Saints season ends in Seattle 23-15

The New Orleans Saints ended their season in Seattle with an NFC Divisional playoff loss to the Seahawks in Seattle 23-15 with a loss that will be debated for much of the off season by Saints fans.
Drew Brees threw for over 300 yards with all but 35 of those in the second half with Marques Colston grabbed 11 passes for 144 yards,although he'll be remembered for a pass more than any of the catches....

Game Notes

1) When people say the home field advantage does not matter-refer them to this game.
The difference in the Saints offense in a dome compared to in the damp conditions of Seattle makes the difference in these two teams.
Seattle was a deserving winner,but different track might have made a different winner.

2) Normally,I think Sean Payton is among the best play callers in the game,but I did wonder on a few in this game.
Everyone has a bad game and this one might have been Payton's.

3) For example,asking Shayne Graham to attempt two field goals over forty yards into a driving wind was asking too much of a kicker not known for a power leg.
I think both kicks (and I know the first one for sure) would have been good in better conditions,but considering that they weren't and Graham is not known as a long range booter-I might have gone a different way.

4) Key play in the game was the Mark Ingram fumble in early second period play.
Ingram's fumble handed Seattle great field position and they quickly scored their only touchdown until late in the game.
Take that fumble off the board and the two first period field goals make this anyone's game.

5) Khiry Robinson played well and might have put himself in position to be the feature back next season.
John Lynch said that Bill Parcells compared Robinson to Curtis Martin.
I can see those comparisons due to running style,but I think he would have a long way to go to be a Curtis Martin.

6) The play that everyone is talking about the play that ended the game. Drew Bress gunned the ball to Marques Colston by the sideline.
Instead of stepping out of bounds and giving the Saints one shot at the end zone,Colston threw the ball forward for a penalty and since the Saints were out of timeouts,the ten second runoff rule took affect and ended the game.
Yes,it was a wacky decision by Colston,but watching the replay,had Colston put the throw on the money for a backward lateral-it might have worked.
The player that caught looked pretty open to me and it would have at least been interesting to see.

7) No blame on Rob Ryan's defense.
They were on the field most of the day and allowed just two scores-one on a short field and the other late in the game when they were worn out.
Give them credit for keeping the Saints in the game not blame.

8) Jimmy Graham-one catch on the next to last play of the game.Credit to Seattle for keeping the ball out of the hands of the Saints top playmaker,but the Saints did not really try to get the ball to Graham a lot.Six targets is not a ton for Graham..

9) I know the weather is going to get some blame for the offenses struggles and Drew Brees did not relish the first half conditions,but the Saints let the weather and the environment change what they do-go downfield and make things happen.
I'm all for establishing the running game,but seldom in the first half did the Saints try to go downfield.
Sometimes,you have to be what you are-even if things are going to dictate problems with that.

10) The things that will need to improve for New Orleans football in the off season is finding a way to win on the road in order to play at home.
Put the heartbreaking loss at New England aside,two road losses to mediocre teams in the Jets and Rams and the road loss in the rain at Carolina shows the difference in the team on the road.
Win one of the aforementioned games-Just one and the Saints are hosting the 49ers today instead of being in Seattle yesterday.
That is what the top need for the franchise will be-learning to win the road games that you should win..