Here are 5 things to mull over before today's 4:25 p.m. kickoff between the New Orleans Saints (7-8) and the NFC South Champion Atlanta Falcons (10-5) at the Georgia Dome.
1. NFC PLAYOFF PRIMER: Here’s a look at the NFC playoff picture:
NFC
CLINCHED: Dallas – NFC East division title and home-field advantage throughout NFC playoffs
Atlanta – NFC South division title
Seattle – NFC West division title
New York Giants – playoff berth
ATLANTA FALCONS (10-5) (vs. New Orleans (7-8), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET)
Atlanta clinches a first-round bye with:
- ATL win OR
- ATL tie + SEA loss or tie OR
- SEA loss + DET loss or tie OR
- SEA tie + DET loss
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-5-1) (at San Francisco (2-13), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET)
Seattle clinches a first-round bye with:
- SEA win + ATL loss or tie OR
- SEA tie + ATL loss + GB/DET tie
DETROIT LIONS (9-6) (vs. Green Bay (9-6), Sunday night, 8:30 PM ET)
Detroit clinches NFC North division title with:
- DET win
Detroit clinches a first-round bye with:
- DET win + SEA loss or tie + ATL loss
Detroit clinches a playoff berth with:
- DET tie OR
- WAS loss or tie
GREEN BAY PACKERS (9-6) (at Detroit (9-6), Sunday night, 8:30 PM ET)
Green Bay clinches NFC North division title with:
- GB win or tie -- Green Bay clinches a playoff berth with:
- WAS loss OR
- WAS tie + TB win + GB clinches at least a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker over TB
(Note: GB clinches at least a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker over TB if one of the following teams win or tie: SEA, HOU, JAX, PHI. GB has already clinched strength of schedule tiebreaker over TB in this scenario.)
WASHINGTON REDSKINS (8-6-1) (vs. New York Giants (10-5), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET)
Washington clinches a playoff berth with:
- WAS win + GB-DET game does not end in a tie OR
- WAS tie + GB loss + TB loss or tie
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (8-7) (vs. Carolina (6-9), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET)
Tampa Bay clinches a playoff berth with:
- TB win + WAS tie + GB loss + TB clinches strength of victory tiebreaker over GB
(Note: TB clinches strength of victory tiebreaker over GB if all of the following teams win: TEN, IND, DAL and SF)
2. REVIEW OF GAME ONE: The Falcons defeated the Saints 45-32 on Sept. 26, 2016 on Monday Night football. Rookie linebacker Deion Jones sealed the victory with a 90-yard interception return in the fourth quarter.
Running back Devonta Freeman ran for a season-high 152 yards on 14 carries as the Falcons amassed 217 yards rushing. He also led the Falcons with five receptions for 55 yards receiving.
3. 3 KEY MATCHUPS: Here are three key matchups:
Saints RT Zach Strief vs. Falcons LB Vic Beasley: Strief, who's in his 11th season, continues to block at a high level in pass protection. He was listed as the NFL's top right tackle halfway through the season and his play hasn't slipped. "He's playing well," Falcons defensive coordinator Richard Smith said. Beasley has turned into a force in his second season in the league with 14.5 sacks. He uses his speed and a combination of moves to break free either around the edge or up the middle off stunts.
Saints WR Michael Thomas vs. Falcons CB Jalen Collins: Thomas, after a slow start, has played well in the Saints' vaunted passing attack. He leads the team with 82 catches. Thomas also has 891 yards and eight touchdowns. Collins has taken over for injured Pro Bowler Desmond Trufant and has played well in man-to-man coverage. He's also been playing the ball well in the air, dispelling the notion of his lack of instincts for the position. He had his first NFL interception against the Panthers.
Saints LB Nate Stupar vs. Falcons TE Levine Toilolo: The former Falcons reserve linebacker was called "Nasty Nate" for his demeanor on the field. He sets the edge against the run and scrapes off blocks in order to make tackles. He's played 357 defensive snaps (36.1 percent), mostly against the run. Toilolo has been key to getting the running game going and for occasionally slipping down field for a big play.
4. SERIES RECORD: This will be the 95th meeting between the Falcons and the Saints. The Falcons lead the series, 49-45.
5. TALE OF THE TAPE: 2016 Regular Season Statistics Rankings:
Falcons Saints
33.5 (1) Points/Game 29.1 (2)
412.9 (2) Total Offense 422.9 (1)
119.1 (7) Net Rushing Yards/Game 107.3 (18)
293.5 (3) Net Passing Yards/Game 315.5 (1)
30:13 (18) Possession Average 30:59 (7)
24.9 (25) Opponent Points/Game 27.7 (30)
364.4 (23) Opponent Total Offense 369.4 (25)
102.7 (16) Opp. Rushing Yards/Game 98.9 (12)
261.7 (26) Opp. Passing Yards/Game 270.5 (30)
+10 (3t) Turnover Differential -2 (22)
[cmg_cinesport url="http://cinesport.ajc.com/embed/ajc-atlanta-sports/d-led-good-falcons-face-saints/"]
The AJC’s D. Orlando Ledbetter and Noah Coslov chat about Julio Jones’ situation for week 17, Matt Ryan’s MVP candidacy, and why it’s beneficial for the Falcons to host the Saints on Sunday.
GAME 15: Falcons 33, Panthers 16
5 things we learned from the Falcons win over the Panthers
NFL playoffs: Falcons clinch NFC South title
Third-and-21, no problem for Coleman
What Dan Quinn had to say after the win over the Panthers
GAME 14: Falcons 41, 49ers 13
5 things we learned from the Falcons' win over the 49ers
What Matt Ryan had to say about the win over the 49ers
PHOTOS: Falcons win over the 49ers
GAME 13: Falcons 42, Rams 14
REPORT CARD: Falcons handled their business against woeful Rams
GAME 12: Chiefs 29, Falcons 28
Falcons still control their playoff destiny
PHOTOS: Falcons have a bad day at the office
Matt Ryan tormented by Berry's big interceptions
Beasley becomes a double-digit sacker
GAME 11: Falcons 38, Cardinals 19
5 things we learned from the Falcons' win over the Cardinals
Julio Jones gets calls this time
Taylor Gabriel continues scoring streak in win over Cardinals
Coleman scores TD in return from injury
Falcons' offensive line 'stepped up to the task'
Ryan, offense slowed down to a crawl
Perkins stalls key drive with costly penalty
Defense gets blown of the line of scrimmage
Keanu Neal can expect fine but Falcons' biggest issue is injuries (Trufant and Tamme)
Falcons go into bye week wrong way -- beat up by Eagles
What Dan Quinn had to say after the loss to the Eagles
What the Falcons had to say after the loss to the Eagles
PHOTOS: Falcons fall to the Eagles
GAME NINE: Falcons 43, Buccaneers 28
5 things we learned from the Falcons' rout of the Bucs
GAME EIGHT: Falcons 33, Packers 32
5 things we learned from the Falcons' 33-32 win over the Packers
Finally, the Falcons finish: 'We had to stop the bleeding'
GAME SEVEN: Chargers 33, Falcons 30 in OT
5 things we learned from the Falcons loss to the Chargers
Dan Quinn's gamble with house-money backfires
6 penalties 'unacceptable' for Falcons offensive line
Philip Rivers confounds Falcons with short passes: 'He picked us apart'
Matt Ryan's late-game interception leads to overtime loss
PHOTOS: Chargers rally to beat Falcons
GAME SIX: Seahawks 26, Falcons 24
5 things we learned from the Falcons loss to the Seahawks
MARK BRADLEY: The Falcons didn't win, but they made one guy believe (me)
MARK BRADLEY: The Falcons got jobbed but did themselves proud
Matt Ryan's turnovers were costly
What Dan Quinn had to say after the 26-24 loss to Seattle
Seattle slows down Falcons' running backs Freeman, Coleman
Ryan Schraeder, offensive line rebounds in second half
Julio Jones: 'It was just a missed call'
What the Falcons had to say after the 26-24 loss to Seattle
What Matt Ryan had to say after the 26-24 loss to Seattle
Richard Sherman non-commital on pass interference non-call
PHOTOS: Falcons at Seahawks in Seattle
GAME FIVE: Falcons 23, Broncos 16
5 things we learned from the Falcons upset of Super Bowl champs
MARK BRADLEY: The Falcons rock a rookie in the Rockies
What Dan Quinn have to say after the win over Denver
Coleman amassed 163 yards to power the offense
Vic Beasley has breakout game with 3.5 sacks
Kemal Ishmael moved to linebacker, led team in tackles
What the Falcons had to say after the win over the Broncos
Photos: Falcons battle the Broncos
GAME FOUR: Falcons 48, Panthers 33
5 things we learned from the Falcons' 48-33 win over the Panthers
Tweetcap: Falcons 48, Panthers 33
Old pro Freeney shows new trick with Falcons
Falcons' rookie Neal holds on vs. Olsen
What Julio Jones had to say after the 48-33 win over the Panthers
What Dan Quinn had to say after the 48-33 win over the Panthers
What Matt Ryan had to say after the 48-33 win over the Panthers
Alford battled; Collins to return
Early view in NFC South isn't what most expected; Falcons on top
GAME THREE: Falcons 45, Saints 32
5 things we learned from the Falcons' 45-32 win over the Saints
Falcons, Saints protest with unity circle before game
REPORT CARD: Falcons earned high marks for drubbing Saints
What Dan Quinn had to say after the 45-32 win over the Saints
What Matt Ryan had to say after the 45-32 win over the Saints
What the Falcons had to say after the 45-32 win over the Saints
Keanu Neal makes strong debut for Falcons
Falcons' Deion Jones runs for glory, not survival, in return home
AJC POWER RANKINGS: Falcons best in NFC South?
GAME TWO: Falcons 35, Raiders 28
5 things we learned from the Falcons' win over the Raiders
Trufant's heads-up play saves the day
Tight ends help to power offense
Weatherspoon plays strong in first start since 2013
Matthews, Schraeder held Mack sack-less
JEFF SCHULTZ: Falcons put on offensive show and win
What Matt Ryan had to say after beating the Raiders
What Dan Quinn had to say after the win over the Raiders
GAME ONE: Buccaneers 31, Falcons 24
5 things we learned from the Falcons' loss to the Bucs
No sacks for new-look Falcons pass rush
Julio Jones not worried about his ankle injury
Falcons have a case of the "no-huddle" blues
REPORT CARD: Falcons can't 'gift' opponents 17 points
FILM REVIEW: Beasley missing in action
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