It’s December now and once again the Saints stare a .500 record in the face. The sky is blue, water is wet, and the beat goes on. This season as been typical Saints; lethal offense, bad defense, and a litany of moments where they shot themselves in the foot as they were on the cusp of breaking out of mediocrity. In order to maintain focus and sanity, I’ve helped you Saints fans break this long roller coaster of a season into 4 parts, 4 quarters with 4 separate objectives. This is where we are at so far.
The first quarter of the season was awful as they began the 2016 campaign 0-3 before a very lucky win in San Diego against the equally mediocre Chargers. The start could have been worse, but not by much.
The second quarter of the season was a triumph of wills as the Saints were at their best. Winning 3 of 4, the offense did it’s usual thing, but the defense began to assemble into something that resembles a cohesive unit. At 4-4, the Saints were looking like they were about to break out and make a real run in the 3rd quarter of the season! If they could only get out of their own way with costly mistakes.
As the Saints embarked on their 3rd mission, the 3rd quarter of the season would bring New Orleans their toughest competition. Super Bowl champion Denver, rival Carolina, stingy Los Angeles, and relentless Detroit were all in a row. The toughest of the 4, Denver and Carolina, were for all intents and purposes, Saints victories. However, inexplicable blunders on special teams cost New Orleans 2 precious wins that would surely have them sitting in the driver’s seat for a playoff spot right now. Instead, they are 5-6 headed into the final game of the 3rd quarter against a Lions team that never quits.
Before the 4th quarter of the season commences, the Saints need to realize that what everyone else is calling January’s NFL Playoffs, have already started for them. The tournament has already begun! Lose to Detroit and you go straight into the loser’s bracket with little to no hope. Win and you control your own destiny with the 4th quarter of the season coming against the very 2 teams that stand in your way from one of those prized 6 spots.