Saints vs. Falcons: 7 Reasons This Is a Must-Win Game for New Orleans

Every year in the NFL one team will win its division...

...But winning the division is rare for teams who can't win intradivision games.

At this point in the season, the New Orleans Saints are 2-1 against the NFC South. Generally, 4-2 is the worst divisional record a team can have and still expect to win the division.

This means the Saints must go at least 2-1 in the final three divisional games—against Atlanta this weekend and the night after Christmas, and the final game of the season at home on New Year's Day against the Carolina Panthers.

Even looking ahead that far is pointless. The Saints must focus on beating the Atlanta Falcons this weekend at the Georgia Dome, and look at nothing else. 

Following are 7 of the many reasons Sunday's game is must-win for the Saints:

Saints Need to Regain Their Road Prowess

A 2-3 road record is not good. Even worse is coming off an embarrassing loss two weeks ago to one of football's three worst teams—the St. Louis Rams. 

If that isn't enough motivation to come out ready to play then the Saints are probably in trouble. 

With Sean Payton and Drew Brees, Saints Have Owned the Falcons

Under Sean Payton and the quarterbacking of Drew Brees, the New Orleans Saints have defeated the Atlanta Falcons eight of the 10 times they've played. 

It's been sheer domination under Sean Payton. In fact, the Saints have handed the Falcons two of their five home losses under Mike Smith and Matt Ryan. 

Losing Sunday would cause the Saints to question whether the things they've been doing the last few years—specifically crushing the Falcons—are still working. 

Sunday the Saints' main concern should not be winning the division, but continuing to dominate their main rival—the Falcons. 

It's November

In the past two seasons, the New Orleans Saints have pretty much dominated in the month of November. That isn't to say that they haven't had some close calls—they have. 

But they've come out victorious and gained ground (or in 2009, raced away from every contender to their playoff berth). The 2011 Saints are largely the same team that responded that way the previous two seasons. 

And because they are largely the same team, it's reasonable to expect the same results; achieving those results starts with the same elements the Saints have used the past two years. 

Those were unshakable play from Drew Brees and a stingy defense that made life difficult for opposing offenses. 

The Falcons Are En Fuego!

The birds come in having won three games in a row, albeit against relatively feeble competition, but the Saints can't even match that record against comparatively unimpressive competition.

More importantly, if the Saints allow the Falcons to win this game, the Falcons would gain all the momentum they need to potentially steal the NFC South Division title—something that seemed highly unlikely three weeks ago. 

Other than the rematch with the Saints, the Falcons play only one other good team the rest of the season—the Houston Texans in Week 13. Meanwhile the Saints still have the Giants and Lions at home, plus the Falcons. 

The schedule after this week favors the Falcons, making a win in this week's game crucial. 

Can't Go into a Bye Week with a Loss

Though one could make the argument that the best time to have a bye week is after a loss, it is still not the best option.

Every team's goal is to win every game. Thus, it is that much more important to go into a bye week after a win, with the players and coaches feeling good about their progress. 

This allows the players and coaches to honestly assess the team, but to do that so the players won't react in a "that coach is just a jerk" manner, but in a "he is happy with our progress but knows we can be even better" mood.

It is a subtle difference, but for players it is a real difference. Players can see right through the motives of the coach based on the circumstance. 

Heading into a bye week off a win is much better for positive instruction and for additional rest. That additional rest can only help a team that's started to get bruised up like the Saints have been.

New Orleans Is Just Better

I'm not huge on the whole "my city is better than yours," or "my country is better than all others" argument. But let's be real—there's no way Atlanta is better than New Orleans.

No WAY!

Atlanta is known for its food and music industry. Well New Orleans has its own food and its own music, and does both better than anyone else. 

So even if you're not a huge football fan, or Xs and Os type person, here's a good reason for the Saints to win.

New Orleans is better!

It's for the Division

Let's not kid ourselves. The Tampa Bay Bucs aren't going to win the NFC South. Neither are the Carolina Panthers.

That leaves just the Saints and Falcons as realistic options to earn a first-round home game, or bye. 

Of course due to the Saints having to play the Giants—and the fact they unequivocally will destroy them on Monday Night Football—a first-round bye is very much in play for the winner of this game. 

But it would be more difficult to accomplish that feat—or simply to win the division—for the loser of Sunday's matchup. 

Yes, it is conceivable the division could come down to the Week 16 matchup between these two teams at the Superdome on Monday Night Football.

But last year's Week 16 win, only wrapped up a playoff spot for the Saints. It still left them with little hope of securing the South division crown. 

In other words, Sunday's tilt between the three-loss teams is the most important game either team will play all season—until January of course.