The New Orleans Saints had one of the most explosive offenses throughout most of the 2009 season, but they seemed to slow down a bit as the season progressed.  They are now going up against an Arizona Cardinals team that just scored 51 points, and their quarterback Kurt Warner threw more touchdowns (5) than incompletions (4).  The Saints defense has to get pressure on Warner, or he will just sit back and pick the secondary apart like he did against the Packers last week.  Warner also got a lot from his running game, something he isn’t usually used to, so the Saints will need to do a better job than the122 rushing yard average they gave up this season.  Warner is not very mobile and is a great pocket passer, so the Saints need to collapse that pocket and force the 38-year-old Warner out of his comfort zone.

The Saints offense should be able to get back to their high-scoring, play-making ways in this game.  The Cardinals defense is not very strong who give up a lot of points.  They let the Packers put up 45 points last week, so Drew Brees should take note of some of things Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers was able to do.  The Saints running game should be able to do a lot of damage to the Cardinals run-defense that gave up 113 rushing yards per game this year.  Pierre Thomas, Mike Thomas, and Reggie Bush should all have productive games.  This will be a close high-scoring game, but I think the Saints have a better defense and more weapons on offense.  They are also at home, so I’m going with the Saints by a touchdown.

PREDICTION:  New Orleans Saints 38, Arizona Cardinals 31

30-year old QB Drew Brees really had the Saints’ offense humming this season.  He played in 15 games for the Saints this season and he completed 363 of 514 passes (70.6%) for 4,388 yards with 34 TD passes and 11 INTs (109.6 QB Rating).  Brees also carried the ball 22 times for 33 yards (1.5 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  He has now played in 122 games in his NFL career and he has completed 2,697 of 4,164 passes (64.8%) for 30,646 yards with 202 TD passes and 110 INTs (91.9 QB Rating).  Brees has also carried the ball 244 times for 482 yards (2.0 ypc) with 7 TD runs.  The Saints really need to protect Brees in the playoffs or they will have no chance of winning the Super Bowl because the Saints don’t have much depth at QB.

39-year old lefty Mark Brunell looks like he’s shot.  He played in all 16 games (he was the holder on kicks) this season for the Saints and he completed 15 of 30 passes (50%) for 102 yards with 0 TD passes and 1 INT (44.0 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 4 times for -12 yards (-3.0 ypc) this year.  Brunell has now played in 173 games in his NFL career and he has completed 2,753 of 4,624 passes (59.5%) for 31,928 yards with 182 TD passes and 107 INTs (83.9 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 513 times for 2,421 yards (4.7 ypc) with 15 TD runs in his career. 

The Saints have lost starting left defensive end Charles Grant for the season due to a case of torn triceps.  Grant played in all 16 games for the Saints this season and he made 44 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, forced 1 fumble and he defensed 2 passes.  Grant will be replaced in the starting line-up by 28-year old Bobby McCray.  McCray has played in all 16 games for the Saints this season and he has 12 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks and 1 pass defensed.  This is a huge loss for the Saints and they need McCray to step up the rest of the way.

The Saints didn’t put much of a effort into this game yesterday and it showed on the scoreboard.  Mark Brunell looked rusty and old as he completed 15 of 29 passes for 102 yards with a INT.  Lynell Hamilton led the way for the Saints on the ground yesterday with 48 yards rushing on 10 carries (4.8 ypc) with a TD run and he also caught 3 passes for 38 yards (12.7 avg).  Reggie Bush (5 car, 35 yards) and Mike Bell (17 car, 28 yards) both were also busy in the running game for the Saints.  TE Darnell Dinkins was the leading receiver for the Saints with 4 grabs for 20 yards (5.0 avg).  The Saints finished up with only 213 total yards on offense (111 rushing, 102 passing) in this game.

CB Randall Gay (7 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack and 1 QB hit) and LB Jonathan Casillas (7 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss) led the way on D for the Saints yesterday.  DL Anthony Hargrove had a solid game for the Saints too with 6 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack, 1 pass defensed and 1 QB hit.  The Panthers finished up with 327 total yards on offense (178 rushing, 149 passing) in this game.  The Saints finished up the year with a 13-3 record and the #1 seed in the NFC playoffs.

The Saints are going to start 39-year old Mark Brunell at QB tomorrow with undrafted rookie Chase Daniel serving as the back-up.  Drew Brees will the the #3 QB.  Brunell has thrown 1 incomplete pass this season for the Saints and tomorrow will be his first start since the 2006 season with the Redskins.  Brunell has played in 172 games in his NFL career and he has completed 2,738 of 4,595 (59.6%) for 31,826 yards with 182 TD passes and 106 INTs (84.2 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 513 times for 2,421 yards (4.7 ypc) with 15 TD runs.  Brunell has enough tricks up his sleeve to play a good game tomorrow for the Saints so don’t count them out.  But, this was the right move as there was no need to play Brees.