Saints 2023 Week 18 Preview
Saints and Falcons Clash to Close NFL Regular Season
The final week of the NFL regular season is upon us, and while they are slim, the New Orleans Saints still have two chances at making the postseason. First, New Orleans has got to defeat bitter-rival Atlanta in a home game finale. If the Falcons win, New Orleans will be out of the race entirely. The winner of this game will be hoping for the lowly Carolina Panthers to defeat the Buccaneers because that result would clinch the NFC South divisional title and secure a playoff game as hosts. If Tampa Bay and New Orleans both win, the Saints could sneak in as the 7th seed, but that would require losses from the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers.
The Matchup:
Atlanta (7-9) travels to New Orleans (8-8) to close out the season in what should be a highly competitive contest. Both teams are fighting for their playoff lives. The Saints are coming off arguably their best performance of the year as they earned a 23-13 victory over the Tampa Bay Bucs. The Falcons were on the other end of the spectrum, getting slashed by the Chicago Bears 37-17. The finale will be broadcast live from the Caesars Superdome on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at noon CST on CBS.
Series History:
The Falcons defeated New Orleans in a Week 11 matchup 24-15. With that victory, Atlanta broke a 3-game skid overall versus the Saints and moved ahead in the all-time series 55-54. The Saints will be looking to even up that record heading into 2024.
Team Rankings Comparison:
| Rank (Week 17) | Saints | Falcons |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 8-8 (2nd NFC South) | 7-8 (3rd NFC South) |
| Scoring Avg. | 22.1 (14) | 19.0 (26) |
| Opp. Scoring Avg. | 19.4 (7) | 20.3 (9) |
| Total Off. | 333.3 (16) | 330.9 (18) |
| Rushing Off. | 99.3 (21) | 130.1 (8) |
| Passing Off. | 234.0 (12) | 200.8 (22) |
| Total Def. | 323.3 (13) | 356.2 (24) |
| Rushing Def. | 122.5 (21) | 115.9 (19) |
| Passing Def. | 200.8 (9) | 200.2 (8) |
| Turnover Margin | +8 (8) | -9 (28) |
| Penalties | 93 (16) | 76 (30) |
| Penalty Yards | 831 (13) | 698 (20) |
Current Injury Report:
Saints-
Landon Young, T, Out, Knee
Lonnie Johnson, S, Out, Knee
Kendre Miller, RB, Questionable, Ankle
Alvin Kamara, RB, Questionable, Ankle
Khalen Saunders, DT, Questionable, Concussion
Falcons-
Drew Dalman, C, Out, Ankle
DeMarcco Hellams, S, Out, Concussion
Troy Anderson, LB, Out, Pectoral
Mike Hughes, CB, Questionable, Concussion
Zach Harrison, DE, Questionable, Knee
Taylor Heinicke, QB, Questionable, Ankle
Final Thoughts/Prediction:
The Saints played like a desperate football team last week, and it worked wonders for them on both sides of the field. If New Orleans can do all they can and handle their business by beating Atlanta, that is all any Saints fan could ask for at this point in the season. As much as I want to be in the playoffs, I would choose not to get swept by the dirty birds for the first time since 2016-17. The rest of the games do not matter to me because a playoff berth at 9-8 would just further prolong this long, disappointing season. I have the Saints winning in this game 27-23, but I would not expect New Orleans to wind up in the postseason this year.
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