Philadelphia 27 Carolina 24

Well, Saints fans, the scenario is pretty simple:

1) If the Saints beat the Panthers the final week of the season, and
2) The Saints win one other game or Atlanta loses one more game:

IT'S OVER. NOBODY WILL CATCH US. THE SAINTS WILL BE NFC SOUTH CHAMPIONS!

It's still tough, but it just got a lot easier. The Saints could still keep the Panthers down by just keeping on winning, but the point is this: The Saints can still be champs EVEN if they lose their next three games (which won't happen).

The only thing that can keep the Saints down now is a Jim Haslett/Aaron Brooks-like collapse. And they ain't here no more.

Thanks, Donte', for stepping up in a game the Saints desperately needed.

And, Keyshawn Johnson, you are a chicken-shit cry-baby sore loser.

It's almost time to start talking about that #2 seed, but not quite.

POST SCRIPT: If the Saints beat the Panthers in the final game. The Saints will have a split with the Panthers, a sweep of the Falcons, and a 5-1 division record. Not to mention (at worst) an 8-4 conference record. In this scenario, the Falcons would be 7-5 at best and the Panthers would be 6-6 at best. I didn't consult "official tie breaker rules," but it sounds pretty cut and dry, even in the case of a 3-way tie.