It's the third tiebreaker. After head to head and division record but before conference record. Not a bad argument since two teams in a division has 12 common opponents each year.

All it really takes is one loss of the 'clowns against the Panthers in either of the two tries to send them down the tubes. Here are the scenarios:

1) Saints win out, 'clowns only lose to Saints.
'Clowns win the division:
Overall Record: 13-3 each
Head to head record: 1-1 each
Division record: 5-1 each (one loss to each other)
Common opponents: 'clowns 11-1 (loss to Pittsburg) Saints 10-2 (loss to Browns and Cards)

2)Saints Win out, 'clowns lose one to Panthers or Seattle:
Saints win the division:
Overall Record: Saints 13-3 'Clowns 12-4

3) Saints lose to Baltimore, win others, 'clowns lose one to Panthers
Saints win the division:
Overall Record: 12-4 each
Head to Head: 1-1
Division Record: Saints 5-1 'Clowns 4-2

4) Saints lose to Baltimore, win others, 'clowns lose one to Seattle
Saints win the division:
Overall Record: 12-4 each
Head to Head: 1-1
Division Record: 5-1 each
Common opponents: 10-2 each
Conference Record: Saints 10-2 'Clowns 9-3

5) Saints lose to Rams, win others, 'clowns lose one to Panthers
Saints win the division:
Overall record: 12-4 each
Head to Head: 1-1
Division Record: Saints 5-1 Clowns 4-2

6) Saints lose to Rams, win others, 'clowns lose one to Seattle
'Clowns win the division
Overall record: 12-4 each
Head to Head: 1-1
Division Record: 5-1 each
Common opponents: 'Clowns 10-2, Saints 9-3

So the bottom line is that the Baltimore game is probably the single game we can afford to drop. Division, Common, or Conference losses (TB, Rams, 'Clowns) sends the whole ship down the tubes. OTOH the Panthers are our best buds for the moment. Maybe they will "Rise UP!" (I hate that commercial!)

Here are the tiebreakers:

NFL Tie-Breaking Procedures

SFIAH

Philly, not Chicago. Their NFC North partner for the year was the Packers while we got the Vikings. That's the non shared opponent in that division. In the East the 'clowns got Philly (who they lost to) while we got Dallas.

SFIAH

Thanks, I wasn't sure and I was too lazy to look it up. :)

SFIATLH - You get the prize. That's some serious crunching. I want to sit next to you in class.

Great post you are correct. A falcons loss to the panthers either time would allow us to lose to either Baltimore or St Louis provided we win
all of the other games. However the below scenerio is incorrect
the Saints would have a 9 -3 common opponents record if the falcons
lose to Seattle and we lose to Baltimore.

4) Saints lose to Baltimore, win others, 'clowns lose one to Seattle
Saints win the division:
Overall Record: 12-4 each
Head to Head: 1-1
Division Record: 5-1 each
Common opponents: 10-2 each
Conference Record: Saints 10-2 'Clowns 9-3

i believe we get into the playoffs and the magical mojo will get us to the promise land. the clowns have more luck (officials) than they have sense so if we win out or not its pretty much locked were in. and like some post before chances of getting there is better not at the no#1 seed.

SEATTLE, only chance of clowns stumbling

For the record, I knew Carolina wouldn't stand a chance against Fatlanta.

I wanted to root for them, but I knew it would be a huge waste of energy. Let's just hope the Failcants choke the last three games.

Agreed. Only possible loss (other than us) for ATL is Seattle.

Kitties don't even have a meow left this season...