The Saints are heading into yet another week of high-drama games that will directly impact the playoff race, and they'll see another of their noon starts flexed into the afternoon window.
The NFL announced Sunday evening that the Saints-Falcons matchup for Week 18 would kick off at 3:25, matching the start time of the Rams-49ers game that could decide both the NFC West and the final playoff team in the conference.
It's not a surprising move for the NFL, which often shifts its schedule in the final week to ensure games that directly impact the other will go off at the same time, and ensure neither end has the advantage of knowing the other's result before it plays. That's the case with the Saints and 49ers, whom will effectively be battling to earn either the No. 6 or 7 seed.
The 49ers will be in a bit better position in that regard, sitting at 9-7 and controlling their own destiny. But they also own the much more daunting matchup, facing down a Rams team that will need a win to clinch the NFC West title and the No. 2 seed in the conference. The Cardinals, one game behind the Rams in the NFC West, also kick off against the Seahawks in the afternoon window, ensuring the Rams won't clinch the division with a Cardinals loss before they play.
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Should the 49ers win, they'd clinch a playoff berth. The Eagles clinched either the 6 or 7 seed with the Vikings' loss to the Packers on Sunday Night Football.
Should the 49ers lose and the Saints win, it'd be New Orleans taking over that final playoff seed by virtue of the tiebreakers and owning the better record in the NFC. The Saints would also get in with the No. 7 seed should both the Philadelphia Eagles and 49ers lose, making Philadelphia's result irrelevant from the Saints' perspective. That Eagles matchup with the Cowboys was moved to Saturday.
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