Divisionnews
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Oakland Raiders
Around the NFC South
Playoff Intrigue Throughout the Division
ATLANTA FALCONS
-Where They Stand
Emotions ran high on the Atlanta
sideline inMinnesota when Tarvaris
Jackson's last pass of the afternoon fell
incomplete and the Falcons had their
playoff spot. It represented a remarkable
turnaround for a teamthat experienced
enormous struggles during a
4-12 season a year ago.
"We setmilestones," said firstyearHead
CoachMike Smith, "and
we've reached thosemilestones at a
much quicker pace than we had anticipated."
The Falcons goals could get even bigger. Thanks
to the Panthers overtime loss at New York on Sunday
night, Atlanta remains verymuch alive in the race for
the NFC South title. If Atlanta beats St. Louis today
and the Panthers fall atNew Orleans, the division will
go to Atlanta.
That would continue an increasingly improbable
streak. Since 2003, theNFC South has been won
each year by the teamthat finished last the season before.
- A Bigger Game inMind
Atlanta Falcons defensive end John Abrahamhas 16.5
sacks this season and is responsible for almost exactly
half of the 34 QB takedowns his teamhas posted in
2008. And he won't be playing in the Pro Bowl in
February.
Abrahamwas easily one of themost notable
snubs on theNFC squad this year, given his impressive
pass-rush numbers and his obvious importance to
the Falcons' resurgence. On the other hand, given the
three defensive ends that were chosen to represent
the conference – Julius Peppers, Jared Allen and
Justin Tuck – it's hard to determine which elected
player Abrahamshould replace.
"Everybody deserved tomake it," said a gracious
Abraham. "Everybody whomade it,made it. They
deserved tomake it. I just didn'tmake it, that's all."
Abraham, one can be sure, would give up a spot
in the all-star contest to be playing in the big game
that occurs just one week earlier.
-Meaningful Statistic
* 1,491
If there was ever any doubt that the Falcons had done
the right thing by nabbing LaDainian Tomlinson's
backup off the Chargers' roster in free agency, it has
been erased by Turner's spectacular first season in
Atlanta. With a game to play, he is just shy of 1,500
rushing yards.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
-Where They Stand
The Panthers lost a chance to secure
home field advantage throughout the
NFC playoffs when they fell in overtime
to the Giants on Sunday night,
but they remain in very good position
in the NFC race. A win next Sunday
in New Orleans will give Carolina the
NFC South title, the second seed in
the conference and a first-round bye.
At the very least, the
Panthers know they will be playing in
January. Carolina actually clinched a spot when
Dallas lost on Saturday night, and they are assured
of being no worse than the fifth seed. Since the
Falcons play the struggling St. Louis Rams inWeek
17 and Atlanta holds a potential tiebreaker edge over
Carolina, the Panthers finale in the Big Easy looms
quite large.
-Making a Difference on the Edges
When the Buccaneers gave up an unlikely 299 rushing
yards to Carolina inWeek 14, they identified several
reasons for the breakdown, not the least of
which was the aggressive edge blocking by the
Panthers' receivers.
A running game obviously needs good blocking
up front and talented backs to be successful, but
sometimes the difference in a small gain and a
breakaway can be the work of a receiver blocking on
the second level. Carolina wideouts Steve Smith
andMuhsinMuhammad have been excelling in that
area, which helps explain why the Panthers have
been nearly unstoppable on the ground as of late.
"I think a lot of it is want-to," saidMuhammad.
"If you want to do it, you're going to do it. If you
don't want to do it, you ain't going to do it.
Obviously it adds to the things that you can bring to
the offense."
-Meaningful Statistic
* 20
Eight weeks ago, DeAngeloWilliams
was having a nice season as part of a
rushing tandemwith rookie Jonathan
Stewart. Now, with one game still to
go,Williams is suddenly a 20-touchdownman.
After stinging the Giants
with four TDs Sunday night,Williams
has now scored 17 times in the
Panthers' last eight games, with at
least one TD in each contest.
NEWORLEANS
-Where They Stand
Well, the Saints knew they were out of the race
after being eliminated inWeek 15, but that seemed
to have little effect on their efforts inWeek 16.
New Orleans crushed Detroit, 42-7, to keep the
Lions winless heading into the final weekend, and
the Saints did it without RB Reggie Bush, who is
now on injured reserve.
Four different Saints scored rushing touchdowns
to stake the visiting teamto a big lead, and
record-chaser Drew Brees capped the scoring
assault with two TD passes toWRMarques
Colston.
The Saints have little on the line in their season
finale next Sunday, but they will play a part in
the final NFC standings as they play host to the
Panthers. New Orleans has played extremely well
at home this year and, in fact, can finish off an
unusual division-wide trend if they upend a red-hot
Carolina team. If the Saints win, every teamin the
NFC South will be 3-3 in division play, with not a
single victory by a road teamalong the way.
- Finishing on a Strong Note
Injuries limited Saints star receiver Colston earlier
in the 2008 season, and in his absence other bigtime
contributors emerged to fill the void, as New
Orleans' explosive offense rolled on. Brees found a
new favorite target in former undrafted free agent
LanceMoore and RB Pierre Thomas became a dual
rushing-receiving threat.
In the season's finalmonth, however, Colston
has returned to health and Brees has rediscovered
the joys of passing to the 6-4, 225-pound playmaker.
In the last four games, Colston has hauled in 24
passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns. He also
had a 70-yard touchdown on his only catch inWeek
12 to help the Saints pound the Packers, 51-29.
-Meaningful Statistic
* 11
Brees was not sacked on 40 dropbacks
in Detroit, whichmeans he has
been taken down just 11 times all season.
That's remarkably good protection
by the Saints' line, given how
pass-centric the Saints' offense has
proven to be. If they give up three or
fewer sacks inWeek 17 against
Carolina, the Saints will set a new
teamrecord for fewest sacks allowed
in a season.
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Getty Images