What would be a Saints fan's ideal playoff match-up? How bout Saints offense versus Saints defense. Other acceptable options include Saints vs. The Lighting Crew from the movie Any Given Sunday or Saints versus actual Saints...like Joan of Arc or Thomas Aquinas. (Although something tells me that Joan would create quite a tough match-up for our secondary. If she's not scared of being burned alive, she's not scared of an open field tackle from Jabari Greer.)
Don't get me wrong, it's not that we Saints fans don't have faith in our team. We just want to make their road to the Super Bowl as easy as possible, as in we'd have no problem with the other teams just forfeiting their match-ups out of fear. Since we haven't seen any press releases indicating such an arrangement is in the works, looks like we'll have to work with the options before us. So which teams would make the best match-up for the Saints in the playoffs? Let's take a gander at the possibilities.
The Eagles
Sure they just got their arses handed to them by "Jerry's Kids" but something tells us this squad will only use that butt whipping as motivation. Coach Andy Reid and quarterback Donovan McNabb are playoff tested, playoff approved. They live for adversity. They get off on being regarded as the "scrappy, underdog team with something to prove." This is the team that plays the "Rocky" theme song at half time to get pumped. Their hero is a fictional character, people. If that's not pathetic enough to inspire them to victory, I don't know what is.
The Cardinals
If the Eagles are "Rocky" than the Cardinals are more like Sybil. They've got a troubled past that's lead to a present day split personality. One week they're hot, the next week they're cold. One week they can run the ball, the next week it's all about airing it out. Sure they can make big plays...oh wait, nope...they suck. The good news about facing this team is that you can catch them on an off week. The bad news, they've got a vet like Kurt Warner who can lead them through a 4th quarter comeback. Still, I like this match-up against the Saints. If it's a shootout they want, it's a shootout they'd get!
The Packers
Ah yes...the tale of the Karate Kid. "Daniel-san"...aka Aaron Rodgers, has a lot to prove. He's sick of getting picked on and beat up and living in the shadow of that popular guy who used to be the big man on campus. He just wants a little r-e-s-p-e-c-t. So, he's been practicing his wax-on, wax-off moves for the past 17 weeks all in preparation for the big tournament. But Sorry Aaron Rodgers...your version of the "crane kick" doesn't scare me. Oh, and as an aside, something tells me your facial hair smells funny.
The Cowboys
Tony Romo, in comparing you to Drew Brees, I find it appropriate to use a quote from the popular Western High Noon. "You're a good-looking boy: you've big, broad shoulders. But he's a man. And it takes more than big, broad shoulders to make a man."
Sure you foiled my team once, but they were drunk. Oh no, wait...that was just me. Well they might not have been drunk but they were definitely high on themselves. The pressure of an undefeated season had gotten the best of the them. They weren't at 100% mentally, not to mention all the injuries. But I can assure you Tony and the rest of the Cowboy nation, if the rematch were to happen, we'd be ready. To quote Tombstone, "I want your blood. And I want your soul. And I want them both right now!"
Since the Saints are the number one seed, they'd play the lowest seed to survive Wildcard Weekend. I yearn for an "I am your father, Luke" moment between Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre if the Packers were to win this weekend and face the Vikings in the divisional round. But in order for that to happen, the Eagles would have to beat the Cowboys...which would bring McNabb and crew to New Orleans. I don't like that. So...this weekend I say we Saints fans cheer on (gulp) the Cowboys and not give a crap about the other game. If the Cowboys win, they'll head to Minnesota and we'll face either the Packers or the Cardinals, both of which are favorable match-ups for the Saints.
To be clear though, that forfeit offer is still on the table.