The first game of the Divisional Playoffs will be the Arizona Cardinals at the New Orleans Saints. This is a game featuring the #4 seed going up against the #1 seed. And there should be plenty of defense in this one.

Before I get into who I think will win this game and why, it needs to be mentioned that this is a really tough game to pick for 2 reasons:

1. The Arizona Cardinals are one of those teams that are nearly an impossible out in the playoffs. I don’t know how they do it, and I don’t know why it happens, but Arizona just finds ways to win in the playoffs.

2. The New Orleans Saints have the talent and the coaching to win the Super Bowl. The way they looked for the first 12 weeks or so made it seem like they were a look to be in the NFC Championship Game. However, the way they’ve played lately, it’s almost impossible to know which team will show up this weekend.

So, with both of those things being mentioned, which team should be favored going into this game? The Saints should be favored because they’ve had the better season and they are at home. So that’s one thing we know.

Now, most people might think that this game comes down to the quarterback play. But while the quarterbacks will be important, and will be awesome in this game, in the end this game will come down to which team can put more pressure on the quarterback. Which team can get enough pressure on the quarterback to force some bad throws and to force some failed 3rd downs?

I think the Saints will be able to get better pressure on the Cardinals’ Kurt Warner. And that will mean that the Saints will have an easier time scoring points. And that will mean the Saints will win by something like 36-30.

Related posts:

1. NFL: Previewing the Monday Night Match-Up: Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints
2. NFL: Previewing Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals
3. New Orleans Saints vs Chicago Bears

After near loses by both teams, the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints are still undefeated. A win is a win though. And now the Colts are 9-0 and the Saints are 9-0.

For the past few weeks it hasn’t been pretty for either of these teams. Though they are getting by, both of these teams better start playing better football or they will lose their first game and they may find it difficult to win in the postseason.

The New Orleans Saints are the team that is having the most trouble. They are playing teams that are far inferior. Yesterday the Saints almost lost to the lowly Saint Louis Rams. If the Rams had been able to finish off their late drive then the Saints would’ve gone home losers.

Meanwhile, the Colts had an amazing late victory against the New England Patriots. Certainly the Pats are a good team. In fact, they are one of the best teams in the AFC right now. The Pats might just be the 2nd best team in the AFC (after the Colts). So, barely beating the Pats is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, the Colts could use this win as a springboard for greater things this season. The obvious problem for the Colts is all their injuries. Even the great Peyton Manning may find if hard to overcome all the injured players.

But the Saints have been struggling against bad teams. Logically you’d think this means that when the Saints play a good team they’ll be in trouble. The Saints have the Patriots coming up in a couple weeks and then that will be followed by the Dallas Cowboys. It’s doubtful that the Saints will get past both of those teams.

But for now, the Saints and the Colts are still “perfect”. How long that will hold up, remains to be seen. However, it looks like the Saints are much more likely to lose sooner rather than later.

Related posts:

1. NFL: Undefeated and Winless Going Into Week 8
2. NFL: What will the Saints and the Colts Do?
3. NFL: Ranking the Undefeated and the Winless Teams