Vin+ 3,121 Posted January 10, 2014 http://hosted.stats.com/fb/preview.asp?g=20140111026&home=26&vis=18 (AP) -- The New Orleans Saints shook off the notion that they can't win on the road in their playoff opener, though pulling off a victory at raucous CenturyLink Field in Saturday's NFC divisional matchup with the Seattle Seahawks will be a more daunting task. The Seahawks will try to win a sixth straight home playoff contest and secure their 16th victory in 17 games on their own field when they take on a New Orleans team looking to avenge last month's blowout loss in Seattle. Though all the attention leading up to their wild-card contest centered around their inability to win away from home, the Saints (12-5) snapped a three-game road losing streak with a 26-24 victory over Philadelphia last Saturday. Shayne Graham hit a 32-yard field goal as time expired to give New Orleans its first postseason road win in six tries, as well as a shot at redemption in Seattle. The NFC-best Seahawks (13-3), which led the NFL in total defense (273.6 yards per game), held Drew Brees to 147 yards - his fewest since 2006 - in a 34-7 home win Dec. 2. The Saints matched their lowest scoring output since coach Sean Payton took over in 2006, and their 188 total yards were the fewest under him. After the one-sided loss, Brees said that if the Saints wanted to reach the Super Bowl, they'd probably have to win in Seattle in the playoffs. "If we want to accomplish what we set out to accomplish this year then we better find a way to go there and win, and just hoping that we'd have another opportunity," he said. "And here we are, having that opportunity." The Seahawks have won five straight home playoff games dating to a 27-20 loss to St. Louis on Jan. 8, 2005. They also had a 14-game run at CenturyLink Field before falling 17-10 to Arizona in Week 16. Seattle bounced back with a 27-9 victory over the Rams in the season finale. With the winner advancing to the NFC championship against Carolina or San Francisco, Payton is certainly doing everything he can to get the Saints ready for the rematch. He's even had Seahawks logos painted on their outdoor and indoor practice fields this week. "I feel like coach Payton is putting us in the moment, you know, visualize this is where we're going, this is what we're going to do and this is how it's going to look," linebacker Curtis Lofton said. Brees threw for 404 yards and two scores but 11-5 New Orleans was upset 41-36 by 7-9 Seattle in a wild-card round matchup Jan. 8, 2011. The eight-time Pro Bowler has an 84.0 passer rating on the road this season compared to 126.3 at home. He'll try to take advantage of his second chance against the Seahawks, who finished the regular season with the league's best pass defense at 172.0 yards per game. Seattle had 28 interceptions and an opponent passer rating of 63.4, one of just 15 teams since 2000 to hold opposing passers to 65.0 or less. Cornerback Richard Sherman led the NFL with eight interceptions, including four over the final three games. Earl Thomas also was a first-team All-Pro pick, while fellow safety Kam Chancellor was a second-team choice. MVP candidate Russell Wilson put together one of his best efforts of the season in the first meeting, completing 22 of 30 passes for 310 yards with three touchdowns while adding 47 rushing yards. Although he struggled in the loss to the Cardinals, Wilson threw for seven touchdowns with only one interception over his last four home games. "I think it's common knowledge and human nature that you would like to think it's going to be the same, but we know better than that," coach Pete Carroll said. "We need to respect this opportunity for what it is. It's a great championship matchup for us, and they're going to come loaded up and give us a great football game." Marshawn Lynch figures to play a prominent role despite being held to 45 yards on 16 carries in last month's win. The workhorse back hasn't posted a 100-yard game since Nov. 10 at Atlanta, but he had 131 yards - including a memorable 67-yard touchdown run - in the last playoff meeting. The Saints are coming off a solid effort against the run, holding NFL rushing leader LeSean McCoy to 77 yards on 21 carries. New Orleans' defense could face a tougher test Saturday with the Seahawks getting back wide receiver Percy Harvin, who played in one game this season after undergoing surgery to repair the labrum in his hip in early August. Tight end Luke Willson has also returned to practice after being taken off the field in the season finale with a high-ankle sprain. The Saints, who ran for 185 yards last weekend, are hoping to get Pierre Thomas back from a chest injury. If he can't go, Mark Ingram will likely get another start after gaining 97 yards and scoring against the Eagles. The Seahawks tied for seventh with 101.6 rushing yards allowed per game, giving up 25 or less in two of their last three. Seattle has won four of five home meetings, including the postseason victory three years ago. It's probably too much to ask for another 34-7 beatdown, but I hope it happens anyway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted January 10, 2014 They need Drew Brees playing back to form and fast. Seattle will not let you make mistakes without suffering for them. It won't be a blowout, but the Seahawks are set to control this game. 27 20 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos 2,847 Posted January 10, 2014 Breesus is not enough to carry this Saints squad against the raucous D of the Hawks. 16 24 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theMileHighGuy 656 Posted January 10, 2014 A clash of what I want to happen, and what I think will happen. I want NO to go up north and silence the 12th man, but history has shown that NO fairs poorly up there. I think NO will play tougher than they did in the last bout, but some late Russell Wilson heroics are going to put Sea over the top. 35 31 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos 2,847 Posted January 10, 2014 35-31 with those defenses? Woah. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theMileHighGuy 656 Posted January 10, 2014 35-31 with those defenses? Woah. Playoffs getting crazy I do expect half of the scoring to be in the 4th quarter as they trade scores Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BwareDWare94 723 Posted January 10, 2014 It's not going to be the shit kicking it was the first time around, and I fully expect Rob Ryan to have a much better game plan because the Seahawks offense is kinda pathetic, to be honest. 24 16 Yup. I'm picking 3 road winners. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sacks98 28 Posted January 11, 2014 (edited) It's not going to be the shit kicking it was the first time around, and I fully expect Rob Ryan to have a much better game plan because the Seahawks offense is kinda pathetic, to be honest. 24 16 Yup. I'm picking 3 road winners. I could be wrong but i think Bevell held back our offense on purpose the last 4 games and played it very vanilla because his offense wasn't creative at all like it had been previously. Edited January 11, 2014 by Sacks98 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos 2,847 Posted January 11, 2014 That would be insanely dumb, because had they lost one more game they would have had the #5 seed. I highly doubt they intentionally did that. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sacks98 28 Posted January 11, 2014 (edited) That would be insanely dumb, because had they lost one more game they would have had the #5 seed. I highly doubt they intentionally did that. You are probably right but i don't know we didn't try quick throws or screens and the read option was basically stripped from the playbook the last 4 games. Edited January 11, 2014 by Sacks98 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted January 11, 2014 The weather is going to be...unpleasant: http://www.weather.com/weather/hourbyhour/graph/Seattle+WA+98134:4:US?pagenum=2&nextbeginIndex=6 31 17 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted January 11, 2014 Nothing has changed between these two teams since the blowout a few weeks ago other than it's the playoffs, so I wouldn't expect things to be that much different this time around. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Burfict Storm 39 Posted January 11, 2014 Wilson to throw another game-winning interception. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted January 11, 2014 Seahawks declared RB Christine Michael, WR Bryan Walters, LB K.J. Wright, OL Caylin Hauptmann, OL James Carpenter, DE Benson Mayowa, and DT Jordan Hill inactive for the Divisional Round versus New Orleans Pierre Thomas (chest) is inactive for Saturday's Divisional Round game at Seattle. The Saints will turn to Mark Ingram and Darren Sproles in Thomas' absence. Although New Orleans pulled out a Wild Card win over Philly without him, losing Thomas is a blow due to his versatility. He's also the Saints' best early-down runner. New Orleans' other inactives are QB Ryan Griffin, CB Terrence Frederick, S Jordan Pugh, LB Rufus Johnson, DT Tyrunn Walker, and WR Nick Toon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos 2,847 Posted January 12, 2014 16 24 Well. Pretty damn close. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted January 12, 2014 Play of the year. Simply amazing. 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BwareDWare94 723 Posted January 13, 2014 Things that are overrated: Russell Wilson Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted January 13, 2014 Things that are more overrated: Andrew Luck Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BC 331 Posted January 13, 2014 Things that suck balls: The Dallas Cowboys 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BwareDWare94 723 Posted January 13, 2014 Things that suck balls: The Dallas Cowboys Things that are going to lose next week: The Seattle Seahawks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted January 13, 2014 Still don't understand why you don't step out of bounds, but I guess that's why I'm not a head coach. Saints coach Sean Payton says Marques Colston's ill-fated lateral attempt on the final play of Saturday's loss to the Seahawks was a called play. As suspected. With the Saints looking to score a touchdown and two-point conversion, Colston caught a 13-yard pass near the sideline. Instead of going out of bounds, he attempted to "lateral" the ball across the entire field. Instead, he committed an illegal forward pass that ended the game. Even had Colston's lateral been perfectly executed, the odds were long that New Orleans was going to escape Seattle with a victory. Source: Mike Triplett on Twitter Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted January 13, 2014 Still don't understand why you don't step out of bounds, but I guess that's why I'm not a head coach. Sean Payton has a history of getting over-agressive and out-coaching himself. That play was such an example. I'm with ya, Vin; just go out of bounds and take a higher-percentage hail mary. Hell, from where Colston was, Brees could easily reach the end zone. Just throw up a jump ball and see what happens. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BwareDWare94 723 Posted January 14, 2014 Still don't understand why you don't step out of bounds, but I guess that's why I'm not a head coach. Sean Payton has a history of getting over-agressive and out-coaching himself. That play was such an example. I'm with ya, Vin; just go out of bounds and take a higher-percentage hail mary. Hell, from where Colston was, Brees could easily reach the end zone. Just throw up a jump ball and see what happens. This. While Payton is a great coach, he fell victim to his own cunning this past weekend. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sacks98 28 Posted January 14, 2014 (edited) Things that are overrated: Russell Wilson Is it because he doesn't put up the fantasy numbers that Romo does? Sorry if that came off as rude lol i just get sick and tired of QB's getting beat down because they play behind a balanced offense and good defense. Edited January 15, 2014 by Sacks98 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
