31-year old Drew Brees continues to roll for the New Orleans Saints.  Brees played in 16 games for the Saints last season and he completed 448 of 658 passes (68.1%) for 4,620 yards with 33 TD passes and 22 INTs (90.9 QB Rating.  Brees also carried the ball 18 times for -3 yards (-0.2 ypc) last season.  Brees has now played in 138 games in his NFL career and he has completed 3,145 of 4,822 passes (65.2%) for 35,266 yards with 235 TD passes and 132 INTs (91.7 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 262 times for 479 yards (1.8 ypc) with 7 TD runs to this point in his career.  Despite his age, Brees continues to play at a very high level.

24-year old Chase Daniels was Brees’ backup this year.  He played in 3 games for the Saints this year and he completed 2 of 3 passes (66.7%) for 16 yards with 0 TD passes and 0 INTs (79.9 QB Rating).  Daniels also carried the ball 2 times for 16 yards (8.0 ypc) last season.  That was his first taste of NFL action.

VERDICT:  Brees will continue to start for the Saints for the foreseeable future.  The Saints will likely bring in another QB to compete with Daniels for the backup job in 2011.

The Saints’ defense let them down big time yesterday and it is the reason they will be preparing for next season starting today.  Drew Brees was outstanding as he completed 39 of 60 passes for 404 yards with 2 TD passes and 0 INTs.  Julius Jones pitched in with 59 yards on 15 carries (3.9 ypc) with 2 TD runs and he also caught 6 passes for 61 yards (10.2 avg).  But, he lost a fumble deep in Saints’  territory setting up Olindo Mare for a field goal.  Reggie Bush only carried the ball 5 times for 12 yards (2.4 ypc) but he also caught 5 passes for 37 yards (7.4 avg).  Fullback Heath Evans didn’t carry the ball but he did catch 4 passes for 23 yards (5.8 avg) with a TD grab.  WRs Marques Colston (4 rec, 66 yards) and Devery Henderson (7 rec, 77 yards, TD) led the way in the passing game for the Saints yesterday.  Drew Brees spread the ball around to 9 different receivers who each caught at least two passes apiece in this game.  The Saints finished up with 77 yards rushing on22 carries (3.5 ypc) and they also completed 39 of 60 passes for 397 yards as they had possession of the ball for 32:01.

The defense was awful in this game for the Saints.  LBs Jonathan Vilma (7 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss) and Jo-Lonn Dunbar (7 tackles) led the way for the Saints’ D yesterday.  CB Jabari Greer pitched in with 3 tackles, 2 passes defensed and a interception.  The Seahawks finished with 149 yards rushing on 25 carries (6.0 ypc) and they also completed 22 of 35 passes for 266 yards.  The Saints will not get a shot to defend their Super Bowl Title as they join the crowd of teams that are now waiting until next year.

The Saints beat the Seahawks just 7 weeks ago in New Orleans 34-19.  But this is going to be a tougher task beating the Seahawks on the road and likely in the rain.  With all of the injuries the Saints have at running back they are likely going to be leaning on Drew Brees’ arm to carry them to victory.  The Seahawks are 5-3 at home this year and they seem to sometimes rise to the occasion at Qwest Field.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Saints have the ball:  The Saints need to protect Drew Brees’ in this game.  That means they are going to have to keep DEs Chris Clemons & Raheem Brock out of the backfield.  If Brees has time to throw the ball he should have success against a Seahawks’ D that is allowing 249.6 yards passing per game this year.  I can see Brees trying to stretch the field with bombs to Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson to try to loosen up the secondary.  Marques Colston, Lance Moore, Jeremy Shockey and David Thomas will likely handle the shorter stuff for the Saints.  Reggie Bush & Julius Jones will carry the load in the running game as the Seahawks are giving up 118.9 yards rushing per game and 4.2 yards per carry this year.

When the Seahawks have the ball:  The Seahawks are likely going to try to establish a running game because they don’t want to get into a firefight with the Saints.  The Saints will have to key on stopping Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett in the running game.  If the Saints can stop the Seahawks’ running game then they will be able to harrass Matt Hasselbeck in the pocket, trying to force him into making some big mistakes.  Mike Williams will be Hasselbeck’s top short target with Ben Obomanu being a serious threat over the top. 

PREDICTION:  SAINTS 24, SEAHAWKS 17

With Pierre Thomas & Chris Ivory out for the post season, the Saints are going to need someone to step up for the playoffs.  Julius Jones & Reggie Bush are likely to get the first shot this weekend.  30-year old Julius Jones played in 10 games for the Saints this year and he carried the ball 48 times for 193 yards (4.0 ypc).  Jones also caught 17 passes for 59 yards (3.5 avg) this year.  Jones will likely do the heavy lifting between the tackles with Reggie Bush getting the outside runs.  25-year old Reggie Bush only played in 8 games for the Saints this year and he carried the ball 36 times for 150 yards (4.2 ypc).  He also caught 34 passes for 208 yards (6.1 avg) with 1 TD grab this year.  The Saints will likely lean more on the pass than usual during the playoffs but that shouldn’t be a problem with Drew Brees under center.

The New Orleans Saints have placed 26-year old RB Pierre Thomas on the Injured Reserve List due to a left ankle injury.  Thomas played in 6 games for the Saints this year and he carried the ball 83 times for 269 yards (3.2 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  He also caught 29 passes for 201 yards (6.9 avg) and he returned 7 kickoffs for 154 yards (22.0 avg) this year.  The Saints are going to miss Pierre Thomas as the Saints already placed rookie RB Chris Ivory on I.R. earlier this week.

The New Orleans Saints have placed 22-year old rookie RB Chris Ivory on I.R., ending his season due to a left foot injury.  Ivory played in 12 games for the Saints and he carried the ball 137 times for 716 yards (5.2 ypc) with 5 TD runs.  He also caught 1 pass for 17 yards this year.  The undrafted rookie out of Tiffin University in Ohio was the Saints’ leading rusher this year and he is going to be missed.  The Saints hope that Pierre Thomas & Reggie Bush will step up for the playoffs as this is a huge blow to the running game as Ivory was outstanding for them this year.

The New Orleans Saints have re-signed 27-year old RB DeShawn Wynn.  Wynn played in 1 game earlier this year for the Saints but he didn’t carry the ball or catch a pass.  Wynn has now played in 17 games in his first four years in the NFL and he has carried the ball 64 times for 332 yards (5.2 ypc) with 5 TD carries.  Wynn has also caught 14 passes for 122 yards (8.7 avg) so far in his NFL career.  With Chris Ivory a tad gimpy, I like this signing for the Saints as Wynn has always played well when given the chance.

The Saints didn’t look motivated yesterday and the Bucs took it to them.  Drew Brees completed 22 of 38 passes for 196 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 INT.  Brees also lost a fumble in this game.  Chase Daniel finished this game up by completing 2 of 3 passes for 16 yards.  Reggie Bush led the way for the Saints on the ground with 70 yards rushing on 9 carries (7.8 ypc) and he also caught 5 passes for 55 yards (11.0 avg).  Chris Ivory pitched in with 33 yards rushing on 7 carries (4.7 ypc) yesterday.  WRs Adrian Arrington (7 rec, 79 yards), Lance Moore (6 rec, 53 yards) and TE Jimmy Graham (2 rec, 15 yards, TD) led the way in the passing game for the Saints yesterday.  The Saints finished up with 106 yards rushing on 22 carries (4.8 ypc) and they also completed 24 of 41 passes for 199 yards.

The defense was solid against the run but Bucs’ QB Josh Freeman shredded the secondary all day long!  LB Scott Shanle (10 tackles, 2 passes defensed) and CB Tracy Porter (7 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and 1 pass defensed) led the way for the Saints on D in this game.  DE Jeff Charleston (fumble recovery) and LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar (fumble recovery) also made huge plays in this game for the Saints on D.  The Buccaneers finished up with 84 yards rushing on 24 carries (3.5 ypc) and they also completed 21 of 27 passes for 233 yards.  The Saints finish the regular season with a 11-5 record which had them in 2nd place in the NFC South.  They will travel to Seattle this weekend for the first round of the playoffs.