The New Orleans Saints (10-5) clinched the NFC South division and earned a first round bye in the playoffs with their 30-7 win against the struggling New York Giants and the loss by the Cowboys to the streaking Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night.
"This is the first time I've been in this position," first year head coach Sean Payton said. "Not just as a head coach, but period."
The city of New Orleans had high hopes at the beginning of the season when the team drafted the explosive Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft. Every game sold out and the lines for Saints playoff tickets were extremely long.
The team gambled and won when they took a chance in the off season with the acquisition of star quarterback Drew Brees. Brees rebounded big time from his shoulder surgery by passing for league leading 4,372 yards, 26 touchdowns and a 96.1 Quarterback Rating.
"We're looking forward to having that home-field advantage," Payton said. "They've made a difference before, they can make it again."
The Saints opened as a –3 point favorite before the Eagles beat the Cowboys and are currently +3 underdog when they play the Carolina Panthers in the final game of the season at the Superdome on New Years Eve 2006 at 1:00 PM. The movement in the line happened once odds makers realized New Orleans would be sitting their starters in an effort to avoid injuries.
The Saints opened as a –3 point favorite before the Eagles beat the Cowboys and are currently +3 underdog when they play the Carolina Panthers in the final game of the season at the Superdome on New Years Eve 2006 at 1:00 PM. The movement in the line happened once odds makers realized New Orleans would be sitting their starters in an effort to avoid injuries.
Bodog.com has posted betting odds to win the 2007 NFC Championship:
Atlanta Falcons: 150/1
Carolina Panthers: 35/1
Chicago Bears: 11/10
Dallas Cowboys: 6/1
Green Bay Packers: 30/1
New Orleans Saints: 2/1
New York Giants: 25/1
Philadelphia Eagles: 5/1
Seattle Seahawks: 7/1
