Saints seek NFC’s top seed; Steelers eye division title

NEW ORLEANS — While Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan stressed that New Orle- ans doesn’t fear going on the road in the playoffs, he readily acknowledged the advantages of staying in the Superdome.

New Orleans (12-2) can lock up the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs with a victory over visiting Pittsburgh (8-51) today.

“That would be huge,” said Jordan, referencing what he calls “dome-field advantage.”

The Saints did fine on the road this season, going 7-1. They won’t finish any better in the Superdome, where they are 5-1 with two regu- lar-season home games left. But New Orleans’ offense generally has been better at home, where Drew Brees’ pre-snap instructions — and center Max Unger’s line calls — are easier for teammates to hear. The Saints have averaged about 38 points at home, but their road scor- ing average dipped about nine points below that after three straight road games in which they were held to 28 or fewer in each game and to 12 or fewer points twice.

“It’s been almost a month since we’ve been at the dome, so it’ll be nice to be back in there,” Brees said. “Obviously we’ve got a lot going for us right now — a lot at stake.”

In reality, the Saints don’t have that much riding on today’s game — certainly not as much as the Steelers, who could still win the AFC North but haven’t clinched a play- Saints are 1-7 in playoff games off berth yet. New Orleans away from the Superdome. already has won a second Since coach Sean Payton straight NFC South crown and Brees arrived in 2006, and will finish as a top seed the Saints have not lost any even if it splits its next two of their five home playoff games. But from the stand- games. The one season they point of offensive produc- won the Super Bowl, they tion, playoff history and prowere the NFC’s No. 1 seed. moting optimal health, the In fact, no Super Bowl parSaints know they’d be best ticipant has won a single road served by beating Pittsburgh. playoff game since the 2012

In franchise history, the Baltimore Ravens.