With 1 game to go, the Saints have 2 paths to the playoffs. Here’s how they could get there.

With one game remaining and an amazing and much-needed victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road in Week 17, the New Orleans Saints have two chances to make the playoffs, both of which will need assistance from some struggling clubs.

The Saints are still in the running for the NFC South title and the No. 7 seed in the NFC. They are among the four teams vying for the final wild card berth and among the three teams with a chance to win the division. The Saints’ route is very simple, if unlikely, given that all of the remaining teams are still in contention.

All of this is contingent on the Saints beating the Atlanta Falcons in Week 18 — a loss would eliminate the Saints from the discussion.

In order to win the division, the Saints need perhaps the most unlikely outcome of the weekend to unfold: Not only must the Saints beat the Falcons, but the Buccaneers must lose to the Carolina Panthers on the road.

The Panthers, of course, own the NFL’s worst record at 2-14. Predictably, the Panthers also have the NFL’s worst scoring differential at -171. Counting on them is not a good place to be in, but a Carolina win is just improbable, not impossible.

Carolina has defeated two teams (Houston and Atlanta) that are still in the running for the playoffs in both of its games this season. In their first encounter of the season, the Buccaneers defeated the Panthers by a mere three points as well.

It’s important to note that the Saints are the only NFC South team with a wild card into the postseason. The Bucs will get the No. 4 seed in the NFC and will win the division.

Tampa will unavoidably miss the postseason if it loses. The division would be won by either the Saints or the Falcons, with the Falcons’ sole chance of winning coming in Week 18 and securing the division via a three-way tiebreaker.

As for the wild card, the Saints need two things to happen in addition to them taking care of business against the Falcons: The Chicago Bears need to beat the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, and the Arizona Cardinals need to beat the Seattle Seahawks in Phoenix. Both of those games will be played in the afternoon window after the Saints-Falcons game.

The Bears have won five straight since the Saints defeated them in New Orleans, including victories over the Falcons, Lions, and Vikings. At different periods during the season, they appeared to be among the worst teams in the NFL.

With a 4-12 record, the Cardinals are among the weakest teams in the NFL, yet this season they have overcome several formidable opponents, including the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles, displaying remarkable tenacity.

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