Saints Playoff Journey ‘Should’ Be On the Road
By John Hendrix
Dec 29, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) stands next to head coach Sean Payton on the sideline during the fourth quarter of a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.The Saints defeated the Buccaneers 42-17. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Stop me if you’ve heard this one already, but how many media analysts and people say something about the cold weather or about the ‘Saints are going to have another road game’ blah blah blah in the past 24 hours? For me, I think this is perfect, and it’s extremely fitting that the team would have to go this way.
Yes, the Saints will start their quest for a Super Bowl run starting Saturday, on the road, no matter what happens.
Think about this. The Saints have never won a road playoff game in their history. That’s right, the Saints are 0-5 in away playoff games since they 1990.
1990: Chicago Bears (16-6)
Sure, the track history does not bode well for the Saints (road games, cold weather, this and that). However, all good (or bad things) must come to an end. At some point, the stat curse goes the other way. Being an underdog and already wrote off as a contender is something that will help motivate the Saints in my opinion. In virtually every road game this season, the Saints have not got off to a good start, and have always had to play from behind. So, is that because of game planning, execution, or mother nature/voodoo as many would have you believe?
Everything is stacked against the Saints (which we all know has never happened, right?), and their first test is against the Philadelphia Eagles. Should they win, they’ll travel to Seattle.
Speaking of Seattle, I’m that crazy person who said this.
"I went on a Twitter rant last night, and I meant every word of saying I hope we see the Seahawks again in the postseason. I believe to be the best, you should beat the best. As cliché as it sounds, it’s true, and I would think that we respond accordingly."
I’m also the same crazy person to tell you this isn’t the first time I sit here to try to tell you about the Cold Weather & the Saints.
"Yes, the Saints historically do not have great success in the playoffs. They’re 0-3 in cold weather playoff games under 40°, and besides the two recent games, you have to go back to the 1990 Wild Card against the Bears to find anything else that’s meaningful."
The logic in all of this is that the Saints can exercise all their demons, and what better way to do this on the road, especially in the playoffs.
However, none of this happens unless the Saints win first in Philadelphia, which oh by the way, the Saints opened as a 2.5 point underdog to the Eagles.
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