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New Orleans Saints wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. (5), left and New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) run onto the field before the start of the game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Caesars Superdome on New Orleans, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Staff photo by David Grunfeld, The Times-Picayune | NOLA.com)

 STAFF PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD

The New Orleans Saints host the Atlanta Falcons at noon on Sunday in a game that has postseason implications for both teams. This will be the place to keep up with the score and live updates.

If the Saints win and the Buccaneers lose to the Panthers today, they will be the NFC South champions.

If the Falcons win and the Buccaneers lose, Atlanta will take the NFC South title.

The Saints also have a chance to earn a wild card bid with a win and losses by both the Seahawks and the Packers.

 

If you're having a hard time viewing score and updates, CLICK HERE.

UPDATED, 3:06 p.m.: Final score: Saints 48, Falcons 17, with Arthur Smith yelling at the Saints coaching staff on the way off the field, presumably about that last touchdown.

Now the Saints wait. If they get losses from both the Seahawks and Packers, they're into the playoffs, probably at Dallas, but also possibly at Philadelphia or Detroit.

Join us for the Saints Insider Postgame Show for discussion, analysis, reaction and scoreboard watching. We go live in about 30 minutes at this link.

UPDATED, 3:02 p.m.: Saints just put the exclamation point on this thing with a near pick-6 from Tyrann Mathieu against Falcons backup quarterback Logan Woodside. He finally got dragged down at the 1.

But instead of kneeling on the ball with Jameis Winston in the game, the Saints — from victory formation, mind you — hand the ball off to Jamaal Williams, who gets in for the touchdown.

That's pouring it on your rival. It's 48-17 with 1:10 left.

One other significant development late in this game: Andrus Peat left with an injury. James Hurst slid over to tackle with Max Garcia at guard. That will only matter, of course, if the Saints sneak into the playoffs.

UPDATED, 2:39 p.m.: Derek Carr's fourth touchdown pass is also the second TD of the day for AT Perry, and it's officially a rout. The Saints lead 41-17 and are blanking the Falcons 24-0 in the second half.

The Bucs are kneeling on the ball to cement a 9-0 victory at Carolina, however, and so Tampa Bay is your NFC South champion.

The Saints need help from the Cardinals and Bears to make the playoffs. Seems unlikely, which is a shame considering New Orleans is finally starting to resemble a playoff team.

UPDATED, 2:35 p.m.: A bad snap for the Falcons, and how about Payton Turner? Hurt in the first game of the season, worked his way back to finally return today, and he recovers the fumble.

Saints ball at the Falcons 10. This game is all over but the shouting — and there will be plenty of shouting from Saints fans. Of course, there won't be any playoffs without lots of help in the afternoon window.

UPDATED, 2:30 p.m.: The Saints have marched down the field, and though their drive eventually stalls inside the 10, they take five more minutes off the clock, and Blake Grupe's second field goal of the day makes it 34-17.

There's 9:57 left in what will be the final game at the Superdome this season — if the Saints make the playoffs, it'll be as the No. 7 seed, meaning all road games in the postseason.

UPDATED, 2:24 p.m.: Taysom Hill keeps and has a ton of running room to the left side. Easy money there for 27 yards. The Saints are in Falcons territory in a spot where even a field goal gives them a three-possession lead.

Now, as it's been all day, for the bad news: The Carolina Panthers' third drive inside the Tampa Bay 30 has again ended with no points, as Bryce Young takes a sack and fumbles the ball away to the Bucs, who are just 6 minutes from the division title.

That would leave the Saints with only the wild-card route, needing losses by both Seattle and Green Bay this afternoon to get one.

UPDATED, 2:20 p.m.: The Saints receivers are making some big-time plays in this game. The latest is to A.T. Perry, who rises and makes a high-point catch on a back-shoulder throw from Carr on third-and-8 from the 4.

Big play, because the Saints would have given the Falcons good field position without it. Instead, it's the end of the third quarter, and New Orleans has room to breathe at its 33.

UPDATED, 2:15 p.m.: Alontae Taylor taken out of the game for a possible concussion, and the Falcons have first-and-goal at the 10.

Cordarrelle Patterson picks up 7 around right end on first down, and the Falcons are knocking on the door now. Ridder fake handoff and shovel pass to London, but he's stopped at the 1.

Third down now, although you've got to figure Atlanta is in four-down territory. Handoff to Patterson, and he's stuffed by Carl Granderson.

So it is fourth down, and with just over a minute to play in the third, this is an absolutely enormous play. They're back at the 2. Ridder in shotgun again, crowd going crazy, and the pass is knocked away by Ugo Amadi!

Saints defense holds, and with 1:14 left in the third, things are looking pretty good. (But the Bucs have another field goal at Carolina and lead 9-0.) 

UPDATED, 2:10 p.m.: Felt unlikely a couple of minutes ago, but the Falcons are putting a drive together here, with a first down at the Saints 23, and now a good gain on a first-down pass to Allgeier has Atlanta in the red zone.

Bucs in field goal range in Charlotte, early fourth quarter, closing in on the division title.

UPDATED, 2:08 p.m.: You've got to think if the Bucs even get another field goal in that game in Charlotte, it's over. The Panthers scoring twice seems extremely unlikely.

Meanwhile, the Saints are taking care of their own business. The Falcons do get a first down on this drive, but then Ridder nearly throws another pick when London drops a ball that was somewhat behind him.

On third-and-long, Ridder does hit London on a really nice throw between the coverage for a first down.

UPDATED, 2:04 p.m.: Wow. Carr to Shaheed for 39 yards, another nice catch, another touchdown, and suddenly a 31-17 lead for a surging Saints team.

Again, the bad news: Carolina drove inside the Tampa Bay 30 for the second time, and for the second time the hapless Panthers come away with no points. First it was the Chark fumble on the goal line, this time a missed field goal from fill-in kicker Matthew Wright — after Bryce Young took a sack to make it 9 yards longer. Oof. 

UPDATED, 1:59 p.m.: A classic version of "Us vs. Them" on the Superdome scoreboard ended with Steve Gleason's punt block, and then a closeup of Gleason on the sideline, whose animated eye movement said as much as you need to know.

The vibes are good in the Dome as Miller gets another nice burst for a first-down run to start this drive.

The bad news? Tampa Bay still leads Carolina 6-0 as that game gets into the late stages of the third quarter.

UPDATED, 1:55 p.m.: Falcons face third-and-1, and Ridder going deep over the middle for Drake London. A great breakup from Paulson Adebo, and that's another three-and-out.

Strange play call on third-and-short, but London did have one-on-one coverage, and Ridder threw a good ball. Adebo just made a better play.

Punt is a touchback. Saints have it with 11:35 left in the third and a 24-17 lead.

UPDATED, 1:51 p.m.: A truly unbelievable touchdown catch from Chris Olave, who just reached over the defender to tip the ball up to himself and caught it in the end zone for a 26-yard touchdown and a 23-17 Saints lead.

Wow. Will put a replay of that one in here as soon as I can. What an unreal play by Olave.

Make that a 24-17 lead as Grupe's PAT is good. Less than two minutes into the second half, the Saints are ahead.

UPDATED, 1:48 p.m.: Given the red-zone issues for the Saints in Atlanta, it seems crucial that they punch in this turnover for a touchdown, not just a field goal.

But Jamaal Williams' first carry loses a yard. Calais Campbell is hurt for the Falcons, who are starting to have injury issues pile up. Kaden Elliss was just ruled out with his first-half knee injury as well.

UPDATED, 1:46 p.m.: Big start to the second half for the Saints defense. On third-and-8, Desmond Ridder, who had such a great first half, makes the crucial mistake he's made his whole career — this one a pass right to Altontae Taylor, who intercepts it and returns 16 yards.

Taylor had a rough first half, but he gets the pick there and sets the Saints up at the Atlanta 25.

UPDATED, 1:39 p.m.: Some halftime stats. Have a look at the quarterbacks, who are both having big days (especially Desmond Ridder, and who had that as a pregame prediction?)

TOTAL YARDS: Falcons 251, Saints 203

PASSING: Desmond Ridder 12/14, 231 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INT; Derek Carr 14/18, 136 yards, TD, 0 INT

RUSHING: Bijan Robinson 4-13, Cordarrelle Patterson 1-4, Tyler Allgeier 2-3; Kendre Miller 7-38, TD; Taysom Hill 4-19, Jamaal Williams 8-10, Derek Carr 1-6

RECEIVING: Bijan Robinson 6-96, TD; Scott Miller 1-56, Jonnu Smith 2-21, TD; Kyle Pitts 1-19, MyCole Pruitt 1-17, Van Jefferson 2-13, Drake London 1-9; Chris Olave 2-30, Taysom Hill 4-28, Rashid Shaheed 2-26, Juwan Johnson 2-20, A.T. Perry 1-18, TD; Jamaal Williams 2-8; Kendre Miller 1-6.

UPDATED, 1:29 p.m.: Falcons get another first down at the 20 and call their second timeout at 24 seconds. Mission for the Saints now is to hold this drive to a field goal. (Honestly, the offense could/should have taken more time on its own drive.)

Short pass to Robinson for just a couple yards, but he does get out of bounds. Now another one to Van Jefferson, and he'll be stopped in bounds. Falcons will let this one run all the way down to 3 seconds for the field goal attempt, so the Saints defense at least will get that.

Here's Koo for the tie from 30 yards. It's good, and we're knotted at 17-17 at halftime. Tampa Bay leads Carolina 6-0.

UPDATED, 1:26 p.m.: Hole in the zone, and Ridder finds Pruitt for an easy first down. A gain of 17 there, and just like that, ATlanta is in field goal range and looking for more.

UPDATED, 1:25 p.m.: Saints lead 17-14, but they didn't run quite enough time off the clock, and the Falcons will get back-to-back possessions here. This one will be truncated, but 56 seconds and two timeouts is enough to put a drive together.

First play is Ridder's first incompletion of the day. But the second one is a beautiful throw to Kyle Pitts for a nice gain and a first down to the 44.

Now Ridder hits Robinson for 8 more, and the Falcons are in Saints territory with 42 seconds left and still two timeouts. Deep ball is incomplete on the next snap, and it's third-and-2. 37 seconds left. Saints are going to call their second timeout before the snap.

At the halftime buzzer in Charlotte, Chase McLaughlin has another field goal for Tampa Bay, this one a 57-yarder, and the Bucs have a 6-0 lead. Not looking good on that front.

UPDATED, 1:21 p.m.: Carr to Shaheed for a quick 6 yards down to the 5. He goes out of bounds and stops the clock at 1:09.

Saints have the full playbook available to them here with two timeouts to stop the clock.

Carr will throw. Rolls right, and it's incomplete looking for Jordan Mims in the front of the end zone. Third-and-4 at the 5 with 1:03 left.

Taysom and the Jumbos in the game. He'll keep and go nowhere. Atlanta was ready for that one, and the Falcons will call timeout with 58 seconds left.

I assume this will be a Blake Grupe field goal attempt.

It will, and Grupe's attempt from 24 yards is good. Saints have their first lead at 17-14 with 56 seconds left before halftime.

UPDATED, 1:18 p.m.: Saints back in the red zone after a completion from Carr to Olave and then another neutral zone infraction on Atlanta. It's first-and-5 at the 17, and honestly, the Saints might want to think about trying to use clock here.

Instead, Carr throws deep for Miller, and it's nowhere close. First time Carr has really been off the mark today.

That stops the clock at 1:50. Falcons still have all three timeouts, by the way.

Miller with a draw and has the first down to the 11. Clock running now.

UPDATED, 1:13 p.m.: Two yards for Williams on first down, and we'll hit the 2-minute warning with the Saints facing second-and-8 at the 36.

No, we won't. Another boneheaded penalty from Atlanta, which jumped into the neutral zone anticipating a snap at the 2:01 mark and gifted the Saints 5 yards.

It'll be second-and-3 from the 30 when we resume.

UPDATED, 1:11 p.m.: Big series for the Saints defense, who could give their offense good field position with a three-and-out.

Tyler Allgeier gets just a yard on first down. Jonathan Abram cuts down Ridder on a keeper on second down for no gain. Superdome crowd is as loud as it's been since September. Falcons run on third down, and Robinson is well short.

So there's the three-and-out. The field position? A shanked punt will help. Saints get it at the Falcons' 38 with 2:28 left in the half and two timeouts.

UPDATED, 1:06 p.m.: Saints have third-and-6 at the Falcons 48 and call timeout. Important play here with about 5 minutes to play in the half.

Saints try a draw to Miller. He's stuffed after just a yard gain. Some confused boos from the crowd. That was a strange play call after a timeout.

Lou Hedley does hit a good punt to pin the Falcons at their own 7. 4:35 left in the half in a tie game.

UPDATED, 1:02 p.m.: Bucs take a 3-0 lead at Carolina with 4:13 left in the first half.

Here, the Saints get a first down on a Kendre Miller burst up the middle, then another on a strike from Carr to Olave up to the Saints 48.

UPDATED, 1:00 p.m.: Saints have gotten themselves back on the front foot here, but the bad news is that Tampa Bay is into field goal range at Carolina, looking to break the scoreless tie there.

Just seems unlikely that 2-14 Carolina is good enough to get a win after DJ Chark's fumble on the goal line. That's the kind of thing that costs you games, but we shall see.

UPDATED, 12:58 p.m.: Saints get a stop on their third try, a three-and-out with a big assist from a holding call on second down.

Shaheed, the Pro Bowl return man, fair-catches the punt at the Saints 21, and they'll start the drive there, looking for their first lead.

UPDATED, 12:51 p.m.: Second-and-goal from the 3, and the Saints bring the jumbo package in — though Kendre Miller is at running back.

It's a pitch to Miller, he cuts back to the middle, and fights his way through three defenders, reaches the ball across — they say he's a foot short.

Looking at the replay, that's really close. I think he got in. Dennis Allen throws the challenge flag.

Don't think they even looked at the monitor. That's a touchdown.

Grupe's PAT is good, and it's 14-14 early in the second quarter. The shootout we all expected!

UPDATED, 12:48 p.m.: Big plays in both games we're watching here. In Carolina, DJ Chark was streaking down the sideline for a touchdown, but then fumbled through the end zone, and the Bucs get a lucky touchback out of the deal. (And Baker Mayfield is back in the game.)

And here, a third-and-8 pass to Hill leaves the Saints 2 yards short of the sticks, and the Saints are gonna go on fourth down. Carr finds Juwan Johnson for the first down and a gain to the 14.

Now after a Carr (?!) keeper and a Williams run, it's first-and-goal from the 4.

UPDATED, 12:44 p.m.: Saints putting together another nice drive here as the first quarter comes to a close. Carr hit Chris Olave for 14 yards on third-and-7, and then a Taysom Hill catch for 8 set up a Williams run for a first down at the Falcons 34.

That's where the second quarter will begin.

Baker Mayfield is in the locker room in Charlotte, so it looks like the Bucs may have to turn to Kyle Trask. Certainly increases the intrigue in this one if Tampa Bay is in trouble.

Also of note: The Saints aren't showing that Bucs-Panthers score anywhere in the Superdome. It's missing from the out-of-town scoreboard.

UPDATED, 12:36 p.m.: Meanwhile, in Charlotte, they're still scoreless at the end of the first quarter — and Baker Mayfield limped off the field after being sacked on the Bucs' last offensive play. Could be Kyle Trask time.

Remember, if Tampa Bay loses that game, this one becomes the NFC South championship. Delay because of an injury on the kickoff, so the Saints just now about to start their third offensive drive, trailing 14-7.

UPDATED, 12:33 p.m.: Alontae Taylor dove in front of Robinson to try to break that up, but he missed. Not sure he really had a chance. Better to stay on his feet and just make a tackle for a 10-yard gain or whatever.

UPDATED, 12:32 p.m.: Now we see if the Saints have learned to cover wide receivers since the Falcons' first drive.

Ummm ... don't know about wide receivers, but Bijan Robinson was WIIIIDE open on second down leaking out of the backfield, Ridder hits him in stride, and it's off to the races AGAIN. 

And this time, the Falcons win the race. Robinson all the way to the end zone for a 71-yard touchdown. Less than a minute after the Saints tied it up, it's 14-7 Falcons.

UPDATED, 12:25 p.m.: And those red zone numbers? Already better. Carr throws a play-action fade to A.T. Perry, who's a lot taller than A.J. Terrell, especially since the corner lost his balance and was stumbling. That's an 18-yard touchdown.

Blake Grupe is good on the PAT, and it's 7-7 with 5:01 left in the first. 

UPDATED, 12:24 p.m.: Taysom Hill and Kendre Miller with back-to-back nice runs, Hill getting 8 for the first down on the back of fullback Adam Prentice, and then Miller bursting for 9 on the next play.

Second-and-1 now, Saints go play action and Carr hits Hill. Not a lot of room there, but enough for a first down in the red zone.

The Saints got five red-zone trips in Atlanta and came away with just 12 points (and gave up 7). That has to improve for them to win today. Here's the first chance.

UPDATED, 12:22 p.m.: Saints get driving after a false start, getting 4 on a run from Hill and then a Carr-to-Rashid Shaheed strike for 20 yards plus a 15-yard foul for unnecessary roughness for the hit. Just like that, the Saints are inside the Falcons 40 after a couple yards from Jamaal Williams on a first-down carry.

UPDATED, 12:15 p.m.: MyCole Pruitt with an unnecessary roughness call after the play to help the Saints out. It's a 15-yard penalty, but because Robinson got to the 2 and got a first down on the play, it's still a first down.

What I don't understand is why it's first-and-10 instead of first-and-goal from the 17. That's a break for the Falcons.

No matter either way. On second down, Ridder finds Jonnu Smith for a 15-yard touchdown pass, and the Falcons strike first. Younghoe Koo's extra point is good, and it's 7-0 Atlanta with 8:42 left in the first quarter.

UPDATED, 12:12 p.m.: Good news for the Saints is the Bucs also had to punt on their first possession in Carolina, as we pay attention to the proceedings there as well.

Here in the Dome, Demario Davis drags down Bijan Robinson for a loss of a yard on first down. That was a stretch play, and Davis tracked him down in a hurry.

Bijan makes Zack Baun miss on the perimeter on the next play and picks up 6, so it's third-and-5. And Desmond Ridder has Scotty Miller WIIIIIIDE open up the right sideline. Hits him in stride, and it's off to the races. Jordan Howden manages to get the angle and drag Miller down all the way at the Saints 18.

56-yard gain. What a disaster. Saints do have a chance to hold Atlanta to a field goal thanks to Howden's hustle.

UPDATED, 12:06 p.m.: Short pass from Carr to Taysom Hill for a first down, and the Saints are off to a good start. Hill figures to play a prominent role today with Alvin Kamara sidelined.

A short pass to Williams and a run stuff brings up third-and-6 on the next series. First pressure point for the Saints offense — and they come up short, with Carr's arm hit as he throws off pressure from the right side.. That's ruled a fumble, but James Hurst fell on it before any more damage could be done.

Lou Hedley punts it away. Out of bounds at the 21.

UPDATED, 12:02 p.m.: Steve Gleason and former Atlanta player Tim Green are being honored today, as they were for the teams' game in Atlanta, during their battle against ALS. The proceeds from the 50/50 raffle goes toward ALS research, too.

Gleason is with the Saints for the coin toss, but it brings no luck — Falcons win the toss and defer. Derek Carr and the New Orleans offense will have it first.

Taysom Hill led the Who Dat chant.

For possibly the last time until the fall, it's Saints game time. 

UPDATED, 11:56 a.m.: Minutes away from kickoff now. Saints go with defensive starters for individual introductions, and the crowd — while not full — seems to be fully behind the home team in this one. That's a pivot from the previous three home games, when boo birds and empty seats (or those filled with Lions and Giants fans) were plentiful.

Now, if the Saints can get off to a good start, they could keep it that way. Big thing for me is whether the New Orleans defense can stop the Falcons run game — it's gone for more than 200 yards in three straight meetings between these teams.

UPDATED, 10:38 a.m.: Greetings once again from Saints Editor Zach Ewing, perched high up in the Superdome press box, where we're getting ready for Falcons vs. Saints in the 2023 regular-season finale.

We all know the stakes at this point: Both of these teams need to win and get a surprise Buccaneers loss at Carolina to win the NFC South. The Saints also have a narrow path to the wild card, but that too must start with a victory here.

So we'll be tracking this one as well as the Bucs-Panthers game in Charlotte, with live social media reaction from reporters covering the teams as well as my instant reactions and analysis.

First up: A key inactive player for each team, with the Saints declaring injured running back Alvin Kamara a no-go, while the Falcons declaring quarterback Taylor Heinicke inactive after he practiced most of the week.

That means Atlanta will start Desmond Ridder, the same QB who beat the Saints in Week 12, though he did throw two bad interceptions and got plenty of help from a New Orleans offense that couldn't score in the red zone.

We'll see if that changes today. Also inactive for the Saints is offensive tackle Landon Young, who was injured in last week's win at Tampa Bay.

More to come.

Email Patrick Magee at PMagee@TheAdvocate.com or follow him on Twitter, @PatrickDMagee.

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