Falcons and Saints Battle With Playoff Lives on Line

Falcons and Saints Still in NFC South Title Hunt as Well

Sunday when the Falcons and the Saints meet in one of the most underrated rivalries in the NFL. They battle at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Kickoff is set for 1 pm. EST and FOX Sports will have the telecast. The NFL Playoffs start today for these two teams.

A victory by either team will not clinch the NFC South title.  A loss would be devastating to either team’s prospects of winning the division. it would also end the possibility to host at least one playoff game. The Carolina Panthers have a lot to say about what goes on as well. They are right in the middle of this 3-way tango.

Oddsmakers opened the Saints as -5-point favorites versus the Falcons, while the game’s total opened at 52. The line has held steady most of the week.

The Saints have missed the playoffs the last three years by going 7-9 in each of those seasons. They have not played a game of this significance since facing Seattle in the first round of the 2013 playoffs.

If the Saints win and Carolina loses at home to Tampa Bay, New Orleans would clinch the NFC South by virtue of its sweep of the Panthers this season.

Second Game in Three Weeks for Teams

The Thursday night game in Atlanta 16 days ago had a little bit of everything for the Saints. Ten players left the field with injuries at some point. Rookie running back Alvin Kamara sustained a concussion on the first series on a helmet-to-helmet tackle by linebacker Deion Jones.

The Saints’ defense had pressure all night. They forced Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan into three turnovers. Without Kamara keeping the chains moving, the Saints offense was stuck in running in mud most of the time.

Saints coach Sean Payton was caught giving the choke sign late in the game to Atlanta running back Devonta Freeman. He was fined by the NFL earlier this week for entering the field in the final 70 seconds and complaining to the officials.

The Saints converted only 3 of 10 third downs in the last meeting. New Orleans normally potent running game was held to 50 yards on 15 attempts.

The Saints had six players named to the Pro Bowl this week. They were Brees, Mark Ingram, Kamara, receiver Michael Thomas defensive end Cam Jordan, and rookie cornerback Marshon Lattimore. That is the most since they had seven make it in 2009, their Super Bowl season.

The Falcons, who won five of their last six games. They have rebounded from a 4-4 start. They had two players selected to the Pro Bowl. Wide receiver Julio Jones and center Alex Mack.

Jones did not practice Wednesday because of ankle and thumb injuries. He is expected to play. Running back Tevin Coleman returned to practice after missing Monday night’s 24-21 victory over Tampa Bay. He had been in concussion protocol. He sustained it against the Saints on Dec. 7.

Here is the NFC Playoff Picture Via CBS Sports.

NFC
Seed	Team	Division	Record
1	(z) Philadelphia	East	12-2-0
2	(y) Minnesota	North	12-3-0
3	Los Angeles	West	10-4-0
4	New Orleans	South	10-4-0
5	Carolina	South	10-4-0
6	Atlanta	South	9-5-0
Still Alive
Seed	Team	Division	Record
7	Detroit	North	8-6-0
8	Seattle	West	8-6-0
9	Dallas	East	8-6-0
Eliminated
Seed	Team	Division	Record
10	Green Bay	North	7-8-0
11	Washington	East	6-8-0
12	Arizona	West	6-8-0
13	Tampa Bay	South	4-10-0
14	San Francisco	West	4-10-0
15	Chicago	North	4-10-0
16	N.Y. Giants	East	2-12-0

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Philadelphia can clinch home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with:
1.) PHI win

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Minnesota can clinch a first-round bye with:
1.) CAR loss or tie

LOS ANGELES RAMS

Los Angeles can clinch the NFC West division title with:
1.) LAR win or tie OR
2.) SEA loss or tie

Los Angeles can clinch a playoff berth with:
1.) DET loss or tie + CAR loss + ATL loss

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

New Orleans can clinch the NFC South division title with:
1.) NO win + CAR loss

New Orleans can clinch a playoff berth with:
1.) NO win or tie OR
2.) DAL-SEA tie

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Carolina can clinch a playoff berth with:
1.) CAR win or tie OR
2.) DAL-SEA tie

ATLANTA FALCONS

Atlanta can clinch a playoff berth with:
1.) ATL win OR
2.) ATL tie + DAL-SEA tie + DET loss or tie

Recent Form

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Atlanta Falcons

New Orleans Saints

Next up:
Atlanta home to Carolina Sunday, December 31
New Orleans at Tampa Bay Sunday, December 31

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