America's Saints

john1981cr · Joined: 16 Aug 2006 Posts: 111

By Tim Sullivan
Inspin.com/WagerWeb.com contributing writer

A lot has been made of the Bears this week and their ho-hum effort against the Seahawks in the NFC divisional round. The kind of effort that could have -- and probably should have -- resulted in an early elimination for the conference's top seed.
Perhaps the criticism is deserved. Last week's heaviest favorite struggled with a team that barely survived the Cowboys a week earlier and needed overtime -- at home in Chicago, no less -- to hold serve, 27-24.
But Sunday's opponent in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field -- the Saints -- didn't exactly tear it up in their building, either. They gave up big plays in bunches and needed a late defensive stand to outlast the Eagles, 27-24, in the Superdome on Saturday.
Yet, somehow, the Saints seem to be dodging the criticism. Perhaps, it's because they're America's Team this season, the new kids on the block. But it should be noted that New Orleans -- with just two postseason wins in franchise history -- is hardly barreling into this matchup. The Bears are -2.5 on WagerWeb.com.
"I think you can take a few different approaches. I think the one thing we want to work on is our trips to the red zone. I thought on a couple of trips to the red zone when we settled for field goals early on is always cause for concern," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "We had a chance to make a couple of interceptions on defense that could have changed that game around. We were fortunate."
But on the road this week, in the winter elements, against a much better team, they might not be so lucky. While the Bears' defense has struggled mightily recently, the unit is still among the most feared in the NFL. And as bad as they've been, let's face it, they're better than the Eagles.
"I think the players still feel like the challenge is in front of us here. We have a really good football team we're playing on Sunday," Payton said. "You're down to four teams. You're in the final four. With that being said, the four teams left are all going to be good football teams that are going to have to execute, tackle and block and they're going to have to protect the football to get to that next game. It's a big challenge."
The same can be said for the home team. Quarterback Rex Grossman had -- surprise, surprise -- a roller-coaster game against the Seahawks. But, in the end, he led the winning drive, and surely that will be in the Saints' heads all week.
"I think all of the quarterbacks in our league are somewhat different. He's a guy that is obviously one of the leaders on their team," Payton said of Grossman. "Against the Seahawks, he had the weight of a lot of people on his shoulders. I thought he was outstanding. His teammates have a belief in him."
Not unlike the recovering city of New Orleans has for its Saints. Sure, there have been times in the last 20 years where the Saints seemed like an afterthought in Louisiana, behind LSU, Mardi Gras, the Sugar Bowl, you name it. But, without question, Saints Fever has gripped the entire state, not to mention the league. That should help the underdog this week, as well.
"I'm happy for the organization and the city," Payton said. "We're a little bit insulated. As a coaching staff, we're in early and out late. Occasionally we get exposed to what's going on outside of the building. I'm sure down the road there will be a time when you reflect more on it. Right now, the focus is Chicago and going through our traditional routine and putting a plan in place that gives your players a chance to win."
Here's thinking they'll have to play a little better than they did against the Eagles for that to happen.

FRONT-OFFICE SHAKEUP: The Giants replaced outgoing General Manager Ernie Accorsi on Tuesday by introducing Jerry Reese at a Meadowlands press conference. During the last four years of Accorsi's nine-year run with New York, Reese, 43, was the teamʼs director of player personnel.
Keep in mind, Accorsi -- who will, in the end, be judged by the career of Eli Manning, seeing as though he orchestrated the draft-day deal to get Manning -- is retiring. He was not fired, despite the Giants' disappointing 8-9 season, which ended in the wild-card round at Philadelphia.
Reese and Coach Tom Coughlin will quickly get to work on some offseason personnel moves. It, too, will be a big draft for the Giants, who have lost to running back Tiki Barber to retirement and could lose center Shaun O'Hara to free agency.

EXTRA POINTS: Colts rookie running back Joseph Addai (shoulder) is expected to practice full time this week and start against the Patriots in the AFC title game Sunday. Indianapolis is -3 on WagerWeb.com. ... Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm made the right call Monday, when he announced he's staying with the Cardinals one more season. Louisville, albeit without running back Michael Bush and Coach Bob Petrino, will still be a Top 10 team until proved otherwise, and next year Brohm will probably be the No. 1 quarterback in the draft.

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