With their current secondary do you believe the Saints can win the NFC?

As a Saints fan, I have to answer with "HELL NO!".

The Linebackers are not great, but they did the best they could against the Colts offense.

I think the only way (as I said before the game last night) that the Saints Defense will be effective at all is if the Front Seven generate a pass rush, stop the run, and PROTECT the secondary.

If the Saints can't stop the deep ball again, and the OFFENSE doesn't step up it's game, they will not win the NFC, maybe not make the playoffs.

That said...there are still 15 games left. No need to go into panic mode yet.

I think the Saints still have a good chance in the NFC and here are a few reasons:

1. In the beginning of a season some teams are executing at a higher level where as other teams are still trying to work out the kinks. It was very clear last night, on both sides of the ball that the colts execution is a good as anyone could expect but the Saints are not executing at season speed. One year that the Patriots went 14-2 and won the SB the opened the season with a 35-0 loss to buffalo, and appeared not to know what sport they were playing. Although part of that could certainly have been due to the situation with Lawyer Milloy, it also had alot to do with execution problems.

2. Colts are a very good team, especially offensively and giving up a good day to manning could happen to the best defenses around, the saints certainly need to improve but they wont face an offense like Indy's in the NFC.

3. Jason David as people said "had the inside scoop on the Colts", but people forget the opposite is also true. The colts have an inside scoop on Jason David, they know what he struggles with.

4. The NFC is weak, the Saints will blow plenty of teams out this year and they will have confidence going into the post season.

There is no telling what will happen this year in the NFC but I would not ride the Saints off just yet. The good news for the Saints is that this is not an NFC loss, if your gonna lose, lose to the other conference.

Their defense is no worse than that rams team that won it all, plus they are in the NFC.

As far as their safeties (speaking from a former safeties view) these guy are actually quite talented and fast....but that has nothing to do with it. Playing safety is extremely cerebral when you have.

1. no actual defensive scheme

2. horrible run support by front 7

3. a corner that you have to constantly look out for

4. where is the slot, TE.did someone get the back...etc

You have to take all of that into consideration out there. Just watch in any game where a corner will "release" his coverage to the safety LATE and you see the safety already committed somewhere else. (IT HAPPENS ALOT)

you will see the safety shaking his head or have his hands open. Trust me I've had corners let their guy go late tons of times to bail their a$$ out b/c they are getting roasted or they are tired....etc.

The safety isn't just out there to knock out people or stay deep...he has alot of responsibilities,and having sub par line backers, no pass rush, sorry corners, no scheme.....a simple play action will KILL a safety.

I would be all over the place and head swimming in new orleans D I'm sure. Waaaaay too many holes to fill.

Jason should have had an inside track with his prior knowledge of the Colts. They ate him alive.

Some will take this as a sign of how potent the Colts offense really is. For the Saints, though, the Colts do this to many, many teams who otherwise are very solid.

Don't count the Saints out of the playoff picture.

If the Saints win the NFC, it is because of their offense. The defense was ranked 11th in the NFL last year and they should improve after last night's slaughter, but the Saints are good when their offense actually moves the ball.

The NFC is weak and there are only a few teams that would be able to take advantage of their defense in the playoffs (Philadelphia, Dallas, St. Louis).

Listen dude, The Aints are the Aints for one reason and that reason only! No, just kidding. Well not really, but okay.

Anyway, They played the freaking Colts. The Colts' receivers and Peyton Manning will make the best secondary in the league look blind and dumb. That's what they do. Don't turn your back on your team just yet(well if it were me, I would, just kidding...not really) The Aints will be alright. Worst case, they have a miserable year and draft another speedster that got his and his family's way paid through-out his college career.

I agree with you but they can still win the NFC. Did you notice who they played last night? Not many teams can stop the Colts passing attack. Jason David is a joke but he is an improvment Freddy Thomas.

No way. They will win there division but will get crushed in the there first playoff game. Jason David is the weak spot on there D and will continue to get exposed as such in coming weeks.

I am unsure that they can. If they do not pull it together and start playing as a team, no they wont. There were many blown coverages last night, and it was humiliating. I am glad they lost like that to start the season, it will be a nice wake up call for them.

honestly, i dont think their linebackers help either. plus, its imposible for them to win the NFC cause the Eagles are...