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[Bryan’s Rant] Curse of the Home Team
by Bryan Flynn
January 18, 2012
It was a tough weekend for New Orleans Saints' fans. The Saints went to San Francisco to face the 49ers and left with their road-playoff-game losing streak intact.
The news got even worse Sunday, when the New York Giants defeated the Green Bay Packers. If New Orleans had defeated the 49ers, the Saints would be hosting the NFC Championship Game this weekend.
File this article away for a year if you like, but things for New Orleans might get worse next year. Before you get all up in arms, Saints fans, think about this: Next year, New Orleans hosts the Super Bowl.
Cities that host the Super Bowl that also have an NFL franchise have never made it to the big game in the same season. Look at this year: Indianapolis hosts the Super Bowl, and the Colts chances were done before the first snap of the season. Peyton Manning didn't play this season and Indianapolis finished 2-14. With only one player missing from a team that annual makes the playoff, it goes on to win just two games.
While you wrap your head around that, last season the Super Bowl was in Dallas. The Cowboys finished the season 6-10 (and were a curse to watch). Dallas quarterback Tony Romo didn't last the season.
Getting to the Super Bowl in their home city is not a team's only problem. Just making the playoffs seems like an epic feat. Since the playoffs expanded in 1990, only three teams have made the playoffs the same year they hosted the big game.
The last team to make the playoffs in the same the year the big game was held in their stadium was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2000. That Buccaneers team lost on wild-card weekend.
Here is something more for Saints fans to worry about: The last time New Orleans hosted the Super Bowl was after the 2001 NFL season. The year before, in the 2000 NFL season, the Saints finished with a 10-6 record and won the NFC West Division. New Orleans won their first playoff game ever that season as well.
The next season, New Orleans hosted the Super Bowl and the Saints went 7-9 and missed the playoffs.
The New Orleans Saints are on a great run for a franchise that has typically struggled. The Saints have been breaking playoff jinxes since we entered the new century and finally broke through in 2010 to win a Super Bowl.
Can they break a curse that has jinxed the whole league?
Follow Bryan Flynn at http://www.jfpsports.com, Facebook and @jfpsports.
posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 01/18/12 at 05:45 PM. [printer version] Share |
COMMENTS
Bryan I knew your team would get their asses whipped last week. They always do and it's the reason you won't come out and claim them publicly. Don't be scurred. Queen claims the Cowboys like a real fan despite the yearly abuse and disappointments. She was singing a couple of weeks ago as the Cowboys played the Giants, "Panic is spreading. Don't know where we're heading. Makes me want to hollow and throw up both my hands. This ain't living."
I guess I'll go with Baltimore my second-most favorite team from here on out.
posted by Walt on 01/20/12 at 01:09 PM
Walt,
I am not a Saints fan. I watch them but I don't opening root for or against them.
Most of the time I just want a good game. I do have a few teams and players I like.
Keeping guessing and one day you might get it right.
posted by Bryan Flynn on 01/25/12 at 01:48 PM
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