SAINTS (7-8) VS. FALCONS (10-5)
SUNDAY, 4:25 P.M. ET, GEORGIA DOME, ATLANTA uTV: FOX, DIRECTV 711
Announcers: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Laura Okmin.
About the Saints: Despite missing the playoffs for the third consecutive year and the fourth time in the last five seasons, New Orleans has plenty of incentive to play well in the regular-season finale. The records seem to matter little when these two longtime divisional rivals play. With a victory, the Saints can prevent Atlanta’s bid to earn the No. 2 seed in the NFC and the first-round bye that goes with it. New Orleans will be trying to avenge a 4532 loss to Atlanta on Monday Night Football in Week 3 and avoid being swept by the Falcons in the season series for the second time in three years. A win would even the Saints’ record at 8-8, which would be their best finish since 2013 (11-5).
About the Falcons: Atlanta is pinching itself after first dominating the Carolina Panthers on the road, then winning the NFC South when New Orleans beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and finally moving into the driver’s seat for the No. 2 seed when the Arizona Cardinals upset the Seattle Seahawks with a last-second field goal. “There is more out there for us,” second-year coach said after the Falcons won their first division title since 2012. WR agreed. “It’s just another step,” said Jones, who’s having another Pro Bowl season with 76 catches for 1,313 yards and five TDs. “We’re definitely not finished.” Based on wire-to-wire wins the last three weeks against Carolina (33-16), the San Francisco 40ers (41-13) and Los Angeles Rams (42-14), the Falcons and their MVP candidate, QB appear to be playoff-ready. Peat/RT Zach Strief vs. Falcons SLB Vic Beasley Jr. Beasley will try to add to his team-high 141⁄ sacks coming off the edge against the Saints’ two starting tackles. Look for Beasley to run into extra interference from the tight ends and running backs in an effort to disrupt QB
He needs 60 rushing yards against Atlanta to reach 1,000 for the first time in his
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
career. He reportedly would make a $100,000 bonus if he reaches that mark. He would become only the second Saints running back to reach it under coach
rushed for 1,057 yards in 2006, Payton’s first season in New Orleans. Ingram came close in 2014, finishing with 964 yards.
Players who have caught touchdown passes from Ryan this season, an NFL single-season record by a quarterback. Ryan set the mark Saturday when tight ends and
each caught a scoring pass against Carolina. Ryan has thrown 34 TD passes this season, a franchise record.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Ryan vs. Brees: The defense that best slows Brees and Ryan and their prolific offensive units likely will emerge victorious, a task easier said than done. Both are in the top five league-wide in TD passes, passing yards and QB rating. Each team’s defensive unit will be hard-pressed to get off the field.
The 1-2 punch of big-play Falcons RBs and
combined for 296 yards from scrimmage and scored four TDs in the first meeting between the teams. That provides a snapshot of their season through 15 games — 2,246 yards from scrimmage and 22 TDs.
3. Good hands people: Each team is blessed with several game-changing receivers plus complementary pass catchers. Two X factors are the fullbacks, of New Orleans and of Atlanta. Brian Allee-Walsh