Atlanta Falcons-New Orleans Saints: Matt Ryan Can't Pry Torch From Drew Brees

Passing the torch: to give responsibility to someone.

After the New Orleans Saints' victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night, Drew Brees' title of best passer in the NFC is secure—he still holds that torch.

Now, it would be foolish to say that Matt Ryan would be considered the undisputed top passer if the Falcons won yesterday.  If they did win though, Ryan would've been in prime position to claim that torch.

A win would've meant that Ryan swept Brees in the season series, stole the division crown and clinched home field advantage all in a prime-time battle.  Two out of those three things can still happen, but not the sweep.

Again, if the Falcons had won last night and if they ran into the Saints in the playoffs and defeated them, Ryan would have to be considered the top gun slinger, right?

Well, it didn't happen, so let's focus on what could happen.  Actually, it probably will happen.

The Falcons will easily defeat the pitiful Panthers next Sunday.  That means the Saints will be stuck with the Wild Card even if they do finish with a better record than the Philadelphia Eagles or Chicago Bears.  Still, they can't get passed by anyone so at least they'll receive the fifth seed instead of the sixth.

That fifth seed is pretty much a bye in itself.  The Saints will take on the winner of the NFC West—either the 8-8 St. Louis Rams or the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks—an automatic win.

If the third seed in the NFC defeats the sixth seed, a likely occurrence, the Saints will fly east to Atlanta once again to take on the Falcons.

There, Matt Ryan will have another shot at Drew Brees.  A win wouldn't take away the torch, but again, he would get his hands on it.

A Super Bowl victory then would be the only thing in Ryan's way to cement himself at the NFC's top passer.

Now, I'm not trying to make Matt Ryan sound like an egotistical head case over here.  This whole situation hasn't crept into his head at all.  The only thing he cares about is winning a Super Bowl for the Falcons and the city of Atlanta.

I'm just noting the side effects if his dream, a Super Bowl victory, were to come true.

David Daniels is an NFL Featured Columnist and Writing Intern at Bleacher Report and a Syndicated Writer. Follow him at One Yard Short.com or on Twitter.