Falcons, Saints eager for a rivalry game that might also decide who wins the NFC South

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The regular season-ending matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints symbolizes the NFL’s efforts to promote parity.

Neither team has a winning record, yet both are still playing meaningful football. The Falcons (7-9) and Saints (8-8) remain mathematically alive for an NFC playoff spot heading into their meeting in the Superdome on Sunday.

“Thankfully, luckily, we still got a chance,” Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu said.

Winning the game won’t be enough by itself. But if Tampa Bay (8-8) slips up at Carolina (2-14), the winner of the Falcons-Saints game will win the NFC South.

If the Buccaneers win, the Falcons, who’ve lost three of their last four, will be eliminated. The Saints, however, would still have a path to a wild-card spot with a win over Atlanta and losses by both Seattle and Green Bay.

“The thankful thing for us is at least we have an opportunity,” Falcons coach Arthur Smith said. “A little bit is obviously out of our control, but what we do control is a huge game. Prepare for the Saints. Go down there Sunday and let’s see what happens.”

Mathieu, who grew up in New Orleans, conceded he’d become “nervous” the Saints might slip out of playoff contention in early December after they’d lost three straight and five of seven.

“Any time you lose two or three games in a row, you can kind of see your goals slipping away from you,” Mathieu said.

The Saints lost six games this season by eight or fewer points. The lengthy and ongoing injury-related absences of key players, including cornerback Marshon Lattimore and receiver Michael Thomas, hasn’t helped.

But rather than regret what might have been, Mathieu emphasized how much better than the alternative it has been to show up for work this week knowing that all is not lost — at least, not yet. And that’s because the Saints have won three of their past four.

“It’s a damn good feeling, given everything we’ve kind of been through — the injuries and the late-game collapses,” Mathieu said. “It’s cool to be in this position.”