The New Orleans Saints clinched their fourth-straight division title Friday with a win over the Vikings, but linebacker Demario Davis says the Saints still have work to do.
“We've had one goal since we entered the season, the mission hasn't changed,” Davis said. “So we're close now. Got one goal in the bag, but the mission is not complete. We've got to keep going."
The Saints (11-4) will look to put another goal in that bag this Sunday when they wrap up the regular season with a matchup against the NFC South rival Carolina Panthers.
“I think this is an import game for us this game this weekend,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “The first goal always is win your division. The second goal is to try to get the best (playoff) seed possible.”
New Orleans still has a shot to obtain the NFC’s top seed along with the first-round bye with a win against the Panthers this Sunday in Charlotte but will need some help.
The Saints currently hold the No. 2 seed and in order to clinch the first-round bye will need to beat the Panther and also need the Green Bay Packers (12-3) to lose to the Chicago Bears (8-7) and the Seattle Seahawks (11-4) to defeat the San Francisco 49ers (6-9).
A Green Bay victory or tie gives the Packers the top seed. The Aaron Rodgers led team also could clinch the bye with a Seattle loss.
The Seahawks could move into the No. 1 spot with a win and Saints and Packers losses in Week 17.
Saints players said their approaching Sunday’s matchup like its a playoff game.
"We're going to go into this and prepare like we prepare every week,” Saints tackle Ryan Ramczyk said. “I think Drew (Brees) said this a couple weeks ago that, from now on, every game is a playoff game and we need to treat it like that.
“The stakes are high right now, but like I said, we have to go and prepare like we prepare every week."
