Tag: Packers

Bucs win the NFC South, here’s how Saints can reach playoffs

Bucs win the NFC South, here’s how Saints can reach playoffs

The New Orleans Saints won against the Falcons and even though the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the NFC South, are still alive in the playoff hunt. Of course, to make it at this point they would need some serious help in the afternoon window.

The game that they have the best chance of getting to fall their way is the Chicago Bears (7-9) over the Green Bay Packers (8-8). The Packers are three-point favorites at home, but the Bears will have some motivation as Justin Fields fights to show the team that he is the quarterback of the future.

The less-likely one that they also need to have happen is the Arizona Cardinals (4-12) over the Seattle Seahawks (8-8). The Cardinals are home underdogs by three points, but are coming off of a big win against the Philadelphia Eagles.

If the Bears and Cardinals win, the Saints make the playoffs as a wild card. If either team loses, their season is over.

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Rife with playoff implications, Saints-Falcons is drawing a lot of attention in Week 18

Rife with playoff implications, Sunday’s Saints-Falcons matchup is drawing a lot of attention in Week 18. Will your local TV station have the game?

We’ve got a heated rivalry game in Week 18, with the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons matching up and a lot on the line. This could be the last game of the 2023 season for either team with a loss. Long-shot playoff implications, coaches on the hot seat, and decades-old bragging rights are all at stake. They’re playing for more than their pride.

And it’s a game rife with playoff implications. Five teams are still in contention for the final wild-card seed, including the Saints and Falcons — but fans of the Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, and Minnesota Vikings will be tuning in. So will Los Angeles Rams fans, who could end up being the sixth or seventh seed depending on other games’ results. Dallas Cowboys faithful are going to be watching, too, seeing as they’ll likely be hosting the seventh-seed team.

That’s why coverage is so fragmented for the Saints-Falcons matchup. In addition to both teams’ home markets in the Gulf South, CBS affiliate stations in each of those playoff teams’ locales will  be carrying the game. Check the broadcast map from 506 Sports embedded below:

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NFC Playoff Picture: Seahawks sink back down to No. 8

Here’s the updated NFC playoff picture going into the last week of the season.

For the second straight season, the Seahawks’ playoff hopes rest on the Packers getting upset in the last game of the year. In 2022 the Lions obliged by beating their NFC North rivals, sending Seattle into the playoffs as the No. 7 seed. This time around the Seahawks need the Bears to follow suit and upset Green Bay. They’ll also have to beat the Cardinals to get in. Let’s see where all 16 teams are in the standings.

Here’s the updated NFC playoff picture going into the last week of the season.

1. San Francisco 49ers (12-4)

2. Dallas Cowboys (11-5)

3. Detroit Lions (11-5)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8)

5. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)

6. Los Angeles Rams (9-7)

7. Green Bay Packers (8-8)

8. Seattle Seahawks (8-8)

9. New Orleans Saints (8-8)

10. Minnesota Vikings (7-9)

11. Chicago Bears (7-9)

12. Atlant Falcons (7-9)

13. New York Giants (5-11)

14. Washington Commnaders (4-12)

15. Arizona Cardinals (4-12)

16. Carolina Panthers (2-14)

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How the Saints can punch their ticket to the playoffs in Week 18

There are only two routes for the New Orleans Saints to make the playoffs, but they both start by beating the Atlanta Falcons:

The New Orleans Saints saved their season by defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That win left the door open for a divisional title. The Seattle Seahawks Week 17 loss leaves the door open to a wild card position. It seemed the Saints were positioned to have their season all but done after Week 17, but now there is hope in the season finale.

There are technically four routes for the Saints to make it to the playoffs, but it’s really just two routes with a slight tweak. New Orleans doesn’t control their own destiny, so let’s look at the help they need.

In order to win the division, the Saints need the Buccaneers to fall to the Panthers. It doesn’t feel realistic, but we’ve seen weird upsets this year. New Orleans would be the final wild card team if Seattle and Green Bay both lose in Week 18.

Those are the only two routes for the Saints to make the playoffs. It expands into four because the Saints have to win or tie against the Falcons. Simply put, New Orleans needs to not lose and have either of those scenarios happen. That would secure them a playoff berth.

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Updated NFC playoff standings after Week 17

Updated NFC playoff standings after Week 17: Where do the New Orleans Saints clock in?

The New Orleans Saints pulled off a badly-needed win on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but where do the y rank in the updated NFC playoff standings? They’re still on the outside looking in for the postseason tournament, but another win next week (combined with some big help from other games) could clinch a playoff berth for New Orleans.

Here’s how the layoff picture looks after Week 17:

Saints need a win in Week 18 and a lot of help to clinch a playoff berth

Winning their remaining games won’t be enough to clinch a Saints playoff berth. They need a lot of help from other teams:

The New Orleans Saints took an important step toward reaching the playoffs by beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, but that alone won’t get them over the hump. Neither will a win in the regular-season finale next week against the Atlanta Falcons.

Because they tripped up and lost games to other teams in the wild-card race earlier this year, like the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams, the Saints are not in control of their own fate. So how can they get into the playoffs?

They’ll need a lot of help. As has been the case all year, their easiest path runs through the NFC South. The Saints must defeat the Falcons next week and hope for a Carolina Panthers upset over the Bucs. That’s easier said than done — this same Panthers team got shut out 26-0 by the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 17.

So what if the Saints don’t win the division? Could they still get in as a wild-card team? Technically, yes, but that window is rapidly closing and becoming less likely by the minute. The Rams survived a comeback effort by the New York Giants, so they’ll win any tiebreaker with the Saints at the end of the season. That means the Saints need the Seattle Seahawks to lose twice (to the Pittsburgh Steelers today and against the Arizona Cardinals next week) while also getting some help from the NFC North. And if the Seahawks beat the Steelers on Sunday afternoon, all of this is moot.

Whichever team wins on Sunday night — the Packers or Vikings — would be in conflict with the Saints in Week 18, and they each own head-to-head tiebreakers over New Orleans. So the winner of Sunday night’s game must lose next week, with the Seahawks also losing, while the Saints beat the Falcons team that got the better of them earlier this season. The Packers will host the Chicago Bears, while the Vikings visit the Detroit Lions.

If all three of those levers are pulled, the Saints will clinch the seventh playoff seed in the NFC. So it’s possible. It could happen. Stranger things have happened before in the NFL. But it isn’t likely given all of the different factors at play and each team’s schedule. The Saints made this bed for themselves. Now they have to sleep in it.

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Where the Saints stand in the NFC playoff picture after Week 16

The Saints took a tough loss in the first game of Week 16. At the conclusion of the week, where are the Saints in the NFC playoff picture?

The New Orleans Saints were starting to climb up the NFC playoff picture with consecutive victories. However, a loss to the Los Angeles Rams derailed all momentum. The Saints finally played a playoff caliber team and fell short again.

The repercussions of the defeat are felt in the Saints playoff hopes. Attention now turns completely to the divisional race. Let’s take a look at why the wild card race feels like a difficult task.

This is the NFC playoff picture after Week 16’s action:

Saints expected to sign veteran RB James Robinson to their practice squad

The New Orleans Saints are signing veteran running back James Robinson to their practice squad after a group tryout, pending a physical:

This is worth monitoring. Veteran running back James Robinson plans to sign with the New Orleans Saints practice squad after a physical, as first reported by NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill.

Underhill adds that Robinson is one of several running backs who tried out for the Saints this week, along with Jerrion Ealy, John Lovett, and old friend Ty Montgomery. Robinson ran well for the Jacksonville Jaguars early in his career but has since bounced around the league, making stops with the New York Jets, New England Patriots, New York Giants, and Green Bay Packers.

The Saints are shorthanded at the position with Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams alone on top of the depth chart; rookie draft pick Kendre Miller hasn’t practiced since a Nov. 5 ankle injury, and Jordan Mims has only played special teams when coming up from the practice squad.

It’s possible the Saints just wanted more reliable depth in the backfield, but they could be considering shutting down Miller so he can attack the offseason at full health. We’ll get a better idea when the injury report drops on Wednesday afternoon, so stay tuned.

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NFL targeting Brazil for a 2024 International Series game

The NFL is targeting Brazil for a 2024 International Series game. Which stadium could play host? Would you want the Saints to make the trip?

Now this is interesting. Multiple reports from NFL ownership meetings in Dallas say the league’s decision-makers will be voting on a potential 2024 regular season game to be played in Brazil, with a verdict coming as soon as Wednesday afternoon.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has made the league’s International Series a point of emphasis on his annual agenda — we may never see a Super Bowl played overseas or have an NFL team headquartered outside America, but Goodell clearly sees room for expansion in international markets. After kicking off games in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Mexico, he’s looking to Brazil as the next hotspot in 2024 (plus Spain in 2025, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports).

So where could that game be played? Venues used for recent international NFL games include London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (seating over 60,000) and Wembley Stadium (seating more than 85,000), Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca (capacity for 78,000 seats) as well as Germany’s stadiums in Munich (the 69,000-seat Allianz Arena) and Frankfurt (Deutsche Bank Park, seating about 51,000).

That’s an average capacity of about 68,600 seats. If that’s in the ballpark of what the NFL is looking for in a venue, São Paulo has one clear option: the Estadio do Morumbi (which opened in 1960, easily seating 66,000). The city is also home to the Arena Corinthians (opened in 2014, seating 49,000) and Estádio Prudentão (built in 1982, seating 45,000) as alternative sites.

Now, what you’re really here for: could the Saints be involved? The answer to that is a soft “maybe.” New Orleans will not lose another home game to an international game in 2024 after doing so in 2022’s matchup with the Minnesota Vikings in London. NFL ownership previously agreed that every team would play a “home” game overseas once every eight years, but they’re voting soon on whether to shorten that to a four-year gap, so the Saints could make the trip as visitors.

An NFC team is expected to host the game in Brazil (if approved by league ownership), per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, and the Saints have away games scheduled in 2024 with the following opponents in their conference:

  • Atlanta Falcons
  • Carolina Panthers
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Dallas Cowboys
  • New York Giants
  • Same-place NFC North team (right now, the Green Bay Packers)

We can rule out the Packers, Falcons, and Buccaneers because they have “hosted” international games in recent years, leaving the Panthers, Cowboys, and Giants as options to host. We should acknowledge the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, and Chicago Bears are eligible to host the game in Brazil if the Saints end up playing a difference NFC North team in 2024, depending on how the final divisional standings shake out.

But there’s another factor to consider: the NFL’s international marketing rights for Brazil have been awarded to just one team, the Miami Dolphins. It’s likely they would want the Dolphins to be involved because of that (or at least, the Dolphins would want to be involved), even if they’re playing as visitors. Miami has made a number of overseas appearances including a game in Frankfurt this year. They’re a likelier fit than the Saints.

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Wisconsin fans are used to heartache at the hands of Tommy DeVito

Wisconsin fans are used to heartache at the hands of Tommy DeVito

Wisconsin fans likely had a feeling of deja vu Monday night as the Packers fell 24-22 at the hands of Tommy DeVito and the New York Giants. For the Badger-Packer fans, at least.

DeVito’s sudden national prominence aside, it was not the first time he beat a Wisconsin team in a significant spot.

The date was October 1, 2022. Wisconsin was 2-2 and reeling after a 52-21 beatdown at the hands of Ohio State. The Paul Chryst, Graham Mertz-led Badgers were ready to welcome in Bret Beilema and the Illinois Fighting Illini — Beilema’s first time back in Madison since leaving Wisconsin in 2012.

The result: a 34-10 Illinois win. Illinois’ quarterback was the aforementioned DeVito, who completed 18/24 passes for 167 yards that afternoon and added three rushing touchdowns.

The aftermath is well-known in Madison. Chryst was fired, Jim Leonhard was named interim, the season played out, Luke Fickell was surprisingly hired and both Chryst and Leonhard found other jobs. Now here we are, gearing up for Fickell’s all-important second offseason with the program as he looks to improve upon 2023’s 7-5 regular season.

DeVito, meanwhile, somehow has the Giants on the brink of the NFL Playoffs after last night’s win over the Packers. He has a way of beating Wisconsin teams in important spots.