By Ross Jackson
If things were going to pan out of the New Orleans Saints this season to get to the playoffs, they were going to need some help. As it turns out, they’re getting it so far.
After a seven-game losing streak, the Saints are still firmly implanted in postseason conversation not just because of the early signs of a turnaround under interim head coach Darren Rizzi, but because the Atlanta Falcons are doing what they’ve become known for: choking in the second half.
Against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Falcons fell, 17-13, on the backs of a four-interception game by quarterback Kirk Cousins.
After a fiery start for Atlanta, they are now on their own multi-game losing skid. With three consecutive losses, the Falcons are now 6-6 and the Saints have a chance on Sunday to advance to 5-7 with a win over the Los Angeles Rams.
No matter how much the Falcons lose, it won’t make the Saints win. They’ll have to do that on their own and take advantage of the division window being left wide open.
New Orleans has a couple of unlikely ways to get to the postseason in 2024, despite having between only a two-to-four-percent chance going into Week 13. But the most preferable path for the team will be to control their own destiny. In order to do so, they’ll need to keep winning and extending their two-game streak.
While the Falcons are losing ground in the division, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (currently 5-6) are not to be left out of the conversation as well. With a very easy schedule ahead of the, the road block for the Saints outside of their own performance may end up being Tampa rather than Atlanta.
The Falcons still have the Minnesota Vikings, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, Washington Commanders and Panthers left to play. The Vikings and Commanders being the best of their remaining opponents in regards to record. The Bucs will have Carolina twice with the Raiders, Dallas Cowboys and Chargers in between and will wrap up their season against the Saints in Tampa.
