Sunday Smackdown: Panthers at Saints

i love the saints. That my faviort team.

Well you all obviously missed the plan of Payton and Breesus...:D

Payton won't say anything about when bree's will get pulled. They'll just have a set plan on his game time and they'll stick to it. I really don't think bree's has much to worry about panthers pass rush ! Plus he'll want to build a decent lead on brady

We can speculate on whether Brees plays or plays a half or even more. But a wager on Carolina with the points looks inviting. The line can only go down if Payton comes out and says Brees will only play a half or not at all. Now is the time to jump on this wager.

BREES HAD HIS 5 MINS OF FAME. PAYTON WILL NOT RISK STARTER INJURIES TO AVOID WHAT HAPPEN LAST YEAR. LOST 3 STARTERS THEN WENT ONTO SEA AND GOT KNOCKED OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS WITH AN UPSET! HE LIVES TO REGRET THAT MOVE AND WILL NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE AGAIN. SORRY BRESS SUPERBOWL IS MORE IMPORTANT TO HIS RESUME THEN YOUR RECORD. BESIDES HE KNOWS TOM WILL THROW FOR 400 YARDS EASY AGAINST AN INJURY LIST OF BUFF PLAYERS

@SAINTS 12: Sure sounds like Brees at MOST, plays a half. You know something, there is a reason that coach Payton is considered one of the better coaches in the NFL. Payton realizes if Niners game is quickly out of hand, their number 1 offensive threat is playing in JEOPARDY in this game and nothing else matters, including the passing record. I will still stipulate that if by some bizarre reason the Rams are leading, Payton might keep Brees in for the very important second seeding.

@"dangers" here's what Coach Payton said,an by this I dont know if he plays at all???????????????????????????????

Tuesday December 27, 2011 - 6:26 PM
Payton not divulging plan for Brees in finale
PrintEmail a FriendFacebookTwitterRSSShareMETAIRIE, La. (AP) - A day after Sean Payton helped Drew Brees break the NFL's single-season passing record the coach wouldn't divulge whether he'd enable his star quarterback to maintain that distinction.

With 5,087 yards passing this season after Monday night's victory over Atlanta, Brees enters the final week of the season 190 yards ahead of New England's Tom Brady. Yet the Saints' regular-season finale may not matter in terms of playoff seeding, meaning the prudent choice for Payton could be to rest Brees for much of Sunday's game against Carolina.

The Patriots, by contrast, need to beat Buffalo to ensure they'll have the top seed in the AFC, and Brady has proven time and again he can put up a lot of yards in a single game. He had a season-high 517 yards against Miami in Week 1 and threw for 423 against San Diego. The last time New England played Buffalo, Brady threw for 387 yards.

So it's not out of the realm of possibility that Brady could finish the season with the passing record Brees now holds, particularly if the Saints' quarterback sits out.

"I'm not really aware of the space between the two. I am probably better off not knowing," Payton said Tuesday of Brees and Brady's yardage totals.

With the playoffs close, Payton said the Saints' priority must be how to "put ourselves in the best position to play well and put ourselves in an opportunity to win a championship."

"That's not always what is popular," the coach added.

I expect Drew Brees will only play the first half in this game. The halftime score will be something like 21-7. Then the panthers will come surging back in the last half. 31-28 Saints

For sure there will be a lot of scoreboard watching at the Superdome. If by some miracle St. Louis is leading the Niners, I believe the starters(Brees) will continue to play in this game. If this scenario does not come about, then for sure Payton pulls just about everyone and Panthers not only cover, but have excellent chance to win outright.

I have a great deal of respect for Sean Payton. I think one of the reasons why he let Brees keep passing and break the record on Monday night is so he can give himself the option of sitting Brees this game. Expecting the St.Louis Rams to beat the 49ers so they can get a first round bye is like believing in the tooth fairy.
I think Payton gives Brees & other top players their bye week this week so they will be fresher for the playoffs. A loss will do nothing to hurt their seeding [ assuming 49ers win ] . I just don't see him taking a chance of getting any key players hurt in a meaningless game on a short week at the end of a long season. Especially after a big statement victory last night. From a betting standpoint I'd jump all over the points before this spread starts coming down to reality.

Saints could get the number #2 seed with a win and a Niners loss. Shame Saints and Niners are playing at the same time. Would be a perfect teaser situation if one was in front of the other. Anyway the Saints, I believe wont make it easy for the NIners. I think they play Brees and the boys. If they don't they will more tha likely lose this game to an explosive Panthers offense. If Saints starters play the whole game: Saints 36 Panthers 30.