OK, I don’t think the Saints will suck in 2012. But they could have a letdown. Remember when they went to the NFC Championship in 2006 and then went 7-9 and 8-8? Stranger things have happened. And remember the NFC South is the penultimate bottom to top NFL division. No team has won this division in back to back years for so long I can’t remember and don’t feel like looking it up. But in the interest of looking at all possibilities here’s some reason why they MIGHT suck.

1) Drew Brees holds out. Very little chance of this happening but hey this is the business of the NFL.
2) Brees signs but begins to show decline. In 2010 Brees threw a ton of interceptions. It could happen again.
3) Marques Colston can’t be replaced. The reality is that Colston could easily sign with another team. If so we lose our security blanket. Yes, the New Orleans Saints wide receiver group is deep but in this offense everyone feeds off the other threat. Remove Colston and maybe the group becomes average.
4) Brees gets hurt. STOP RIGHT THERE! God Forbid!
5) We lose Carl Nicks and find out we can’t run or throw. Doubtful, but chemistry is big in an offensive line.
6) Injuries kill our running backs like they did in 2010.
7) Steve Spagnuolo and his defense are even worse than Gregg Williams group and can’t stop anyone.
Sean Payton becomes a Buddhist and fines his players for hitting.
9) In-N-Out Burger opens a location in New Orleans and Saints players can’t resist, becoming fat and sloppy.
10) In-N-Out Burger opens a location RIGHT NEXT TO THE SAINTS FACILITY and the above happens tenfold.

There you have it. 10 reasons why the Saints might suck in 2012. Comments open on this one. Feel free to attack me unmercifully. I deserve it.

If you’ve been loving your Saints tickets through the Sean Payton regime, and you should, you’re probably wondering what the next couple of years will bring. After all, Payton made the right move in 2009 by bringing in Gregg Williams. The New Orleans Saints had a thieving defense that year and rode that and a potent offense all the way to a Super Bowl.
But after two years of a porous defense with no ability to create turnovers the Saints canned Williams and have hired Steve Spagnuolo to coach the defense. While the Saints will continue to lean heavily on their offense I think I and every other Saints fan was happy to see the move away from an attacking but pretty toasty defense into one that seems to promise more substance and less flavor.
But if you’re expecting wholesale changes they may not be in the cards. Steve Spagnuolo has said in a recent interview that he doesn’t have enough information to make any judgements at this point. Interestingly enough, he also said that he, along with other coaches, borrow ideas and Williams was the source of some of those ideas. The mark of a good coach is to recognize what works and he obviously does.
Spagnuolo was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles staff that went to a Super Bowl. Hired by the New York Giants, Spagnuolo won a Super Bowl ring by shutting down the New England Patriots. His defense continued to thrive and even improve the next season. And if you’re dubious because he came from the lowly St. Louis Rams, try and remember without too much pain what they did to the Saints in 2011. Saints ticket holders won’t forget that. Spags defense dominated that game and probably cost the Saints a legit shot a #1 seeding in the playoffs.
Of course some things may change. It’s way too early to predict exactly what Spagnuolo will do with this Saints defense. But he seems happy to be here and the New Orleans Saints weren’t the only team to put an offer on the table. let’s hope Spagnuolo can get us back into basic football mode and keep Saints ticket holders happy.

The 2012 New Orleans Saints, like most other NFL teams, will take on a new look. It’s virtually impossible for any team not to have a roster turnover and the Saints are no different. As the 2012 NFL season begins to warm up things will take shape. The Saints have a number of decisions to be made, some easy and some tough. Here are a few:

1) I don’t think anyone would argue that getting Drew Brees signed is priority one with the New Orleans Saints. The only speculation in this regard is whether Brees will demand a record breaking contract or whether he will opt to ensure his own future success and the success of the Saints by either structuring his contract in a beneficial way or simply asking for less money so that the Saints will be free to keep him surrounded by talent. Brees is so essential at this point in time that even using a franchise tag is unthinkable.

2) Keeping Carl Nicks in front of Drew Brees. If keeping Brees is priority one then protecting him comes next on the list. Even Drew Brees can’t do anything if he’s not operating with a good offensive line. It also factors heavily in the running game. Nicks has been a Pro Bowl player and he’s obviously going to be coveted by other teams but I believe the reward of a good but not great contract would keep Nicks in the fold.

3) Marques Colston is a free agent and he’s obviously been productive for the Saints. Rumor has it that Colston wants to be paid as an elite receiver but I’d be careful about reading too much into the rumors. Colston’s success has been in no small part due to his talent and hard work but he’s benefited greatly by his pairing with Drew Brees and the offense in which he plays. Can he find another NFL team willing to part with big money to land him? No doubt. But can he find a better system for his talents? That I doubt. Another factor is the emergence of Jimmy Graham. If you need a possession guy, Graham fits that bill. His presence could ease the pain of letting Colston walk if the Saints must.

4) All this focus on the offense has left us forgetting the defense. The New Orleans Saints now have Steve Spagnuolo as Defensive Coordinator and I doubt he would have taken the job if the organization hadn’t given assurances that he would be provided good talent. That means, in my estimation, pass rushers. The trick is going to be finding one or more defensive ends that can provide a rush. Unless Spags feels he’s got it on the team the Saints will have to bring it in either via either free agency or the draft. Now I know that some are screaming we need help in the secondary but honestly, I think improving the pass rush without the use of complicated and constant blitzes would make our secondary look a lot better.

These are all part of the puzzle that is the 2012 New Orleans Saints. But 2012 is no different than any other year in the NFL. It’s an ongoing thing and so far Sean Payton and Mickey Loomis have risen to the task. Yes, there’s been some mistakes along the way but that’s to be expected. It’s not an exact science. I’m pretty sure we can look forward to another winning season and another shot in the playoffs.

It’s a long off-season and there’s not much hard news right now about the New Orleans Saints so it’s time to let our minds wander. By now hopefully the pain of the loss in San Francisco has faded and we can put things behind us until the 49ers vs Saints game comes in 2012. That’s going to be a game I believe everyone will want to see. Payback time. I believe the loss derailed a Super Bowl appearance. We could have handled the Giants in the Superdome.
While we’re on the subject let me say this. I’ve heard and read a lot of angry people denouncing the Saints defense for that loss. But if you take a look at it, we were in the game late despite 5 turnovers. I lay the blame on the turnovers. The first one by Pierre Thomas is entirely forgivable. the man got knocked cold. But the rest….no.
On to the 2012 Saints schedule. Besides the 49ers game we’ve got some pretty exciting matchups. I’m thinking of taking on the Giants in New York, the Dallas Cowboys, the Philadelphia Eagles (who I believe will get their act together and be the team to beat in the NFC East) and Tim Tebow and the Broncos in Denver. A lot of food for thought and good storylines in those games.
As for the rest of the NFC South, the Falcons faltered in 2011 and have had some coaching changes, kind of an unknown quantity just like the Saints, who have a new defensive coordinator, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have an all new coaching staff. But the really interesting team in my opinion is the Carolina Panthers. I’m not looking forward to taking on Cam Newton twice a year for the next decade.
Overall, I think the Saints have a challenging schedule for 2012. We’ll meet some teams we don’t see very often and there’s been enough turnover in the division to make ranking a tough task. Too many unknowns. I’m looking forward to it though, as I see the NFC South as being one of the toughest divisions in the NFL.
For Part 2 we’ll look at the Saints roster and draft. Coming soon.

For a team that’s been eliminated from the NFL playoffs, there’s been plenty of good news to come out about the New Orleans Saints. In a news conference out of San Diego comes the word directly from Drew Brees that he would be “beyond stunned” not to be with the New Orleans Saints next season. That’s good news for fans like me who have been dreading the though of any prolonged negotiations or hitches in keeping this guy around. It’s testimony to the solidity of the Saints organization that Brees would express such confidence. But it does make sense.
The combination of Drew Brees and Sean Payton would be almost impossible for Brees to create anywhere else. I think Brees also feels a sense of obligation to the team that expressed supreme confidence in him when he left San Diego. Bottom line, the New Orleans Saints can look forward to a few more years of superlative play from the quarterback position. In addition, I think Brees is willing to structure his contract to keep himself surrounded by a winning team.
Other news brings the arrival of a top flight defensive coordinator to the New Orleans Saints as Steve Sagnuolo signs on. No disrespect to Gregg Williams but I do believe a defense that is geared towards stopping the opponents offense with solid play across the board, and not depending on 50 different types of blitzes that leave the secondary players on an island, is going to be good for morale both for the team and for New Orleans Saints fans.

The New Orleans Saints have made the first big decision of the 2012 Saints Schedule, grabbing former St. Louis Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo to be their new defensive coordinator. As I can painfully remember, Spagnuolo is one of the few coaches to effectively stop the Saints offense this season so I’m happy to have him on our side of the ball. It remains to be seen what he’ll do with the Saints defense but he’s run a 4-3 pretty effectively in the past so the transition should be easy for the Saints defense.

This pick takes the new Orleans defense away from the gambling style of Gregg Williams, which while effective at times, has tended to get us burned at inopportune moments. Spagnuolo is also known for building defenses with solid defensive lines, ala the New York Giants, where he was once defensive coordinator. All in all this looks like a solid choice for the New Orleans Saints, picking up what many people feel is the best defensive coordinator on the market.

Check out 2012 49ers vs Saints Tickets

New Orleans Saints Tickets

Saints at 49ers Playoff Tickets are the next Saints tickets you need to have. The New Orleans Saints are bringing their top ranked NFL offense into Candlestick Park where the 49ers wait with their top ranked NFL defense. It’s a dream playoff scenario brought to you by Saints at 49ers Playoff Tickets.

The 49ers were idle this week by virtue of their #2 seed in the NFC. That’s a big advantage and having the game in San Francisco is another edge to the 49ers. The 49ers have been one of the stingiest defenses in the NFL and their defense is tops at taking the ball away from opposing offenses. The New Orleans Saints though, are something they haven’t seen yet, with the most prolific quarterback in NFL history at the helm and a bevy of targets for Drew Brees to connect with. The Saints have also come up with a running game, cranking out 167 yards on the ground against the Detroit Lions using Pierre Thomas, Chris Ivory, and Darren Sproles. How can they be stopped?

These Saints vs 49ers tickets are going to be one of the hottest NFL Playoff tickets in ages as the classic adage of ‘Offense wins game but defense wins Championships” gets put to the test. The obvious question is whether this San Francisco 49ers defense can slow down a New Orleans Saints offense that’s been routinely posting 40+ points. On the flip side the Saints will have to handle a hostile crowd, an outside venue, and the burden of travel. Labeled “The most dangerous team in the NFC” entering the playoffs the New Orleans Saints have to live up to the billing if they want a shot at another NFC Championship. This is a can’t miss game on the road to the Super Bowl. Don’t you miss out on Saints vs 49ers Playoff tickets.

New Orleans Saints Tickets

Thinking of Lions Saints Playoff Tickets? Well, get ready for some hot offensive action if you’re going to this game. Both the New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions will be throwing hot quarterbacks into the fray. The Saints Drew Brees has passed for 5, 467 yards in this NFL season, setting a new NFL record along the way. Brees has the option of spreading the ball around to multiple receivers that include both Jimmy Graham, the hottest young tight end in the game, and Darren Sproles, who set an NFL record for combined yardage in 2011.
The Detroit Lions have Mathew Stafford, a young gun who also topped 5,000 yards in 2011. Stafford doesn’t have the complete package of receivers that Brees does, but he does have Calvin Johnson, a remarkable talent who’s managed to do plenty of damage despite being targeted by every defense the Lions have faced.
Who’s going to take there Lions Saints Playoff tickets and move on to the Divisional Round? here are a few things to consider. The New Orleans Saints are 8-0 in the Mercedes Benz Superdome this season. Stafford has never played in a game of this importance. It will be loud and intimidating. Going back over the season you’ll see that the Lions haven’t done really well against winning teams, posting a 1-5 record against playoff participants. Furthermore they’re 5-3 on the road, good but not great.

With two prolific passers like Brees and Stafford you have to wonder who can rush the quarterback effectively. The Detroit Lions have a better offensive line no doubt so the New Orleans O-Line is up against a huge challenge. But Brees has proven he can move around and avoid the rush. I anticipate plenty of short throws to Graham and Sproles and a new emphasis on the running game. Mathew Stafford will be faced with a Gregg Williams defense that comes from every angle on every play, blitzing from a myriad number of ways. It’s going to be a tall challenge for a talented but young quarterback.

In the end any Lions Saints preview has to end with the New Orleans Saints being favored to take this game. The Detroit Lions are an improving team but probably not yet up to the task of handling a passing attack led by a quarterback the caliber of Drew Brees. He victimized the Lions secondary in their earlier meeting in the Dome this season and likely will do it again. If you’re a Saints fan, these Lions Saints Playoff tickets look like winners to me.

New Orleans Saints Tickets

Here’s what we’ve been waiting for, namely Saints Playoff tickets. These Lions and Saints playoff tickets are only the opening round for what I’m seeing as a strong run to the NFC Championship and a showdown with the Green Bay Packers, which is the most likely scenario in my mind. But the buildup to the Saints playoff berth has been enjoyable and to be honest with you, the New Orleans Saints, on offense at least, look to me to be unstoppable.

If you’ve been paying attention you’d already know that. Drew Brees has set the NFL passing record, the Saints offense has set the NFL Total Offense Record, Darren Sproles has set the Combined Yardage record, and Jimmy Graham came within a whisker of being the leading tight end in the league. Speaking of Sproles, isn’t he a miniature beast? That guy is as dangerous as anyone out there. And as far as Jimmy Graham is concerned, well that’s guy is a huge beast. Just incredible. If he gets any better it won’t even be fair.

But back to these Lions Saints Playoff tickets. The Saints are on a big roll, playing at home, and an experienced playoff team with a quarterback who’s had a Hall of Fame season. Just as importantly we’ve got healthy running backs in Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory, who just posted a 100+ yard game against Carolina and is as fresh as a daisy after sitting out most of the year.

The Lions do have some weapons, namely Mathew Stafford and Calvin Johnson. While Johnson is no doubt a dangerous threat, he can be taken away and once you get past him the Detroit Lions have no other dynamic weapons. The Saints simply outclass them. Barring a miracle, or a disaster of Seattle proportions, these Lions vs Saints Playoff tickets are just a warmup for a showdown with the San Francisco 49ers.

New Orleans Saints Tickets

Once again Saints Vikings tickets are at out doorstep. But there are some major differences in this matchup this time around. For one thing, it’s the New Orleans Saints who will do the traveling. There’s also very little buildup around these Saints Vikings tickets because this game isn’t going to determine a Super Bowl berth and isn’t a rematch of epic proportions. But there is some history between the Saints and Vikings and that history could lend itself into making this a grudge match.

Going back to the 2009 NFL season, the Saints and Vikings lined up to decide the NFC Championship. The Vikings came into New Orleans as Super Bowl contenders riding the wave of Brett Favre mania and an NFC North Championship. The Saints were coming off an impressive performance against the Arizona Cardinals. It was a winner take all event. After a hard hitting battle, late game heroics by Tracy Porter propelled the Saints into the Super Bowl and sent the Packers home bruised and beaten. Then, Saints and Vikings tickets kicked off the 2010 NFL season. This time it was a low scoring defensive battle and the Saints won out with a Garrett Hartley field goal in the end.

Now it’s 2011 and the Saints and Vikings are headed in opposite directions. New Orleans has clinched a playoff spot. But the Vikings are wallowing in the cellar of the NFC North. But don’t count them out yet. Any small measure of revenge against the New Orleans Saints would help ease the sting of a disappointing season for the Minnesota Vikings. Expect Saints vs Vikings to be somewhat of a grudge match but at this point you can also expect the New Orleans Saints to be 11-3 when it’s all over.