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The magic number is down to two.

That’s the combination of New Orleans Saints wins and Minnesota Vikings losses in the next three weeks that will keep the Saints in the Superdome throughout the NFC playoffs.

Here are some other numbers to ponder after the nail-biting 26-23 win against Atlanta in what has been a magical season:

Minus-12: The number of yards the Falcons lost on the first play of their penultimate drive when they inexplicably went to the Wildcat formation for the first time all game. Running back Jerious Norwood took a direct snap and handed to wide receiver Eric Weems on an end around. Saints cornerback Randall Gay snuffed it out beautifully and dragged down Weems deep in the backfield. Until the big loss, the Falcons had gained 10.6 yards per snap in the second half. What a bizarre time to try a trick play.

0: The number of times New Orleans had won 13 games in a season, including the playoffs, before yesterday’s victory. The 1987 and 1992 teams won 12 times before losing their first game of the postseason in the Dome. These Saints are not stopping at 13.

1: The number of NFC teams that have started 13-0 since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970. The Saints are the first, surpassing the 1985 Chicago Bears, who were 12-0. Five AFC teams have started 13-0, including this year’s Indianapolis Colts. The others were the 1972 Miami Dolphins, the 1998 Denver Broncos, the 2005 Colts and the 2007 New England Patriots. It’s also the number of field goals Garrett Hartley has missed in his Saints career. He went 13 for 13 as a midseason pickup last year and is 6 for 7 this year, missing only a 58-yarder on the final play of regulation against Washington. The yanked extra point was bad yesterday, but both of his field goals were straight down the middle.

3: The number of wins the Saints’ final three opponents have against teams currently above. 500. Dallas, Tampa Bay and Carolina are a combined 3-18, with the Cowboys beating Philadelphia, the Bucs beating Green Bay and Carolina beating Arizona for their lone significant victories. That perfect regular season, which I dismissed offhand a couple of times earlier this year, is getting closer and closer.

4.4: The average yards per rush the Saints are allowing, down from 4.5 after they limited the Falcons to 89 yards on 21 attempts. The number is not what you would expect for an undefeated team. Consider: the combined record of the seven teams (Detroit, Carolina, St. Louis, Kansas City, Oakland, Tampa Bay, Buffalo) allowing more yards per carry than the Saints is 21-70. Then again, Indianapolis won the Super Bowl in 2006 after allowing 5.3 yards per carry in the regular season.

Euphoria

I love it that they are still saying best start... this late in the season its no longer a start!!!

arsaint

Awesome we are the FIRST NFC team to go 13-0 when you consider some of the Cowboys, Giants and 49ers teams of the past.

Rugby Saint II

I liked that he had links to several forums including B&G. He did a fine job of getting his point across and he made good sense.

homerj07

Keep it up boys!!

CantonLegend

congrats to us

T.OSaintsFan

It is the best start for any NFC team, and the Saints are still going on............

UK_WhoDat

Here's hoping for the best finish also