New Orleans facing do or die versus Giants

By By Richard Dark/EMG staff writer
December 14, 2003
METAIRIE, La. Whether or not one finds it amusing or simply a lost cause, the New Orleans Saints are certain of one thing: They aren't dead yet. To a man, they still believe.
With three games remaining, the Saints (6-7) trail three other teams in the race for the final two wildcard spots. When they kick off tonight at 7:30 pm against the visiting New York Giants (4-9) in an ESPN-televised contest, they will know a bit more about where they stand.
One thing is however crystal clear: The margin for error is zero. And the Saints know that.
The former Mississippi Valley State standout recounted how on last season's final weekend, the team he was with at the time, the Atlanta Falcons, backed in to the playoffs, at 9-7. They won their first round game before bowing out the next week.
How did they pull off the feat? The Falcons had help from none other than his current team, the Saints, who were finishing up their December swoon, by losing their third consecutive game. Tonight, to keep what looks to be the longest of shots alive, this team will have to pull out of its yuletide funk by beating another that has seemingly packed it in long ago.
The Giants have lost their last five and have looked bad doing so. Consequently, Giants coach Jim Fassel, two years removed from the Super Bowl, is on the proverbial hot seat.
Saints QB Aaron Brooks is beginning to feel a measure of that pressure himself right here in the Crescent City. After a barrage of boos rained on him because of his four fumbles in last week's loss to Tampa, Saints coach Jim Haslett said this week, he will not hesitate to pull Brooks in favor of backup Todd Bouman if the turnovers and poor play continue.
But just like the overall mindset of this struggling squad, he believes, both in his team's chances and his own abilities.
If the Saints are to take advantage of this extremely banged-up New York team, they'll have to do so without some players of their own.
RG LeCharles Bentley (ACL) was placed on the IR and is out for the rest of the season. They will also be without DE Willie Whitehead (knee), RB Fred McAfee (ankle), WR Donte Stallworth (ankle) and LB Cie Grant (calf). LG Kendyl Jacox could make his return after a four-game absence with a knee injury.