Tag: bye week

Which teams should Saints fans be rooting for during the Week 12 bye?

As Saints fans watch the Week 12 slate of NFL games, here is who you should root for if you want a higher draft pick or if you want potential playoff seeding:

The New Orleans Saints are in a nice little middle ground between competing for a potential playoff spot and having a strong draft pick. As they are now on a 2-0 streak under Darren Rizzi, the favor has gone towards competing for a spot in the playoffs rather than a high pick for some fans, which is completely understandable.

Both sides make sense in this equation, and ultimately it becomes personal preference over all else. With that, we can now take a look at which teams you should be rooting for in either case as we look ahead to the Week 12 bye. Here is a rundown of both options:

In the case of competition

When it comes to trying to compete, the AFC has little to no connection to where the Saints reside and their playoff chances. So, looking at the NFC schedule, the first and foremost issue resides with the other NFC South teams. The Atlanta Falcons are on a bye week as well, which makes things a little difficult as they can’t lose, but they also can’t win so it’s about net even. The two divisional games are:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New York Giants:

The decision here is easy, a New York Giants win would put the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 4-7 and tied with the Saints, with one remaining matchup between the two teams later this season. In addition, a Giants win does not really put them in the picture yet as they are 2-8, and even if they enter the picture, the Saints have a chance to play them later as well and take back the momentum.

Carolina Panthers Vs. Kansas City Chiefs:

This game is not exceptionally a major issue either way, but obviously a Kansas City Chiefs win would help keep the Carolina Panthers at the bottom of the division and away from the Saints for another week. This would be the preferable outcome, despite many not being fond of the Chiefs.

This covers a divisional route for the Saints, as a wild card appearance is very unlikely at the moment given the bottom seed right now would be the Washington Commanders at 7-4. A monumental collapse from either them or the 7-3 Green Bay Packers would make things easier, but it would still be a difficult hill to climb. For a potential wild card appearance, here is the preferred outcomes:

Chicago Bears beat Minnesota Vikings

There desperately needs to be more parity in the NFC North for this scenario, and with the Minnesota Vikings holding the top wild card spot, a Chicago Bears win would help despite them also being ahead of the Saints here. The ultimate goal is dragging the wild card teams down close enough to where, if the Saints go on a win streak, a spot is attainable.

Dallas Cowboys Beat Washington Commanders

This is a similar notion to the previous game, where the Washington Commanders are the last wild card team right now, and a loss would bring them even closer to the Saints. With the Dallas Cowboys already being beaten by the Saints, they are not a threat if they are tied which they would be in this scenario. While this is certainly an unlikely outcome, it would definitely be preferred for the Cowboys to win in this matchup for the sake of a Saints playoff push.

San Francisco 49ers Beat Green Bay Packers

This matchup is a little different, as both the 5-5 San Francisco 49ers and 7-3 Green Bay Packers remain ahead of the Saints at the time being, and both have a full game lead at least. However, more parity between those teams and none pulling away leaves the Saints with a great opportunity if they continue to win. So, with a 49ers win, they would be 6-5 and the Packers would be 7-4, rather than 5-6 and 8-3 respectively.

Arizona Cardinals Beat Seattle Seahawks

This is where things get wonky, as the Arizona Cardinals lead their division, so the preferred outcome is a Seattle Seahawks loss to prevent them from competing for a wild card spot as they sit at 5-5. This game going either way is not extremely detrimental which is good, as they would just swap places if Seattle won, but Seattle losing would help just a tiny bit more given the game difference between the two.

Philadelphia Eagles Beat Los Angeles Rams

Further to that point, the Los Angeles Rams losing would help keep them lower and allow the Saints to surpass them as soon as Week 13, as a win would put the Saints at 5-7 and the Rams at 5-7, with the Saints’ head-to-head tiebreaker taking effect. Additionally, the Philadelphia Eagles winning is not particularly a big issue as they remain atop the division, and that would keep the Commanders out of division lead contention for another week at least. Somewhat of a win win here if the Rams lose.

In the case of improved draft stock

Now the case of trying to get closer to a better draft pick. There are nine teams ahead of the Saints with better picks, and two of them are also on bye in the Jacksonville Jaguars (No.1 pick currently) and the New York Jets (No.6 pick currently) so they will remain ahead regardless. As for the other teams, here is there games and the optimal outcomes:

Tennessee Titans beat Houston Texans

First up, the Tennessee Titans, who sit at 2-8 with one of the higher strength of schedule numbers of the bad teams at .514. They take on the Houston Texans, and while a Titans win does not immediately change where the Saints stand, it would prove to be a big one down the stretch if the Saints go the other direction and start losing more. This would keep things closer at the top (or the bottom perse) and keep the Saints within a game of taking their spot.

New york Giants Beat Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Not only would this be pretty funny from the standpoint of a division rival losing to a 2-8 New York Giants team, but it would help in the case of draft stock. This is similar to the Titans, where a Giants win does not immediately move the Saints to a better pick, but it keeps things close enough until the Saints get back to playing, rather than the Giants running away with a higher pick. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers going to 4-7 would be difficult, however the Saints have the tiebreaker for now in terms of a higher pick as they lost to Tampa earlier in the year, and have a lower strength of schedule.

Las Vegas Raiders beat Denver Broncos

Another 2-8 team, another scenario that falls into the same category. A Las Vegas Raiders win helps keep things within a game at the top, and a Denver Broncos loss does not particularly hurt the Saints chances whatsoever, so this one is completely self-explanatory.

New England Patriots beat miami dolphins

This one is a little bit closer in terms of who should win, as the New England Patriots are at 3-8 and the Miami Dolphins are at 4-6. The Dolphins losing brings them to an equal record with the Saints, and since they have a lower strength of schedule, they would get the higher pick in a tiebreaker. However, they also have an easier strength of schedule than the Patriots as well, meaning they are more likely to win another game or two than New England is. With that said, a Patriots win is slightly better here, but either way is perfectly fine.

Carolina panthers beat kansas city chiefs

While in the competitive version we wanted the Panthers to lose here, a win would help the Saints as it would bring them to even in terms of record, and since they have identical strength of schedules, it would go down to conference and division records which the Saints could pull away in by losing pretty often to close the season.

dallas cowboys beat washington commanders

Finally, we have a situation that transcends the type of team you want to see, and ultimately is a win win. The Dallas Cowboys winning here would bring them to even with the Saints at 4-7, and with the Cowboys having a .525 strength of schedule to the Saints only .486, New Orleans would get the tiebreaker for a better pick. Overall, a win win with a Cowboys victory.

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Saints’ 2024 season following a similar script as previous years

After 11 games, the New Orleans Saints sit in an unfortunately familiar position whether it’s Darren Rizzi, Dennis Allen, or Sean Payton leading them:

The New Orleans Saints get to rest during Week 12, as they enjoy their bye week. After 11 games, they sit in an unfortunately familiar place. New Orleans is currently 4-7. They have alternated between 4-7 and 5-6 for the last four seasons. It doesn’t matter if they’re led by Sean Payton, Dennis Allen or a mix of Allen and Darren Rizzi.

The path to the outcome is different but the outcome remains the outcome. The Saints are below-.500 football team after 11 games. Payton’s last year in 2021 was the most unfortunate because Jameis Winston led the Saints to a 4-2 record when healthy. They won the game he was injured in, then lost four in a row with Trevor Siemian at quarterback to land at 5-6.

This year’s variation included a seven-game losing streak, a coaching change and a two game winning streak by the interim head coach. It’s been quite the rollercoaster, but the Saints still ended at the same point.

The end of the season has been kinder to New Orleans. They have won three or four of their last six games each season. That would give Rizzi five or six wins as the interim coach.

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Consistency must be the theme of the Saints bye week

The New Orleans Saints passing attack has been highlighted by big plays, but they need consistency. They must pick up where they left off after the bye week:

It has been said that winning masks everything. The New Orleans Saints can’t allow that to be the case as they enter the bye week. Despite being on a two game winning streak, there’s still a lot of work to do.

The last two games may have each gone the Saints’ way, but they’re still 4-7. Teams with seven losses through 11 weeks need work, and New Orleans is no exception.

A high focus should be on developing a better connection between Derek Carr and his receivers, even without Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. Alvin Kamara is dependable on the ground and he draws a ton of targets on checkdowns, but the passing attack is streaky. Veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling has had a few splash plays, but he hasn’t been a consistent feature through the air. The Cleveland Browns took him out of the game plan in the second half last Sunday.

The passing attack was highlighted by stretching the field with Shaheed as well, but Olave had the ability to help march the ball down the field. New Orleans has to figure out who will play that role.

Juwan Johnson, Foster Moreau and the tight ends feel like a group that could fulfill that need. The inconsistencies passing the football at the intermediate level have led to the offense stalling for long periods.

That’s one negative that hasn’t disappeared despite the different results.

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Darren Rizzi has an opportunity to definitively succeed where Dennis Allen failed

The Saints and Rams met last year with the season in the balance, and Dennis Allen failed that test. A rematch is coming up after the bye. Can Darren Rizzi pass it?

Darren Rizzi has an opportunity to definitively succeed where Dennis Allen failed after replacing the former New Orleans Saints head coach. He’s arguably already done that by ending the seven-week losing streak that cost Allen his job and winning back-to-back games. But their next matchup may tell the real story.

The Saints and Los Angeles Rams met last year with the season in the balance, and Allen failed that test. That loss in L.A. put the Saints so far out of the playoff picture that the remaining games were all for naught. A rematch is coming up after the bye, and we’re in a similar situation. Can Rizzi pass this test?

Maybe so. The Rams aren’t the juggernaut they once were, stuck at 5-5 while going back-and-forth in the win-loss column, but they are a hurdle the Saints must overcome to reach the playoffs this year. If the Rams lose to the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday night, they’ll take the field next week ahead of New Orleans by a single win. Knocking them off and winning three in a row would be a heck of an achievement.

And if nothing else, it would be symbolic. Allen struggled to coach the Saints up when they drew an opponent with a backbone, and that loss to the Rams felt like an indictment for him. With such a big impact on the team’s playoff odds at stake, he wilted. If Rizzi can rise to that challenge it’ll say a lot about where he has this team trending and where he could take them. And he’s got time on his side with the bye week buying a few more days to prepare for it.

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Packers remaining schedule: Can Matt LaFleur’s team get hot again in 2024?

Looking at the remaining games on the Packers’ 2024 schedule coming out of the bye week.

The Green Bay Packers are entering the much-needed bye week at 6-3 overall in 2024. Their record includes a full sweep of the AFC South (4-0) and a 2-0 start against the NFC West, but also two disappointing defeats at home to top rivals in the NFC North.

Eight games remain for the Packers, who are currently in third place in the division but also in possession of the final wildcard spot in the NFC playoff race.

The Packers need to get healthy during the off week. Jordan Love injured his MCL early in the year and is playing through a groin injury, Josh Jacobs battled through an ankle issue last week, Jaire Alexander has missed two games with different injuries this season, Elgton Jenkins and Kenny Clark have both played through lingering injuries all season and Josh Myers and Evan Williams both missed last week’s loss with injuries. No player is 100 percent after nine weeks in the NFL, and the bye week will give everyone a chance to heal up and get ready for the stretch run.

Coach Matt LaFleur said the Packers will do projects during the bye week with the aim of rediscovering the magic that fueled last year’s incredible run to the postseason.

Last year, the Packers were 3-6 after nine games. A 6-2 finish propelled LaFleur’s team into the playoffs as one of the NFL’s hottest teams, and it took some bad luck late in San Francisco to miss out on a trip to the NFC Championship Game.

The Packers are in much better shape at the midway point in 2024, but can the LaFleur’s recreate the magic during the second half once again? The best teams in January are usually the hottest teams. The Packers have the talent to go far, but they need to be playing their best football soon.

Playoff chances

The current New York Times projection has the Packers at a 69 percent chance of making the postseason entering Week 10.

Packers remaining schedule in 2024

Week Team Record DVOA PFF grade
11 at CHI 4-4 23 21
12 vs. SF 4-4 5 3
13 vs. MIA 2-6 27 26
14 at DET 7-1 1 1
15 at SEA 4-5 18 11
16 vs. NO 2-7 21 27
17 at MIN 6-2 4 8
18 vs. CHI 4-4 23 21

Schedule breakdown

Nine wins looks like something close to the worst-case scenario. The Packers still play three of the best teams in the NFL, but there’s a good chance they’ll be favored to win at least five of the final eight games. Can the Packers get at least two wins in their first three games coming out of the bye and be at least 8-4 going into Detroit to start December? Last year, a big win at Ford Field helped the Packers go from a young and spunky underdog to legitimately scary contender. Maybe a similar path lies in front of this year’s team. The guess here is the Packers win three of their final four home games and two of their final four road games and finish 11-6 — which will almost certainly mean a wildcard spot and a road game to open the postseason.

Vote!

 

Russell Wilson keeps cooking throughout the Steelers’ bye week

Russell Wilson stays busy during the Steelers’ Week 9 bye with practice, showing his relentless drive and proving he never stops cooking.

Champions are made when no one is watching. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson personifies this attitude, as while many players take time to rest, relax, or enjoy life outside of football during their team’s bye week, Wilson was focused on bettering his game.

Fans of the Steel City were initially hesitant when news broke that Mike Tomlin was benching QB Justin Fields in favor of Wilson, especially after Fields led the team to an impressive 4-2 start. However, Wilson has proven himself with two great back-to-back performances in Weeks 7 and 8, as well as providing the team with a leadership presence that has been sorely missed since former Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger retired in 2022.

Wilson wants nothing more than to bring a seventh Super Bowl title to Pittsburgh, and his work ethic should make this long-desired goal a reality. The veteran QB is most likely preparing for the tough stretch of games in the second half of the season, starting with two extremely difficult matchups consecutively: facing the Washington Commanders on the road in Week 10 and hosting the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11.

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Who is the best QB in the AFC North through 9 weeks?

With 9 weeks of football in the books, and 9 more to go in the second-half of the 2024 season, which AFC North team boasts the best QB?

One saying reigns supreme in the AFC North, and that is none other than competition breeds excellence.

While the Cleveland Browns perhaps have the worst QB situation in the division right now, the same cannot be said for the other three divisional rivals, who currently have elite signal-callers leading their teams on Sundays. With the Pittsburgh Steelers in first place in the AFC North, the Baltimore Ravens in second, and the Cincinnati Bengals not far behind, which of these three AFC North QBs is superior?

Russell Wilson, understandably so at 35 years old, is perhaps the lowest ranked of the three. His veteran presence, however, is something athletic qualities cannot make up for, and his deep ball may be the best in the division.

While many in the NFL consider Ravens QB Lamar Jackson a favorite to win the 2024 MVP award, Bengals QB Joe Burrow is almost single-handedly putting his team in a position to win games every week, throwing for a whopping five TDs in Cincinatti’s Week 9 victory.

Are the Bengals dark horses in a close AFC North race, and if so, can Pittsburgh continue to maintain their lead in the division?

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Insider believes Najee Harris is unlikely to re-sign with Steelers

Ray Fittipaldo said that while Najee Harris’ play has been great this season, the odds of him re-signing remain low.

Najee Harris has been one of the best running backs in the NFL this season, ranking seventh in rushing yards with 592 on 4.4 yards per carry.

But in the eyes of Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo, Harris is unlikely to be back in Pittsburgh next year.

While making an appearance on “The Joe Starkey Show,” Fittipaldo was asked if Harris’ numbers were enough for Pittsburgh to re-sign the running back.

Much to the dismay of Steelers fans, Fittipaldo stated: “The guy is having a great season, but when you decline the option in May, I think, you know, eight, nine times out of 10, you’re not gonna go do business with that guy when the season ends.”

He was, of course, referencing how Pittsburgh declined to pick up Harris’ fifth-year option, which would allow him to hit free agency in 2025.

Could Harris force the Steelers to acknowledge his elite performance in his contract year, ultimately earning himself a big payday with the team? Or will Pittsburgh instead choose to re-sign the potentially cheaper option in RB Jaylen Warren?

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Contenders or pretenders: the upcoming Steelers’ two weeks of doom

While the Pittsburgh Steelers are 6-2 on the season, their extremely difficult matchups in both Weeks 10 and 11 are their proving grounds.

While fans of the 6-2 Pittsburgh Steelers are understandably on cloud nine after the recent success of the team, they may need to temper their expectations, at least until Week 12.

The Steelers face the 6-2 Washington Commanders on the road in Week 10 and the 5-3 Baltimore Ravens at home in Week 11. These two games, coming off the Week 9 bye, could set the stage for an impressive playoff run or could highlight the Steelers as potential pretenders.

While momentum is leaning toward the Steelers being closer to Super Bowl caliber than most other AFC teams, the lack of competitive teams Pittsburgh has faced through the first eight weeks cannot be ignored. Their opponents thus far have a underwhelming combined record of 27 wins and 35 losses.

If the Steelers can defeat the Washington Commanders and Baltimore Ravens in Weeks 10 and 11, confidence in their postseason aspirations will be completely justified. Similar to the Ravens, Pittsburgh should attempt to make a strong push for additional talent at the wide receiver position at the trade deadline, especially if the team hopes to stay competitive in the latter half of the season.

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Steelers’ K Chris Boswell named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month

Steelers’ K Chris Boswell has been named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for his elite play in October.

The ‘Wizard of Boz’ strikes again!  Pittsburgh Steelers’ kicker Chris Boswell has been named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month in back-to-back months for his excellent performance and contribution to his team’s 6-2 record. The NFL announced Boswell’s accomplishment on Thursday morning, and this award is well-deserved.

This is now the third time Boswell has earned the illustrious AFC Special Teams Play of the Month award, with his first selection dating all the way back in December/January of the 2015 season, and his second selection being last month in September of the 2024 season. Boswell has kicked with an impressive 89.0% accuracy on his field goal attempts, hitting on 254 out of 289.

Steelers fans, including myself, are truly lucky to be able to witness arguably one of the greatest kickers of all-time tearing it up for the Pittsburgh Steelers on any given Sunday.  Can Boswell do the unthinkable and earn three consecutive AFC Special Teams Player of the Month awards?

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