100% purely objective, fair or correct to Seahawk fans, but then we partly come to these boards for opposing viewpoints anyway.
Seattle is the superior team and they have had a better season. That's been proven on the field.
However I will add that Seattle would very likely lose in New Orleans. Now, the problem is the Saints have not earned that right to prove that because they lost so often on the road and the Seahawks won more on the road, including twice vs NO, and overall the Seahawks won more, and the Seahawks are superior, period.
But the difference in the teams was not in fact, great. The difference was: 1. one Mark Ingram fumble and 2. two missed field goal attempts. That's it.
The Saints' failure to win this game was based on their turning the ball over, once, and their defense not taking the ball away (zero TA's).
I disagree that the Saints failed to take the right tack in this game. They ran the ball very well and often (26 times, which is great), which Seahawks fans said could not be done. However The Saints, at least at the end, passed the ball extremely well in terrible weather and often horrible wind, probably better than has been done on the Seahawks all year. The Saints dominated statistically. I and I think a lot of people predicted Lynch getting 100+ yards. Now 140 yard rushing and 2 TDs is a huge day, but on the other hand if the Saints did not allow the 2nd 31 yard TD they probably lose that game outright right then and there. Allowing Lynch to score while having no TOs gave them a chance to come back which they almost did.
I do think the Saints and Seahawks have had two classic games. Frankly, between the 09 NFCC game, the 09 SB, the 10 SEA game, the 11 SF game, and this game, the Saints seem to have only played in fantastic games in the playoffs recently. If you want a great playoff game invite the Saints.
Without the Ingram fumble, the score is basically 6-0 or 9-0 at half. That would have made the game more than winnable for the Saints.
Seattle goes the whole game without a real TD drive, excluding the one at the end which may or may not have been normally allowed (Saints bunch the line to either make the big play or let Lynch score to get the ball back, win-win). Until that point Lynch is 27/109/1, roughly 4.0 ypc., and did very little damage most of the game.
Wilson: 9/18/103/0, 3 sacks. What a terrific job by the Saints defense, but no that is not the kind of game that gets a QB labeled "great." That's Trent Dilfer territory and that's the kind of team Seattle is, a defensive team with an offense that plays mistake free ball and gets the big play.
Which brings up another point: this Seahawks defense, if it wins out, does indeed deserve to be in the class with the 00 Ravens and 85 Bears and team like that. They can take a team to a title. Be very proud of that. You're on the verge of being hailed a one of the greatest defenses of all time.
In the end, NO had 2 TDs, 2 FGAs, SEA had 2 TDs, 3 FGAs. That's basically an even game. The Saints get 4 trips inside the SEA 35 yard line and come away with zero points, especially gratis 2 missed FGAs by Shayne Graham. And yes that is part of being a great team. For once it was the Saints offense that did not hold up its end of the bargain in the game and all year (on the road anyway).
Other factors:
- Vaccaro was missed: in particular the toss-up from Wilson to Harvin for 16 at the end of the 1st half, I think Vaccaro plays that.
- After the 52 yard pass to Meachem to the SEA 25 - That's really ball game IMO, the Saints had to have a TD there, instead delay of game 5 yard penalty followed by 3 incompletes.
- SEA 3rd & 3 with about 3 minutes left; terrific pass by Wilson.
- The hit on the KO return, a couple series before that, was great, I am not sure I or anyone understood the penalty on Humber after that.
- Missing Pierre Thomas did indeed hurt, with at least two key dropped screens by Ingram and Cadet.
- Colston and Payton did the right thing on the lateral at the end, that had as much chance as a toss to the end zone of the last play. If Colston hits Cadet behind the line, Cadet could have very well scored.
- Colston could have indeed taken that onsides kick in for the winning score, but he did the pro thing by falling on the ball and securing it.
I said before these were the two best teams in the NFC, I stand by that. For a team that faced so much defeat since 1967 and so much success since 2006, the Saints and their fans should be thrilled to be in games like this. You cannot win it every year, but obviously everyone wants to see this cast get the 2nd trophy so they can garner the "great" label. Since 2006 they have been a top 3 franchise, maybe only 2nd to New England in terms of overall, consistent success.
For a team that faced so much defeat since 1976, the Seahawk and their fans should be thrilled to be in the midst of such an incredible run featuring what may be the most dominating defense since 2000 Baltimore. You have to take home that Lombardi with this defense, I will be pulling for you to destroy the 9ers especially and also the Cats. Good luck, go get `em, now let's see if you can top our parade.
