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Falcons vs. Saints Final Score: New Orleans Eliminated, 30-14

By Phil Watson

Dec 21, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham (80) catches the ball to score a touchdown as Atlanta Falcons strong safety Kemal Ishmael (36) defends during the fourth quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham (80) catches the ball to score a touchdown as Atlanta Falcons strong safety Kemal Ishmael (36) defends during the fourth quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Atlanta Falcons are only 6-9 but will play next week for the NFC South title after eliminating the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

For the second time in NFL history, a division champion will enter the postseason with a losing record.

Final. 14. 15. 30. 44

That much was guaranteed on Sunday when the Atlanta Falcons (6-9) eliminated the New Orleans Saints (6-9) from playoff contention with a 30-14 win at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

The Falcons’ win, combined with the Carolina Panthers’ 17-13 win over the Cleveland Browns in Charlotte, N.C., sets up a winner-take-all showdown—of sorts—at Atlanta next Sunday between the Falcons and Carolina (6-8-1).

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The first play of the fourth quarter might have sealed the deal. Drew Brees threw a pass to tight end Jimmy Graham near the goal line and the All-Pro tight end battled defensive back Kemal Ishmael to break the plane.

Ishmael knocked the ball free and recovered it, returning it to the Atlanta 20.

The ruling was reviewed and even though the replay appeared to show Graham’s arm breaking the plane of the goal line with the ball, the call on the field stood and an opportunity was lost for New Orleans.

Matt Ryan was 30-for-40 for 322 yard and threw a touchdown pass and the Falcons defense forced four turnovers and sacked Brees five times on the day.

New Orleans scored on the first play from scrimmage after Jalen Saunders returned the opening kickoff 99 yards to the Atlanta 1, with Mark Ingram banging it in on the very next play.

But the Falcons chipped away, getting a pair of Mark Bryant field goals to cut the lead to 7-6 and then taking the lead with three second left in the first half on a 3-yard shovel pass from Ryan to Eric Weems.

Devonta Freeman broke loose over the right side for a 31-yard touchdown run to put Atlanta ahead 20-7 late in the third quarter.

With 5:52 to go, the Saints got back to within 20-14 on a 4-yard scoring pass from Brees to Graham.

New Orleans got the ball back after a punt, but on second-and-10 from their own 10, Brees was intercepted by Robert McClain and with 1:56 to go, Bryant’s third field goal essentially clinched it.

The Saints got the ball into Atlanta territory but as the clock ran out, Brees was sacked by Kroy Biermann and fumbled. Osi Umenyiora recovered and returned it a leisurely 86-yard touchdown with no time remaining to end it.

Brees was 30-for-47 for 313 yards and a touchdown, but threw two picks and lost a fumble.

Julio Jones, who was only cleared to play early Sunday, wound up with seven receptions for 107 yards.

Atlanta is now 5-0 against the NFC South and 1-9 against the rest of the NFL.

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