New Orleans could clinch playoff berth at Atlanta

New Orleans could clinch playoff berth at Atlanta

The defending champions Saints will try to end with the eight-game winning streak of the division leaders Falcons on Monday Night Football, and assure their playoff ticket.

The last Monday Night Football of the year will be held at the Georgia Dome, home of the Atlanta Falcons, leaders of the NFC South with 12 wins and only two losses, and already qualified for the playoffs. In front they will have the defending champions New Orleans Saints just one win away from clinching their playoff spot. They will also seek revenge for the 27-24 overtime loss that they suffered at home against Atlanta on Week 3, by ending with the Falcons eight-game win streak.

The Falcons began with this impressive streak on Week 7 with a home win by 39-32 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Ever since nothing but victories have followed versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (27-21), Baltimore Ravens (26-21), St. Louis Rams (34-17), Green Bay Packers (20-17), Tampa Bay again (28-24), Carolina Panthers (31-10) and Seattle Seahawks (34-18). With these eight wins added to the four-game winning streak that took place between Week 2 and 5, the Falcons have clinched a playoff berth.

The Falcons have also achieved a franchise record this year with their third consecutive back-to-back winning season, that began in 2008 with a 11-5 record, continued in 2009 with a 9-7, and with two games to go before the end of the 2010-11 regular season they are 12-2. Both of theses games will be at home, where they are undefeated so far. The only two losses that they have suffered have been on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1 (15-9 OT) and 6 (31-17) respectively.

One of the reasons why Atlanta is having such a high performance can be found in quarterback Matt Ryan, who has set a career high with 25 TD in one season and is just 119 yards away from the 3440 passing yards mark from his debut in 2008. Looking at his numbers clearly reflect how his effectiveness has increased, as he suffered 14 interceptions in 2009 and only 9 so far this year.

Wide receiver Roddy White is also setting records as a Falcon with his fourth consecutive 80+ reception and 1,100+ receiving yard season, becoming the first player in the franchise to do so. A total of 1284 yards and 8 TD make White the No. 1 option for the passing offense and the Saints must really stay alert to counteract a player that in Week 3 had 125 yards and 1 TD against them.

The Saints will try to quickly recover from the 24-30 loss in their visit to Baltimore, where the Ravens cut their six-game winning streak on Sunday 19. Located in the second place of the NFC South with a 10-4 record, the defending champions still have options to be the division's top seed as long as they win the two games that are left and Atlanta losses them.

New Orleans' last game will be at home versus division rival Tampa Bay that is third place (8-6), while Atlanta will play at home as well against the last place of the division Carolina (2-12). Both games are scheduled for January 2.

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