After grinding out a 17-14 win on the road in Atlanta last night, the Saints clinched a playoff spot and kept their NFC South hopes alive.

However, with the Falcons set to host the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, it remains unlikely that the Saints will grab the NFC South.

If the Saints don’t win the NFC South, they are likely better off. Under those circumstances, they would be on the road in the NFC Wild Card round at the NFC West “champion”, (either St. Louis or Seattle) in a game that is probably going to be played on Saturday, January 8, unless FOX really wants to broadcast the it.

While the Saints will not be considered a favorite to repeat, I would not want Drew Brees and company heading into my stadium in January.