How big a threat are the Saints?

From 0-4 to 4-0, the New Orleans Saints -- and back-from-the-cold coach Sean Payton -- have returned to elite status. Or have they? It certainly seemed that way when they dispatched the also-previously-undefeated Miami Dolphins 38-17 on "Monday Night Football." Can Drew Brees and Co. continue the success and crash the Broncos' party at the top?

  • Where do the Saints rank among the NFL's best teams?

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      65%
    •  
      35%

    Discuss (Total votes: 5,403)

  • How surprised are you about the Saints' 4-0 start after beginning 0-4 a season ago?

    •  
      15%
    •  
      42%
    •  
      43%

    Discuss (Total votes: 5,297)

  • To what do you attribute the Saints' turnaround this season?

    •  
      6%
    •  
      22%
    •  
      69%
    •  
      3%

    Discuss (Total votes: 4,974)

  • If Peyton Manning is the league's best QB, who is No. 2?

    •  
      30%
    •  
      41%
    •  
      21%
    •  
      8%

    Discuss (Total votes: 12,370)

  • How far will the Saints go this season?

    •  
      2%
    •  
      6%
    •  
      32%
    •  
      41%
    •  
      19%

    Discuss (Total votes: 5,027)

  • Will the Saints reach another Super Bowl with Drew Brees and Sean Payton?

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      75%
    •  
      25%

    Discuss (Total votes: 5,009)

Comment »

How will MLB playoffs play out?

It took an extra day, but the 10 postseason teams are in order, as the Tampa Bay Rays -- 5-2 winners over the Texas Rangers in Monday's play-in game -- earned a spot in the American League wild-card game. There's not much waiting for things to get going; the Pittsburgh Pirates host the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday in the National League wild-card matchup. How will the postseason play out?

  • Which team will win the NL wild-card game at Pittsburgh?

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      75%
    •  
      25%

    Discuss (Total votes: 144,136)

  • Which team will win the AL wild-card game at Cleveland?

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      59%
    •  
      41%

    Discuss (Total votes: 28,725)

  • Which team will win the Tigers-Athletics series?

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      55%
    •  
      45%

    Discuss (Total votes: 20,429)

  • Which team will win the Dodgers-Braves series?

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      56%
    •  
      44%

    Discuss (Total votes: 19,489)

  • Which team will win the series between the Cardinals and Pirates/Reds?

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      52%
    •  
      40%
    •  
      8%

    Discuss (Total votes: 18,929)

  • Which team will win the series between the Red Sox and the Indians/Rays?

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      65%
    •  
      23%
    •  
      12%

    Discuss (Total votes: 7,545)

  • Which already-set series are you more looking forward to?

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      44%
    •  
      56%

    Discuss (Total votes: 18,073)

  • Which NLDS series do you want more to see?

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      79%
    •  
      21%

    Discuss (Total votes: 41,694)

  • Which ALDS series do you want more to see?

    •  
      64%
    •  
      36%

    Discuss (Total votes: 6,840)

  • Which team will win the American League pennant?

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      17%
    •  
      41%
    •  
      25%
    •  
      17%

    Discuss (Total votes: 37,009)

  • Which team will win the National League pennant?

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      20%
    •  
      24%
    •  
      32%
    •  
      19%
    •  
      5%

    Discuss (Total votes: 37,485)

  • Which team will win the World Series?

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      14%
    •  
      13%
    •  
      19%
    •  
      22%
    •  
      32%

    Discuss (Total votes: 124,363)

Comment »

One team needed 163 games to earn its spot, but no matter -- the field is set for the 2013 MLB playoffs. Now, these tournaments tend to be unpredictable, but that doesn't mean we can't asses which teams are best set up for postseason success. So who ya got? Click on the logos below to make your picks!

Rank: Major League Baseball's top 5 teams

Athletics

Athletics

Record: 96-66

Braves

Braves

Record: 96-66

Cardinals

Cardinals

Record: 97-65

Dodgers

Dodgers

Record: 92-70

Indians

Indians

Record: 92-70

Pirates

Pirates

Record: 94-68

Rays

Rays

Record: 91-71

Reds

Reds

Record: 90-72

Red Sox

Red Sox

Record: 97-65

Tigers

Tigers

Record: 93-69

Your Rankings

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Joe Cavaretta/Sun Sentinel/Getty Images

LeBron James to keep quiet on 2014

Take a good listen, LeBron James prospectors. This might be the last you hear from the King about his impending (possible) free agency. At Miami Heat media day Monday, the four-time MVP and two-time defending NBA champion said he no longer will talk about next summer, when he can opt out of his six-year deal. In other words, prepare for a near-repeat of the summer of 2010, when James' dithering led to his infamous -- and famous, in South Florida -- Decision. Should Heat fans be nervous?

LeBron James says he won't talk anymore about his potential free agency in 2014. How should he handle the situation?

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    89%
  •  
    11%

Discuss (Total votes: 32,297)

  • Will LeBron James (possible free agent after the 2013-14 season) re-sign with the Heat?

    •  
      57%
    •  
      43%

    Discuss (Total votes: 32,365)

  • Would you fault LeBron James if he signed with a team other than the Heat after the 2014 season?

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      24%
    •  
      76%

    Discuss (Total votes: 6,816)

  • Which team other than the Heat would be the best fit for LeBron James?

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      53%
    •  
      17%
    •  
      30%

    Discuss (Total votes: 6,782)

  • If you were a Cavaliers fan, would you want LeBron James to come back to Cleveland?

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      79%
    •  
      21%

    Discuss (Total votes: 6,768)

  • What do you want to see LeBron James do?

    •  
      40%
    •  
      60%

    Discuss (Total votes: 46,576)

  • Will the Heat win a third straight championship this season?

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      57%
    •  
      43%

    Discuss (Total votes: 6,535)

Comment »

Patrick KaneJonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesAre Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks the NHL's best team?

Who's No. 1 in Pierre LeBrun's preseason NHL Power Rankings? It's the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks, naturally, followed by the runner-up Boston Bruins, a trio of semi-surprises -- the St. Louis Blues, Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks -- then the reputed Pittsburgh Penguins. Do you agree? Click on the logos below to set your picks!

NHL Power Rankings

Avalanche

Avalanche

Colorado Avalanche
2012: 16-25-7, 39 points

Blackhawks

Blackhawks

Chicago Blackhawks
36-7-5, 77 points

Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets

Columbus Blue Jackets
24-17-7, 55 points

Blues

Blues

St. Louis Blues
29-17-2, 60 points

Bruins

Bruins

Boston Bruins
28-14-6, 62 points

Canadiens

Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens
29-14-5, 63 points

Canucks

Canucks

Vancouver Canucks
26-15-7, 59 points

Capitals

Capitals

Washington Capitals
27-18-3, 57 points

Coyotes

Coyotes

Phoenix Coyotes
21-18-9, 51 points

Devils

Devils

New Jersey Devils
19-19-10, 48 points

Ducks

Ducks

Anaheim Ducks
30-12-6, 66 points

Flames

Flames

Calgary Flames
19-25-4, 42 points

Flyers

Flyers

Philadelphia Flyers
23-22-3, 49 points

Hurricanes

Hurricanes

Carolina Hurricanes
19-25-4, 42 points

Islanders

Islanders

New York Islanders
24-17-7, 55 points

Jets

Jets

Winnipeg Jets
24-21-3, 51 points

Kings

Kings

Los Angeles Kings
27-16-5 59 points

Lightning

Lightning

Tampa Bay Lightning
18-26-4, 40 points

Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs
26-17-5, 57 points

Oilers

Oilers

Edmonton Oilers
19-22-7, 45 points

Panthers

Panthers

Florida Panthers
15-27-6, 36 points

Penguins

Penguins

Pittsburgh Penguins
36-12-0, 72 points

Predators

Predators

Nashville Predators
16-23-9, 41 points

Rangers

Rangers

New York Rangers
26-18-4, 56 points

Red Wings

Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings
24-16-8, 56 points

Sabres

Sabres

Buffalo Sabres
21-21-6, 48 points

Senators

Senators

Ottawa Senators
25-17-6, 56 points

Sharks

Sharks

San Jose Sharks
25-16-7, 57 points

Stars

Stars

Dallas Stars
22-22-4, 48 points

Wild

Wild

Minnesota Wild
26-19-3, 55 points

Your Rankings

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Comment »

Peyton Manning is on pace for 64 touchdowns, which is not a typographical error but really sounds like it should be. He's leading the Broncos to a pace that could lead to an awful lot of shattered records and shows no signs of slowing down. The list of QBs who've thrown for 40 or more in a season is short, and Manning could blow them all away. Can you name every quarterback on that list?

More games from ESPN Arcade »

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AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

NFL Week 4: Dolphins at Saints

The Dolphins haven't started a season 4-0 since 1995, a season in which they finished 9-7 and lost in the wild-card round of the playoffs. The Saints haven't reached that mark since their 2009 Super Bowl season. Which team will walk away from their Week 4 matchup still boasting an undefeated record? Will the Dolphins make their first playoff appearance in five seasons?

Which team will win the Dolphins-Saints game in New Orleans? (Monday, 8:30 p.m ET, ESPN)

  •  
    28%
  •  
    72%

Discuss (Total votes: 18,270)

  • Will the Dolphins make the playoffs?

    •  
      69%
    •  
      31%

    Discuss (Total votes: 5,298)

  • Is Ryan Tannehill a franchise quarterback?

    •  
      62%
    •  
      38%

    Discuss (Total votes: 5,246)

  • How much will the Dolphins miss DE Cameron Wake if he is unable to play against the Saints?

    •  
      75%
    •  
      25%

    Discuss (Total votes: 4,683)

  • How will the 3-0 Saints fare over the next three games (vs. Miami, at Chicago, at New England)?

    •  
      12%
    •  
      58%
    •  
      27%
    •  
      3%

    Discuss (Total votes: 4,877)

  • Will Sean Payton and Drew Brees ever win another Super Bowl together?

    •  
      54%
    •  
      46%

    Discuss (Total votes: 4,743)

  • What do you make of the Saints being No. 3 in the latest ESPN.com NFL Power Rankings?

    •  
      42%
    •  
      53%
    •  
      5%

    Discuss (Total votes: 4,680)

Comment »

Every man for himself? Not if Giants DE Justin Tuck can help it, as he promised a knuckle sandwich to anyone turning on coach Tom Coughlin despite the team's 0-4 start. But Tuck's threat is the exception that proves the rule: Frustration sets in when the losses mount and it's easier to blame one guy than it is to replace an entire NFL roster. Where will patience run out first?


Abandon ship?

Greg Schiano's Bucs aren't the only 0-4 team in the NFL. But his spat with benched QB Josh Freeman isn't helping matters.

SportsNation

For which of the these NFL coaches is the hot seat the hottest?

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    16%
  •  
    21%
  •  
    44%
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    16%
  •  
    3%

Discuss (Total votes: 3,485)


Tougher than the rest?

Tom Coughlin has weathered storms before. But the Giants haven't started 0-4 since 1987.

SportsNation

Will Tom Coughlin be coaching the Giants after this season?

  •  
    42%
  •  
    58%

Discuss (Total votes: 41,164)


Test of mettle

The Steelers are famous for not firing coaches. But they haven't been 0-4 since 1968. Will the franchise remain patient with Mike Tomlin?

SportsNation

Should Steelers coach Mike Tomlin be on the hot seat for Pittsburgh's 0-4 start?

  •  
    47%
  •  
    53%

Discuss (Total votes: 3,253)


Flight or fight

Remember the Eagles' dominant season-opening win? That was three losses ago, and in Philly the hot seat never truly cools down. Is it too soon for Chip Kelly to be taking heat?

SportsNation

Will Eagles coach Chip Kelly be on the hot seat at the end of the season?

  •  
    31%
  •  
    69%

Discuss (Total votes: 3,219)

Comment »

Should the Cubs have fired Sveum?

Dale Sveum is out as Cubs manager after a 127-197 record over the past two seasons. Sveum wasn't given much to work with in the first place, but the team's re-building process never really got started during his tenure, and prospects like Starlin Castro seemed to have their development stall. Joe Girardi's name has been tossed around as a potential replacement, but will he leave the Yankees for Chicago?

Should the Cubs have fired Dale Sveum?

  •  
    66%
  •  
    34%

Discuss (Total votes: 39,890)

  • Who do you blame the most for the Cubs' struggles over the past two seasons?

    •  
      9%
    •  
      45%
    •  
      46%

    Discuss (Total votes: 4,056)

  • When will the Cubs next make the playoffs?

    •  
      9%
    •  
      39%
    •  
      52%

    Discuss (Total votes: 4,052)

  • Will Dale Sveum ever manage again in MLB?

    •  
      52%
    •  
      48%

    Discuss (Total votes: 3,952)

  • Which team will Joe Girardi manage next season?

    •  
      35%
    •  
      53%
    •  
      12%

    Discuss (Total votes: 8,172)

Comment »

video

The past two days haven't been good for struggling college football coaches, as Lane Kiffin (USC) and Paul Pasqualoni (UConn) were shown the door. Now, a Texas legend wants the Longhorns to follow suit. Earl Campbell said that he thinks it's time for Texas to fire Mack Brown, despite the Longhorns'  31-21 win over Kansas State on Saturday. Brown is under contract until 2020, but Campbell believes Brown (age 62) is already ''too old'' to continue to be an effective coach.

Here's a sampling of what readers had to say in our Facebook conversation on the story:

What do you think? Leave your comments below.

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