2011 NFL NFC Playoffs Preview and Prediction: New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks

Is there anything more ridiculous than the NFL rule that a division winner gets not only an automatic playoff berth, but also gets home field advantage, regardless of their record. I really don't have a problem with the Seattle Seahawks making the playoffs as the NFC West champions despite having a 7-9 record, but I do have a problem with the Seahawks getting home field over the New Orleans Saints, who finished at 11-5.

New Orleans Saints 2011 NFL Playoffs Preview

They may not possess the high flying, unstoppable offense that they showed during their Super Bowl run last season, but the Saints still managed to go 11-5 and were arguably better on defense this season than they were last year. The Saints have seen a revolving door of running backs this season, and quarterback Drew Brees has struggled as opposing defenses have been able to key in on the pass.

If they can get their running backs healthy and playing well, the Saints will be an extremely dangerous team in the playoffs. They are still the defending Super Bowl Champions, and they still went into the last week of the season with a small chance at winning the NFC South. If Brees can play a little more cautiously and curb the interceptions, we could see a return trip to the Super Bowl for the Saints.

Seattle Seahawks 2011 NFL Playoffs Preview

The Seattle Seahawks are perhaps the worst team in NFL history to make the playoffs. They're the first team to ever win their division despite having a losing record (7-9), and they have the worst point differential (-97) of any team to make the playoffs during a 16 game season. Each of their nine losses this season were by at least 15 points. Their quarterback options are the aging and fragile Matt Hasselbeck or the young and, frankly, not great Charlie Whitehurst.

Saints (11-5) at Seahawks (7-9) Conclusion

Is there a chance that the Seahawks will win this game? There's always a chance, no matter how bad one team is and how good another is. But the Seahawks only beat two winning teams all season (San Diego and Chicago), and they did get shredded by the Saints in Week 11, losing 34-19. Really, the only thing the Seahawks have going for them at this point is home field advantage, which is much more advantageous when the home team is somewhat comparable to the road team. The Seahawks are much weaker than the Saints in almost every area, and I expect this game to be out of reach by halftime.

2011 NFL Playoffs Prediction: Saints defeat Seahawks, 34-13

Source:

All stats and standings from espn.com