[DIVISIONAL]: New Orleans Saints @ San Francisco 49ers

[EmpireWF]

SAT 4:30pm ET on FOX
​

 

[ralaw]

Away from the Dome I don't trust the Saints and the 49ers defense is certainly legit, but I still have a hard time believing the 49ers offense can score enough points. I still don't trust Alex Smith.

 

[Houston]

A slowed down Saints team still outscores the 49ers.

 

[Woy]

If our defense can slow down the Saints offense outside, then certainly the Niners can do it too.

Should be a great game. Still picking NO though.

 

[Rudi]

The Saints are playing too good right now to lose this game

 

[Senser81]

Hopefully a winter rain comes in to SF and it pours on the Saints. Could be the best way the Niners can win.

 

[MrBill]

I just don't see any way the 49ers can win this game. They have had a great season but it ends Saturday afternoon.

 

[ram29jackson]

who ever wins this game...? it is the least important of all 4
the survivor loses the next game no matter what.

 

[ram29jackson]

Hopefully a winter rain comes in to SF and it pours on the Saints. Could be the best way the Niners can win.

LOL it probably rains a little more in Northern Cal than Southern cal.

but most our winter days are just sunny..and dont get cold till night time.
weather wont help

 

[Champ]

I need the 49ers to win this one. More scared of New Orleans than San Fran

 

[Tailback U]

LOL it probably rains a little more in Northern Cal than Southern cal.

but most our winter days are just sunny..and dont get cold till night time.
weather wont help

It rains a lot in SF. SF has shitty weather pretty much year round, cloudy overcast very windy and lots of rain.

This year has been different. Pretty much no rain all
Of December which is unheard of.

If it rains it will definitely affect the Saints. They are an indoor team and are notoriously worse on the road, in shitty conditions across the country to say it won't affect them is asinine.

Niners have a shot, especially if it rains. I don't think they will win but I think it will be a lot closer than most think.

 

[ram29jackson]

It rains a lot in SF. SF has shitty weather pretty much year round, cloudy overcast very windy and lots of rain.

This year has been different. Pretty much no rain all
Of December which is unheard of.

If it rains it will definitely affect the Saints. They are an indoor team and are notoriously worse on the road, in shitty conditions across the country to say it won't affect them is asinine.

Niners have a shot, especially if it rains. I don't think they will win but I think it will be a lot closer than most think.

LOL dont groan me just cause your weather sucks.

those winds a month ago were no fun though

 

[trojan49er]

If the Niners can create turnovers and take advantage of them AND somehow manage to score touchdowns once they get to the redzone, theyve got a pretty good shot at winning. Of course, thats not likely to happen, especially the last part. I can see the Niners forcing Brees to make a mistake or two and nabbing a pick if they can get pressure (read: if Aldon Smith can get pressure), but what really worries me is their depth in the receiving corps and the number of receivers Brees is comfortable throwing to. The Niners have been really good at shutting down the main threat in the passing game and forcing teams to beat them with their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th option, but Brees is perfectly happing doing just that. Its gonna come down to turnovers and redzone execution.

 

[Tailback U]

LOL dont groan me just cause your weather sucks.

those winds a month ago were no fun though

Groaning you because you don't know what you are talking about. Again.

"LOL it probably rains a little more in NorCal than SoCal."

It rains a lot more.

 

[St. Francisco]

I'll just go ahead and leave this right here...posted this on a friend's Facebook.

Drew Brees completed 71% of his passes this season, averaging 342 yards, nearly three touchdowns, and less than one interception per game. The runningbacks averaged 132.9 yards per game, ranking them 6th in the NFL.

23-10 win @ Jacksonville - Brees completed 70% of his passes for 351 yards, but only threw one touchdown, and threw two interceptions. The Saints gained 177 yards and a touchdown on the ground, averaging 5.2 yards per carry.

26-20 loss @ Tampa Bay - Brees completed 64% of his passes for 383 yards, but only threw one touchdown, and threw three interceptions. The Saints gained just 70 yards on the ground, averaging 3.5 yards per carry.

27-16 win vs. Tampa Bay - Brees completed 75% of his passes for 258 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. The Saints gained 195 yards on the ground, averaging seven yards per carry.

31-21 loss @ St. Louis - Brees completed 68% of his passes for 269 yards, but only threw one touchdown, and threw two interceptions. The Saints gained just 56 yards on the ground, averaging 2.8 yards per carry.

26-23 overtime win @ Atlanta - Brees completed 70% of his passes for 322 yards and two touchdowns, no interceptions. The Saints gained just 41 yards on the ground, averaging 2.6 yards per carry.

22-17 win @ Tennessee - Brees completed 77% of his passes for 337 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. The Saints gained 114 yards on the ground, averaging 4.4 yards per carry.

This is what we learn:

1. Drew Brees has a high completion rate even when the team does lose, but threw nearly eight of his fourteen interceptions in two of the team's losses, and two of their closest wins against Jacksonville and Tampa Bay. The 49ers are second in the NFL with 23 interceptions on the year...go ahead and mark down 3-4 picks for us. Brees is a lot like Favre in his decision making, and this defense will definitely take advantage. Our turnover differntial of +28 is the best in the NFL.

2. The close wins against Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, and Tennessee have one thing in common. The Saints performed well on the ground, getting a high average from each carry. This is what won those games. In their losses against St. Louis and Tampa Bay, they were held to fewer than 100 yards both times, and averaged 3.5 and 2.8 yards per game, respectively. The 49ers are the league's best rushing defense, giving up 77 yards per game on average.

3. Tennessee sacked Drew Brees twice, Jacksonville and Green Bay had three sacks each, and St. Louis had an incredible six sacks. The 49ers rank 7th in the NFL with 42 sacks on the year, which is the best New Orleans will see this year. St. Louis ranks 15th, Jacksonville ranks 25th, Green Bay ranks 27th, and Tennessee ranks 31st. Let that soak in for a second...the teams who got to your quarterback all ranked in the bottom half of the league in sacks on the year. The 49ers rank 7th.

The Saints' weaknesses as evidenced in their close games and losses play right into our strengths. We get to the quarterback, we force turnovers, and we make offenses one-dimensional. so good luck on Saturday, New Orleans...you're gonna fuckin need it.

 

[Realist]

F that. Regardless of my confidence level of this game, I'm still riding with my 49ers.

 

[StealthShot]

I really don't know what to make of this game one great offense that's hitting on all cylinders right now. Versus a defense that was the best in the league this season coming off a bye week which could have killed their consistency. Sticking with the Saints to win this out though 23-13.

 

[St. Francisco]

I really don't know what to make of this game one great offense that's hitting on all cylinders right now. Versus a defense that was the best in the league this season coming off a bye week which could have killed their consistency. Sticking with the Saints to win this out though 23-13.

Once again, the NFL asks the age old question. What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?

Guess we'll find out on Saturday.

23-20 49ers.

 

[GoChargers]

I'll just go ahead and leave this right here...posted this on a friend's Facebook.

Drew Brees completed 71% of his passes this season, averaging 342 yards, nearly three touchdowns, and less than one interception per game. The runningbacks averaged 132.9 yards per game, ranking them 6th in the NFL.

23-10 win @ Jacksonville - Brees completed 70% of his passes for 351 yards, but only threw one touchdown, and threw two interceptions. The Saints gained 177 yards and a touchdown on the ground, averaging 5.2 yards per carry.

26-20 loss @ Tampa Bay - Brees completed 64% of his passes for 383 yards, but only threw one touchdown, and threw three interceptions. The Saints gained just 70 yards on the ground, averaging 3.5 yards per carry.

27-16 win vs. Tampa Bay - Brees completed 75% of his passes for 258 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. The Saints gained 195 yards on the ground, averaging seven yards per carry.

31-21 loss @ St. Louis - Brees completed 68% of his passes for 269 yards, but only threw one touchdown, and threw two interceptions. The Saints gained just 56 yards on the ground, averaging 2.8 yards per carry.

26-23 overtime win @ Atlanta - Brees completed 70% of his passes for 322 yards and two touchdowns, no interceptions. The Saints gained just 41 yards on the ground, averaging 2.6 yards per carry.

22-17 win @ Tennessee - Brees completed 77% of his passes for 337 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. The Saints gained 114 yards on the ground, averaging 4.4 yards per carry.

This is what we learn:

1. Drew Brees has a high completion rate even when the team does lose, but threw nearly eight of his fourteen interceptions in two of the team's losses, and two of their closest wins against Jacksonville and Tampa Bay. The 49ers are second in the NFL with 23 interceptions on the year...go ahead and mark down 3-4 picks for us. Brees is a lot like Favre in his decision making, and this defense will definitely take advantage. Our turnover differntial of +28 is the best in the NFL.

2. The close wins against Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, and Tennessee have one thing in common. The Saints performed well on the ground, getting a high average from each carry. This is what won those games. In their losses against St. Louis and Tampa Bay, they were held to fewer than 100 yards both times, and averaged 3.5 and 2.8 yards per game, respectively. The 49ers are the league's best rushing defense, giving up 77 yards per game on average.

3. Tennessee sacked Drew Brees twice, Jacksonville and Green Bay had three sacks each, and St. Louis had an incredible six sacks. The 49ers rank 7th in the NFL with 42 sacks on the year, which is the best New Orleans will see this year. St. Louis ranks 15th, Jacksonville ranks 25th, Green Bay ranks 27th, and Tennessee ranks 31st. Let that soak in for a second...the teams who got to your quarterback all ranked in the bottom half of the league in sacks on the year. The 49ers rank 7th.

The Saints' weaknesses as evidenced in their close games and losses play right into our strengths. We get to the quarterback, we force turnovers, and we make offenses one-dimensional. so good luck on Saturday, New Orleans...you're gonna fuckin need it.

Turnovers will decide this game.

The 49ers are more than capable of shutting down the Saints running game, if they can force Drew Brees into a couple of turnovers and Alex Smith doesn't turn the ball over, 49ers will get the win.

If 49ers can finish +2 or better in turnover margin I'd put cash down.

 

[St. Francisco]

Turnovers will decide this game.

The 49ers are more than capable of shutting down the Saints running game, if they can force Drew Brees into a couple of turnovers and Alex Smith doesn't turn the ball over, 49ers will get the win.

If 49ers can finish +2 or better in turnover margin I'd put cash down.

And there's no reason we shouldn't be able to finish with a +3 or +4 margin.

The greatest advantage we have going into this game is that we get consistent pressure on opposing QBs with sending just three or four guys. When you put that many back into coverage, it's hard to not throw interceptions...especially if you're Drew "I think I'm Brett Favre" Brees.