The New Orleans Saints will make the playoffs next year.

I accept the burden that I have to prove the Saints will make the playoffs next year, but to make this a fair round, then the opponent has to accept the burden that they have to prove that the Saints will not make the playoffs. His answer to my first contention. > Since this trend has repeated for 6 seasons in a row, there is a big chance of it repeating again. In most other divisions, this occurrence never happens so the chances of it happening 6 times in a row means it is a meaningful trend. This is not total proof, but it merely increases the chances of the Saints continuing the trend. Like the Curse of the Madden Cover, we all expect it to happen and it usually happens. The Saints mindset could change, and as shown in the 2006 season, when the Saints are playing for something special that only happens occasionally, the Saints play better. His answer to my second contention. >First off, you agree that the defensive unit is the Saints' largest problems. Do you think that a sane-coach would focus on the defense during the off season? Of course, but that is not enough proof, so I will provide some more: 1. Last year, when their defense was just as bad, they added MLB Jonathan Vilma, CB Randall Gay, DE Bobby McCray, DT Sedrick Ellis and CB Tracy Porter to their starting lineup during the off season. I'm pretty sure Sean Payton will try to do the same thing this year. 2. "On the bright side, the Saints will be entering the off season well under the salary cap, putting them in an enviable position in lure free agents to the Cresent City. Most of the moves will likely be to help shore up a leaky defense that ranked 26th in the NFL in points allowed and 23rd in yards allowed. "- The Sports Network 3. ""In the last four or five weeks, there were some things that were encouraging. In the end, the thing that was probably most concerning were the pass plays thrown up, plays made above our head that we were not able to make. I think that's most frustrating. ""- Sean Payton, Head Coach of the Saints He added that the pass rush needs to improve and that during the off-season they would analyze the positions that need improving and the best fits in free-agency and the draft. My opponent said it himself that the defensive unit was the largest problem. His answer to my 3rd/4th contention. >The reason why I cited reasons for lack of success this season was to show that the Saints could have made the playoffs if chance hadn't been against them. This is to show that the Saints are a playoff team, and that they are totally capable of making the playoffs, unlike teams like the Lions. His answer to my 5th contention. >My logic is different from what my opponent used as a example. First, he cites the average margin of victory/defeat. That is flawed because what if some games the Saints won by a huge amount such as the win against the Packers and the Lions. The Saints have the best offense and a terrible defense and so the score in some games is obviously going to be far apart. I was talking about the number of games the Saints lost that could have been won easily if the Saints work on finishing games in the off season. Second, these teams that have a close average have not said they will work on finishing games during the off season. The Saints have said specifically that they will work with that (quote from Sean Payton) and so they have a better chance of winning those close games. Third, since the statistics my opponent cited were loss and defeat margins, the teams he mentioned could have had a lot of games where they won by a few points but the other team had no chance of coming back in the last minute, so they could not improve that this season.