Why the Saints absolutely have a shot at a Super Bowl run even without a bye

Oh yes they can!

Unquestionably, the New Orleans Saints (13-3) can advance to Super Bowl LIV from where they sit in the NFC playoff seedings. Don’t think for a second they can’t, though NFL history suggests awfully tough sledding for a No. 3 seed.

For instance, since the league expanded to the current 12-team playoff format in 1990:

▪ No No. 3 seed has made the Super Bowl since the Indianapolis Colts in 2006.

▪ The 2003 Carolina Panthers are the only No. 3 seed from the NFC to reach the Super Bowl (XXXVIII).

▪ Only three No. 3 seeds have reached the NFC Championship game.

▪ And finally, no wildcard team has gone to the Super Bowl since the 2012 Baltimore Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers in XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome (the infamous power outage game).

And while history seems stacked against the Black and Gold to win three games in order to qualify for Super Bowl LIV on Feb. 2 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL., I firmly believe they are built for just this assignment.

Quarterback Drew Brees is playing at an elite level as he nears his 41st birthday on Jan. 15.

Running back Alvin Kamara and tight end Jared Cook have rounded into shape and, along with wide receiver Michael Thomas, give the Saints a formidable 1-2-3 scoring punch.

All three phases are playing complementary football for Coach Sean Payton, a large reason why they have posted a stellar 14-2 road record the past two seasons.

However, the first order of business is getting past the sixth-seeded Minnesota Vikings (10-6) at 12:05 p.m. Sunday at the Superdome and avenging that inexplicable last second divisional-round loss now known as the Minneapolis Miracle.

No sense dredging up those cruel game details two years later. The mere mention of “MM’‘ probably makes Saints fans tearful, nauseous and extremely angry, much like they probably feel when they hear the name of last year’s NFC Championship-game referee Bill “No Call’‘ Vinovich.

On Sunday, I predict the Saints will exorcise that Vikings’ demon in a decisive manner. Chants of “Who Dat’‘ will drown out those woeful cries of “Skol’‘ from disappointed Vikings fans who traveled south.

Assuming the Saints take care of business (they are favored by 7 1/2 points in most sports betting houses), the Super Bowl LIV road gets more treacherous with a divisional-round game Jan. 12 (5:40 p.m., Fox) at the NFL iceberg known as Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI.

Game-time temperatures are expected to dip into the low 20s with a windchill in the teens.

If the Saints are fortunate to get past the Vikings and Packers, they would advance to play for the NFC Championship, probably against the top-seeded 49ers who hold homefield advantage throughout the playoffs and remain the betting favorite to advance to Super Bowl LIV.

Yes, I am counting my money while I’m still at the table. A no-no, according to country singer/songwriter Kenny Rogers in the hit sing-a-long “Gambler.’‘ But, it would not shock me to see the Saints playing host No. 5-seed Seattle on Jan. 19 for the NFC Championship. Stranger things have happened.

Wishful thinking? Perhaps.

Can it happen? Absolutely.

Will it happen? Time will tell. That’s why they play the games.