Saints, Falcons head into regular-season finale with heavy playoff, divisional implications.

The New Orleans Saints (8-8) need a victory over the Atlanta Falcons (7-9) and a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeat to the Carolina

Panthers in order to secure the NFC South title, despite having been in control of their own destiny for more than half of the

season. This is before they enter the final week of the regular season.

But even if the Saints and Bucs triumph on Sunday, the Packers loss to the Bears and the Seahawks loss to the Cardinals would

still guarantee New Orleans a postseason berth. With a victory and the Buccaneers’ defeat by the Panthers, Atlanta would

secure the top spot in the division.

Even with heavy divisional and playoff implications, Pro Bowl WR/KR Rashid Shaheed knows that the Saints’ main focus is

taking care of their own business.

In the most important game of the season, the Saints could be without one of their best weapons in RB Alvin Kamara, who

missed the full week of practice due to an ankle injury and is listed as a game-time decision for Sunday.

While QB Derek Carr is hopeful his star running back will play, he knows they have a great secondary option with RB Jamaal

Williams.

was so powerful of a statement, you know, so selfless. And when he got in the game, that’s exactly what he did.”

Carr stated, “And so you say something like that, and he’s not pointing at himself, then you go prove it to your teammates when

you break the team down.” “He’s embracing his brothers; he’s not, man.” He’s giddy. Because everyone is jumping, it’s as if he

ignited the team. Therefore, it was undoubtedly incredibly amazing to watch that come to pass.

Starting at noon on Sunday, January 7, the Saints and the Falcons will play for a possible division title from the Caesars

Superdome in New Orleans.

Saints, Falcons head into regular-season finale with heavy playoff, divisional implications