the Saints will have to contend with one of the NFLs top quarterbacks in

METAIRIE, La. - Saints coach Sean Payton wants his players to be mindful of memorable turnarounds in sports history.If anything, it could make New Orleans immediate future look a little less bleak on the heels of a three-game losing streak.There is value in referencing the slumps of championship teams past, Payton said after Wednesdays practice. Ive made some analogies already with these guys.Certainly, New Orleans prospects for a deep playoff run dont look good right now, even though their 4-7 record is good enough for a first-place tie with Atlanta atop the NFC South.Yet Paytons own experience offers proof of how little a stretch of impressive victories or disheartening losses during the regular season can mean once the playoffs start.In 2011, for example, Payton coached the Saints to a 49-24 rout of the New York Giants on the Monday night after Thanksgiving. For New Orleans, the victory was part of a nine-game winning streak that merely set the stage for a bitter playoff disappointment at San Francisco. For New York, the loss was part of a four-game skid that is now widely remembered as a character-building struggle on the way to Super Bowl glory.In 2009, Payton coached the first team in NFL history to win a Super Bowl after ending the regular season with three straight losses.For the Saints head coach, looking at those seasons or even the way the 2004 Boston Red Sox overcame a 3-0 American League Championship Series deficit against the New York Yankees can be instructive.Youre constantly, as a teacher, trying to do that, Payton said. You look at some parallels, some comparisons.Payton also stressed, however, that for such comparisons to be relevant to the 2014 Saints, We need to find a way to improve. Obviously were not playing well enough right now.On the field, the Saints primary concerns are on defence. In its past two losses, New Orleans has allowed opposing offences to each convert nine of 13 third-down opportunities and to run the ball successfully — with Cincinnati rushing for 186 yards and Baltimore for 215. Those two clock-consuming trends have limited possessions for Drew Brees and the Saints second-ranked offence.This Sunday, New Orleans heads to Pittsburgh (7-4), where the Saints will have to contend with one of the NFLs top quarterbacks in Ben Roethlisberger.Strong safety Kenny Vaccaro said the Saints defence, which ranked fourth last season, remains optimistic it can address its deficiencies before its too late.The majority of the guys who were here last year when we (played better) are here now and at the same time, were not going to go in the tank, Vaccaro said. Were being positive. Weve had our games when weve been dominant. Thats our potential. ... Weve been there before.Vaccaro, who is active on social media and reads about every article he can find about his team, said he is aware that many fans see the entire NFC South as a joke, wont take the winner of that division seriously and dont think any of them deserve a chance at the playoffs — never mind hosting a first-round game.It doesnt affect me at all, Vaccaro said, adding that, in his experience, the talent gap between teams at the top and bottom of the standings is rather small. This is the NFL. These are the best players in the world at this game. Everybodys good.By that logic, the Saints might have some surprises in store for the rest of the NFL this season.Far-fetched as that may seem in light of recent results, veteran leaders such as Brees see it differently.Success is the worst teacher; failure is the best teacher, Brees said. Its unfortunate that we have to go through this, but I think everybody buys into that. I think everybody believes that, that were being sharpened by that.We are about to hit the tipping point, Brees added. I believe that. It is only a matter of time. We are going to catch some breaks. We are going to get some wins and hopefully those wins will come in bunches — but we have to win the first one first.___Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL Sam Mills Jersey . Directly ahead was open field, the end zone and the Seattle Seahawks place in the NFC championship game. Cheap Panthers Jerseys Authentic .Y. -- Mark Steenhuis scored four goals and added two assists to lead the Buffalo Bandits over the Toronto Rock 12-10 in National Lacrosse League action on Saturday. http://www.cheapcarolinapanthersjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-will-grier-jersey . About seven hours before facing Washington in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second round series, team officials said the oft-injured Bynum would miss the rest of the playoffs and would not even be with the team for the rest of the post-season. Christian Miller Jersey . -- Victor Bernardez tied the game with his second goal in the 95th minute and the San Jose Earthquakes drew 3-3 with Real Salt Lake on Saturday night. Cheap Panthers Jerseys . New York Red Bulls. TSN primes Vancouver fans for the start of the 2014 season with MLS on TSN: Season Preview Special airing tonight at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt on TSN2 (encore Friday at 3:30pm et/12:30pm pt on TSN2).SAINT JOHN, N.B. -- Rookie Aaron Kerr scored his first Quebec Major Junior Hockey League goal, and the Acadie-Bathurst Titan earned a 1-0 victory Tuesday over the Saint John Sea Dogs. The win moved the Titan (7-11-2) two points ahead of the last-place Sea Dogs (6-12-2) in the QMJHLs Maritime Division. Kerrs goal with assists from Allexandros Soumakis and Jacob Brennan, came at 15:01 of the first period with Alexander McQuaid off for hooking.dddddddddddd. Brendan Jacob stopped 29 shots for his first shutout of the season. Sebastien Auger made 34 saves for Saint John. Acadie-Bathurst was 1 for 6 on the power play, and the Sea Dogs were 0 for 7. 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