11:40 LRN Sportscast

The Saints will need help if they want to get into the playoffs. According to the New York Times’ playoff simulator, New Orleans only has a 12-percent of making the postseason. They can be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss on Sunday against Tampa Bay. Coach Dennis Allen says his team’s mindset hasn’t changed…
Cut 16 (16) “…that’s the message.”
The Saints have lost four of their last six. The four defeats were by eight points or less.

Tulane’s season ended yesterday with a 41-20 loss to Virginia Tech in the Military Bowl. The Green Wave finish with an 11-and-3 record and that’s probably not good enough for them to finish ranked for a second consecutive season.

LSU is in Tampa getting ready to play Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl on New Year’s Day. But multiple media outlets are reporting freshman offensive tackle Lance Heard is not there. Heard appeared in all 12 games this year and made one start. Coach Brian Kelly has said other than quarterback Jayden Daniels, everyone else who was available for the final regular season game, is also available for the bowl game.

Former Saints right guard Jahri Evans is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of fame. Evans was on the Saints Super Bowl team and he also played in four Pro Bowls. Former John Ehret Star Reggie Wayne is a also a finalist for a fifth consecutive time. Wayne is also a Super Bowl champion and is the Colts all-time leader in games played as he played for 14 seasons in Indianapolis.

The Pelicans host the Utah Jazz tonight. New Orleans 17-14 and they’ve lost two in a row. The Jazz are 13 and 18, but they’ve won three in a row. Tip off from the Smoothie King Center is at 7 PM.