New Orleans Saints now control bitter rival Falcons’ playoff hopes

The New Orleans Saints now control their bitter rivals’ playoff hopes. Atlanta Falcons fans must cheer on the black and gold this Sunday:

The New Orleans Saints don’t have much left to play for this season and in fact, a loss may bring fans the most joy they have felt since the first two weeks of the season.

Though the Saints themselves have been eliminated, their game on Sunday does decide whether or not the bitter rival Atlanta Falcons make the playoffs. A Tampa Bay Buccaneers win over New Orleans would secure the NFC South for them. That means if the Falcons want to advance, they will need to root for the Saints for what is likely the first time in many Atlanta fans’ lives.

For years, the two teams were so bad that playing each other twice a year might be the only chance they had at a win. That is when the rivalry that is still running today was born.

The two teams have met 112 times in NFL history and sit tied at 56-56. They have split the series in each of the last two seasons, with the home team winning each time.

There hasn’t been much for New Orleans fans to be happy about this year, so they are definitely relishing in this development.

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