We can clinch this weekend
 

Here are the scenarios:

• New Orleans can clinch playoff berth with:
1. A win, a Minnesota loss or tie and Carolina and Philadelphia both lose.
Or
2. A win, a Minnesota loss or tie and N.Y. Giants and Atlanta both lose.
Or
3. A win, a Minnesota loss or tie and Philadelphia and Atlanta both lose.

So we need help to lock it down this weekend, but dayum, it sure is nice to be talking about the possibility of the Saints clinching a playoff birth. DAMN I wish we were full strength for the Dallas game! :cry:

The saints could basically win this division at 9-7, as long as that 9th victory came over Carolina.

No way Atlanta doesn't drop at least one more, so they'll get at least 7 losses, and we have a tiebreaker over them.

Theoretically, the Saints could lose the next 3 games, and carolina could WIN the next 3 games, but if the Saints beat them in the final weekend, that would give both teams 9-7 records. Since that would make the teams split head-to-head, the next tiebreaker would be division record........Saints would only have 1 division loss, carolina would have 2.

Obviously I don't want to see that happen, but I point this out to show that all signs point towards the Saints winning their division this year.

We don't even have to be this detailed. Up 2 with 4 to play...those are pretty damned good odds. The last time we were 8-4 TB had already won 9 games.

:mrgreen:

I am a long time Saints fan from way back when Billy Kilmer was QB. and as hard as I pull for the Saints I take nothing for granted. The Saints have a 2 game lead with 4 to go and as far as I'm concerned nothing short of a victory over Dallas is acceptable!.
We can't rely on a 9-7 record because a 3 way tie at 9-7 with Car and Atlanta will give Atlanta the edge because the head to head goes outh the window. and because the common games tie breaker has moved ahead of conference Those sorry Falcons would have the edge. I know it sounds crazy but it is a posibility. The Falcons would get the edge for the Division and the Panthers could move ahead of the Saints for a wild card.
Here 's hoping the Saints take care of business with Dallas. and TB and the Giants win their games.

Let's not even have this conversation. Please.

That's why this is a scenario that we don't even want to consider. Losing 3? I shudder at the thought.
OK. Now I feel better.

I feel much better talking about that #2 seed that we currently hold. We win out and there's absolutely nothing that Dallas or Seattle can do about it. Beating Dallas puts us firmly in the drivers seat because Seattle would have to finish a game ahead of the Saints due to conference record (presuming we beat Dallas we'd be 8-1 in the NFC)

I want to be in New Orleans back to back weekends for the division playoff and then hopefully the NFC championship game. Even if I couldn't get a ticket, I'd still come for the atmosphere.

Fortunately the Saints short term and long term goals both align: beat the next team we face to keep (we already have it!) that #2 seed.

SFIAH

How does atlanta get a tiebreaker???

Atlanta has 2 division losses. As long as the Saints beat Carolina, they'd only have 1 division loss. Saints would get the edge over atlanta and carolina in that situation.

I just posted this on another thread: as long as the Saints take care of business at home against Washington and Carolina, the division is theirs.

2. New Orleans Saints (8-4) – Currently hold No. 2 seed based on better conference record (7-1) than Seahawks (6-3) and Cowboys (5-3). Can clinch playoff berth with win, Vikings loss or tie, and losses by Panthers and Eagles; or win, Vikings loss or tie, and losses by Giants and Falcons; or win, Vikings loss or tie, and losses by Eagles and Falcons.

okay still complex. i hope this thing get easier monday morning.

Saints at Cowboys
Seahawks at Cardnials
Giants at Panthers
Eagles at Washington
Vikings at Lions
Falcons at Bucs

yep this could be the weekend to simplify matters.

Of course Monday night

Bears at Rams

yall have to win first.