Falcons vs. Saints 2017: Prediction, Betting Odds, Playoff Scenarios, NFC South Tiebreakers

There’s no more important game on the Week 16 schedule in terms of playoff implications than Sunday’s matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints. Both teams are very much alive in the NFC South race, and the loser could be in jeopardy of missing the postseason altogether.

New Orleans is tied with the Carolina Panthers for first place in the division, and they sit one game ahead of Atlanta in the standings. A victory for the Saints would eliminate the Falcons from contention in the NFC South, and the betting odds favor such a result. The Falcons are 5.5-point road underdogs, per OddsShark, and the game’s over/under is 52.5.

Because the Saints swept their season series with the Panthers, they hold the divisional tiebreaker. That means a win over Atlanta and a loss for Carolina would give the Saints their first division title since 2011. Carolina is unlikely to lose, considering they’ll host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16.

Atlanta controls their own destiny in the division, and two straight wins to close the season would give them a second straight NFC South title. Because Atlanta defeated New Orleans two weeks ago, they would own the head-to-head tiebreaker with a victory Sunday. The Falcons host the Panthers in Week 17.

The loser in New Orleans would still be very much alive in the wild-card race. Atlanta is a game ahead of the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys for the No.6 seed, and the Falcons own the head-to-head tiebreaker over all three teams. New Orleans has the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Lions. A combination of two straight losses by the Saints and two straight wins by either the Seahawks or Cowboys would knock New Orleans out of the postseason.

It's hard to imagine New Orleans’ season ending in Week 17. The Saints have looked like a legitimate Super Bowl contender, only losing to teams that are currently in the playoffs. Since dropping the first two games of the season to the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings, both of whom will likely have first-round playoff byes, New Orleans has gone 10-2.

Only one of the Saints’ losses has come at home and that was to the defending champs.

Atlanta has to be viewed as a true Super Bowl contender, if only because they nearly won the title last February. The Falcons have won six of their last eight contests, only losing to Minnesota and Carolina during that stretch.

The Falcons have proven they can beat the Saints, winning 20-17 on “Thursday Night Football” in Week 14. Neither team was at their best, and Sunday’s contest could be much different for a couple of reasons.

Matt Ryan had his worst game of the season, throwing for three interceptions and just 221 yards. Alvin Kamara wasn’t much of a factor for the Saints, leaving the game in the first quarter with a concussion.

Look for both players to put up big numbers in Week 14, and the team with the ball last might be the one that gets the win.

Prediction: New Orleans over Atlanta, 33-30