Well, Who Dat Nation, apparently I’ve got some explaining to do.
A couple days ago I put my 9–8 Saints prediction out there. I went through all 17 games, tried — and I emphasize TRIED — to take off the black-and-gold glasses and make every pick with my head instead of my Saints heart.
I figured I’d get called crazy for predicting nine wins.
Instead?
Y’all are calling me a pessimist!
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, go check out the conversation on our Facebook page. Who Dat Nation had plenty to say about my prediction:
See the Facebook discussion and make your prediction
We’ve got people predicting 10 wins. 11 wins. 12 wins. Even 13 wins.
One Who Dat told me we’re not starting the season with a loss to the “kittinz.”
Another said 11–6.
Another has us at 12–5.
And apparently almost NOBODY likes me splitting with Atlanta.
Believe me, people…
Nothing would make me happier than being wrong about that one.
Y’ALL REALLY DON’T LIKE MY ATLANTA PICK
This seems to be one of the biggest disagreements.
I’ve got New Orleans and Atlanta splitting their two games.
A bunch of you basically told me:
HELL NO, TONY. WE’RE SWEEPING ATLANTA.
Billy even jumped in and said he thinks we beat Atlanta twice.
Fine.
You know what?
If January gets here and the Saints swept the Falcons, I’ll happily sit right here with my cigar and admit:
Tony screwed that one up.
Some losses don’t hurt very much.
That would be one of them.
BUT ONE COMMENT REALLY GOT ME THINKING
One Who Dat pointed out something about my prediction that I think is completely fair.
Basically, he said:
Tony, you’ve got us going 9–8 without really beating one of the upper-tier teams.
That’s a good point.
Because if this Saints team is going to be more than just an average football team — if we’re seriously talking about competing for a playoff spot — we’re probably going to have to beat somebody we’re not supposed to beat.
Maybe that’s Minnesota at home.
Maybe Cincinnati.
Maybe Green Bay walks into the Dome and gets a surprise.
Maybe we shock somebody completely different.
But somewhere along the way, a playoff-caliber team usually needs one of those wins that makes everybody around the league look up and say:
Wait a minute…maybe these guys are better than we thought.
I’d love to see one.
I’M STILL STICKING WITH 9–8
For now.
I’m not changing my prediction before we’ve even played a game.
I said 9–8, so Tony’s staying with 9–8.
But here’s the funny part.
I tried to be the reasonable one.
I tried to take emotion out of it.
Meanwhile, Who Dat Nation looked at my prediction and basically said:
Tony, get those black-and-gold glasses BACK ON.
And I love it.
Because that’s what this place has always been about.
We don’t all have to agree.
We can argue about quarterbacks.
We can argue about coaches.
We can argue about the schedule.
We can argue whether this team wins seven games or eleven.
But when Sunday gets here?
We’re all pulling for the same damn team.
And here’s the best part:
I hope every single one of you predicting 10, 11 or 12 wins gets to come back in January and tell me:
“Told you so, Tony.”
I’ll take that abuse all day long.
Because if you’re right and I’m wrong?
It means the Saints had one hell of a season.
Keep the predictions coming.
Then Sunday, we finally stop guessing.
WHO DAT! ⚜️
— Anthony “Tony” from the Westbank
See the Facebook discussion and make your prediction
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