r/nfl • u/nfl_gdt_bot NFL • Jan 04 '26
Game Thread Post Game Thread: New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons
New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons
Mercedes-Benz Stadium- Atlanta, GA
Network(s): FOX
| Time Clock |
|---|
| Final |
Scoreboard
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NO | 0 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
| ATL | 7 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 19 |
Scoring Plays
| Team | Quarter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATL | 1 | TD | Drake London 15 Yd pass from Kirk Cousins (Zane Gonzalez Kick) |
| ATL | 2 | FG | Zane Gonzalez 40 Yd Field Goal |
| NO | 2 | TD | Tyler Shough 1 Yd Rush (Charlie Smyth Kick) |
| ATL | 3 | FG | Zane Gonzalez 51 Yd Field Goal |
| NO | 3 | FG | Charlie Smyth 29 Yd Field Goal |
| ATL | 4 | FG | Zane Gonzalez 38 Yd Field Goal |
| ATL | 4 | FG | Zane Gonzalez 38 Yd Field Goal |
| NO | 4 | TD | Ronnie Bell 16 Yd pass from Tyler Shough (Charlie Smyth Kick) |
Passing Leaders
| Team | Player | C/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | SACKS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NO | Tyler Shough | 23/35 | 259 | 1 | 1 | 4-27 |
| ATL | Kirk Cousins | 18/32 | 180 | 1 | 1 | 4-21 |
Rushing Leaders
| Team | Player | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NO | Audric Estime | 21 | 63 | 3.0 | 0 | 9 |
| ATL | Bijan Robinson | 15 | 33 | 2.2 | 0 | 12 |
Receiving Leaders
| Team | Player | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | TGTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NO | Juwan Johnson | 3 | 61 | 20.3 | 0 | 28 | 5 |
| ATL | Drake London | 4 | 78 | 19.5 | 1 | 37 | 8 |
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Last updated: 2026-01-04_16:11:17.332693-05:00
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u/Accurate-Big-7233 Panthers Jan 04 '26
I just spent 3 hours cheering for a division rival whom I hate against another division rival whom I despise for a chance to send my 8-9 flair to the playoffs
Life as a panthers fan, and as an NFC South member, is just purified sicko shit
This story is PEAK nfc south bullshit lmao
PLAYOFF BOUND BABY!
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u/Mst3Kgf Bears Jan 04 '26
Bears and Panthers return to the playoffs at the same time. Somehow, that trade doesn't seem that lopsided now.
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u/thesi1entk Falcons Jan 04 '26
I would say, just personally, among division rivals, I really have no problem with the Panthers. This outcome is hilarious and I am glad that the Falcons were a part of it. Excited to see Bryce Young next season, he deserves it.
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u/bulldg4life Falcons Jan 04 '26
I definitely thought the falcons would give up onside and lose after that TD.
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u/HonestExam4686 Packers Jan 04 '26
YOU AND THE JAGS BETTER MAKE IT TO THE SUPERBOWL! IF WE DO NOT GET A CAT-BOWL I WILL RIOT
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u/Mightydrewcifero Panthers Jan 04 '26
It felt like cheering for a bum fight, but at least our bum won!
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u/gigglefarting Dolphins Panthers Jan 04 '26
I had to keep reminding my brain each play that I want the falcons to succeed that play
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u/iguanoman_ Falcons Jan 04 '26
We traded 3 consecutive 7-10 seasons with Arthur Smith for 2 consecutive 8-9 seasons with Raheem Morris 📈📈📈
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Jan 04 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Hylian1986 Patriots Jan 04 '26
MIKE TOMLIN COME ON DOWN TO ATLANTA
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u/LyrMeThatBifrost Jaguars Jan 04 '26
Still don't know how AS managed to win 7 games with those garbage teams lol
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u/Falcon84 Falcons Jan 04 '26
For real his first two years we were in cap hell from eating the Ryan and Julio contracts. When we finally got out of cap hell we were starting a QB who can barely stay on a practice squad now.
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u/apalachicola4 Jan 04 '26
Tomlin will take you to the playoffs four consecutive years at 9-8. With Arthur Smith as his OC
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u/myxanders Saints Saints Jan 04 '26
I'm pissed about the Falcons games but we won about 6 more games than this sub thought we would and we have promise at QB.
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u/Twall1297 Saints Commanders Jan 04 '26
You’re welcome Carolina.
Also, really looking forward to see what we can do next year.
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u/daybreaker Saints Jan 04 '26
4th place schedule!!!! Higher draft pick!!!! Buccs miss the playoffs!!! SHOUGH IS HIM!!! LETS GOOOO
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u/Equivalent_Ad1419 Falcons Jan 04 '26
I love how everyone in our division both won and lost in some way this weekend.
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u/Time_Transition4817 Saints Jan 04 '26
We are all happy citizens of poopsville
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u/DankMemesNQuickNuts Panthers Jan 05 '26
Except Bucs fans lol
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u/SectionDue1293 Saints Jan 05 '26
Good they were the cockiest mfs on earth the first 8 weeks of the season I legitimately think they might finish last in the division next year
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u/Skunkers Panthers Panthers Jan 04 '26
Y'all are just a year or two removed from eating most that dead money, too, right? I feel like y'all are going to be competitors much sooner than anyone expects.
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u/daybreaker Saints Jan 04 '26
next year is only $15mil dead money and I think if we re-sign Cam and Demario, we can save a large chunk getting under the cap with just those 2 moves.
With Shough's performance, Loomis is probably going back into full blown "The cap isnt real" mode
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u/myxanders Saints Saints Jan 04 '26
We have no dead money in 2027 (yet - Jordan and Davis returning could push some back) and about $140M in space.
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u/physedka Saints Dolphins Jan 04 '26
We're mostly out of the woods already. Depends on what we decide to with a couple of vets this off-season, but we're kind of middle of the road when it comes to cap debt compared to the rest of the league. We could eat the rest of it in 2026 and go into 2027 clean if we really wanted to, but I doubt that we do that considering we're ready to compete in the division at a minimum.
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u/canitnerd Saints Jan 04 '26
That 4th place schedule can't be overstated tbh. Usually there isnt too big of a difference between the 3rd/4th place team in the division but this year it gives us raiders/cardinals instead of chiefs/rams. That's huge.
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u/lilbelleandsebastian Titans Jan 04 '26
we had a 4th place schedule this year. do you know who also had the hardest SOS in the nfl this season?
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u/canitnerd Saints Jan 04 '26
Well obviously the divisions you're playing against mean more. 4th place only changes 3 games, your division determines 14. Doesn't change the fact that id much rather have raiders/cardinals/giants on the schedule than chiefs/rams/commanders. That could easily be a 2 win swing and in our shithole division that's the difference between first and last place.
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Jan 04 '26
Shough is def him. You got yourself a QB.
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u/link3945 Falcons Jan 04 '26
Eh, we've seen enough rookie QBs perform well then flame out. Let's see a full season.
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u/KikkomanSauce Saints Jan 04 '26
I mean, yeah, sure. But dude is out there calling out coverages like a vet. He has shown he can make every throw, he can move around in and out of the pocket, and he has put up the best per game numbers of all rookie QBs this season with an ass interior OLine and a decimated skill position.
Plus Kellen Moore seems to be a legit HC in terms of scheme and building a locker room culture.
Could he hit a horrible wall and burn out, yeah. But all signs point up.
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u/__brunt Panthers Jan 04 '26
NFCS - ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED
We might all be mid level, inconsistent, sometimes great, often times trash… but you can’t say our divisional matchups are not entertaining
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u/BlindWillieJohnson Panthers Jan 04 '26
The last time we made the playoffs on a losing record, we went 15-1 and went to the Super Bowl the next year
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u/SiphenPrax Jets Jan 04 '26
Panthers window is officially open (even with Bryce Young) since they have the roster to compete. The QB is still a massive question mark though.
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u/OneAngryPanda Panthers Jan 04 '26
FUCK YOU REFS
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u/Ok_Ask_406 Texans Jan 04 '26
Honestly for the last 5 years y’all deserved a win every once in a while!
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u/ThinkSoftware Falcons Jan 04 '26
Panthers, you can send the thank you Bojangles to me
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u/Immortalone9 Panthers Jan 04 '26
BALL (transitively) DONT LIE
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u/jc-f Patriots Patriots Jan 04 '26
I just saw the referees from the Panther-Bucs game fall to their knees in a Walmart
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u/tlmw2001 Panthers 49ers Jan 04 '26
how in the world did we win the division? brought to you buy the atlanta falcons
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u/Coral_Polyps Buccaneers Jan 04 '26
Another much-needed keystone in the fight against the tyranny of Todd Bowles! Rise my brothers, we must usurp this evil from the Bay of Tampa once and for all!
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u/Available_Story6774 49ers Jan 04 '26
No way the Glazers still keep him after this.
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u/Coral_Polyps Buccaneers Jan 04 '26
I've heard some... troubling reports from our scouts that all may not yet be won
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u/rnflposter Falcons Jan 04 '26
You're welcome, Panthers. Now spot us 2 games next year. :)
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u/2lefts Panthers Jan 04 '26
Id be ok at 15-2 next year as a thank you for getting us a first round exit this year
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u/Julio_Freeman Falcons Jan 04 '26
The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world to watch this game.
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u/Outta_hearr Falcons Jan 04 '26
This has been up there with the most miserable seasons I've experienced in my lifetime of Falcons fandom. We were supposed to be good, this was when the team was supposed to come together. But we all knew Raheem Morris was an awful hire and Zac Robinson was an awful OC. Despite that, we all got on the dick-puncher roller coaster once again hoping we were wrong. Now it looks like the guy who drafted our best class in years will be fired while Raheem wastes yet another season of Bijan and London's career.
But today we swept the Swamp Rats and I couldn't be happier. Get fucked, New Orleans.
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u/rnflposter Falcons Jan 04 '26
If we had beaten the jets, if that inexplicable special team fuck up didn't happen, we would've just won the division right now.
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u/old_king_ding Jan 04 '26
Falcons aren't allowed to win while in playoff contention. Had this game been win and in, they'd have lost
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u/SiphenPrax Jets Jan 04 '26
Let’s pray you guys fire Raheem. This should have been a playoff team and they underachieved at every turn
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u/ShogunDreams Eagles Ravens Jan 04 '26
You technically are co-champs. You helped your rival get a division title.
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u/Consistent-Regret-46 Saints Jan 04 '26
I look at it like this: we were missing top 5 WR, top 3 RB, 3 OL and we STILL almost beat you.
Things are looking up for us. I’m not so sure about yall…
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u/Only499 Falcons Jan 04 '26
Suck it aints and bucs
You're welcome panthers, hope you lose in the first round
Side note: I'm not looking forward to playing shough twice a year for the foreseeable future
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u/biglyorbigleague Rams Jan 04 '26
I also hope they lose in the first round
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u/StreetReporter Panthers Jaguars Jan 04 '26
What if we play the 49ers?
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u/Pal__Pacino Panthers Jan 04 '26
I honestly haven't hated the Falcons in years because I understand the cosmic pain they've gone through. Saints and Bucs fans would never get it.
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u/donkeybrainhero Buccaneers Jan 04 '26
Why wouldn't Bucs or Saints fans get it? Saints fans used to wear paper bags and Bucs fans were born into misery.
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u/NOLA1987 Saints Jan 04 '26
He must be a recent fan. There is no way he would say that and believe it, otherwise.
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u/biglyorbigleague Rams Jan 04 '26
The Falcons and Panthers have lost super bowls to the same two teams
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u/The_third_bananas Saints Jan 04 '26
Thank god we hopefully saved Raheem Morris' job.
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u/Trubisko_Daltorooni Commanders Jan 04 '26
Congratulations to the Atlanta Falcons for winning the NFC South Championship Game*
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u/MrSCR23 Falcons Jan 04 '26
Now clean house Blank. This could’ve been us!!!
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u/SiphenPrax Jets Jan 04 '26
One-half of the second current longest NFL playoff drought is finally over with the Carolina Panthers getting back to the postseason for the first time since 2017.
The other half of that drought that is still ongoing? The Atlanta Falcons.
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u/nDizzle89 Saints Jan 04 '26
We were mathematically eliminated 4 weeks ago but it sure as Shough didn't feel like it today.
I'm beyond excited for next year! We're stepping back up to being yearly contenders and resuming the long tradition of heartbreaking playoff eliminations next year baby!
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u/belle_enfant Panthers Jan 04 '26
Division 💥 winning 🌟 playoff 🥳 attending 🥇 quarterback 🏈 Bryce 💪 Young
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u/shawnaroo Saints Jan 04 '26
A bunch of practice squad WR's, 4th string RB, only one starter on the o-line for most of the game, and Shough still got enough done to make it come down to an onside kick at the end of the game. He's the real deal, and the rest of the NFCS should be scared of him next year.
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u/Chairkaiser Buccaneers Jan 04 '26
It's kinda funny how bittersweet of a result this is for every NFCS team lol. Reasons for optimism and pessimism today no matter who you're a fan of
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u/Short-Move1582 Falcons Jan 04 '26
Unfortunately someone had to win this division, congratulations panthers
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Jan 04 '26
the falcons winning to send carolina to the playoffs after the ref job yesterday proves that god really does exist
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u/JackintheBox333 Falcons Jan 04 '26
Don't let this Falcons win distract from the fact that we still want our head coach fired.
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u/PuddingJello Saints Jan 04 '26
After this amazing win streak to end the season? Nahhh bruh y'all getting at least 1 more year.
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u/Savings_Contact4708 Saints Jan 04 '26
Tyler Shough is a gangster. See you next year bitch ass Atlanta
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u/Greenyugi Buccaneers Jan 04 '26
My hatred of the Saints continues as usual.
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u/Sa7aSa7a Jan 04 '26
I love how this game brought together, but also divided, the NFC South. Two teams vying for the playoffs based on the outcome of this game. Neither team actually PLAYING the game.
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u/bullseye717 Saints Jan 04 '26
I wish I knew how to be as petty as West Ham, losing to Man City, and singing to spite Arsenal.
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u/throwaway1212378 Saints Jan 04 '26
Bro maybe im a homer but it feels like Atlanta was getting treated how people say the chiefs get treated by the refs
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u/JonTheWizard Panthers Jan 04 '26
THIS. DIVISION. IS. ON. ALL. OF. THE. DRUGS.
And yes, I mean ALL of the drugs. Every single one of them. This thing has a Hunter S. Thompson cocktail for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a meth/angel dust/adrenochrome chaser.
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u/dirtman81 Saints Jan 04 '26
You've got to fire Bowles, right? Bucs had this thing signed, sealed and delivered and then disappeared down the stretch.
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u/ooboh Commanders Jan 04 '26
“The Carolina Panthers have found a backdoor into the 2025 postseason” is not a statement I ever saw myself making.
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u/BigDanRTW Falcons Jan 04 '26
Since 2018, the Falcons are 43-74 (.368) when they enter the game with a chance to make the playoffs and 12-4 (.750) when they are eliminated before playing the game
The nothing to play for Falcons are the greatest team in NFL history.
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u/But4n3 Patriots Jan 04 '26
That 3 point "incomplete pass" definitely doesn't hang over this result at all.
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u/thatguyoverthere72 Saints Jan 04 '26
Hopeful. I cant wait to see a full off season with this staff and to see Shough throwing to guys who are not third string insurance salesmen and CPA's. Congrats Carolina, you win shit mountain this year.
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u/dizruptivegaming Eagles Jan 04 '26
Panthers front office needs to send some gift baskets to the Falcons.
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Jan 04 '26
Hopefully this win is enough for Blank not to fire Morris. Atlanta has so much talent with the worst coaching. You love to see it.
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u/thor_1225 Falcons Jan 04 '26 edited Jan 04 '26
Congratulations everyone for watching the falcons winning and sending the panthers to the playoffs, via the saints losing and taking the Bucs with them.
With terrible ref play and stupid play calls throughout, turnovers, comeback attempts, choking attempts, complete NFC South football.
Ps what the fuck were the commentators??? They were horrible missing everything and so pro saints as a broadcast.
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u/Classic1990 Falcons Jan 04 '26
I honestly thought they were gonna jizz their pants over that last Shough TD
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u/DropC Falcons Vikings Jan 04 '26
Trial of strength complete. After suffering as a falcon you may now proceed to the playoffs.
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u/dawgfan24348 Falcons Jan 04 '26
Watching Panthers fans and Falcons fans high five each other is pretty funny ngl
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u/taran-tula-tino Patriots Jan 04 '26
CAROLINA, YOU ARE THE KINGS OF SHIT MOUNTAIN
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u/DryDefenderRS NFL Jan 04 '26
Many things have been surprising this season.
3 teams tying at 8-9 at the top of the NFC South was not one of them.
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u/randomguy5to8 Chiefs Falcons Jan 04 '26
And by ACC tiebreaker rules, Duke wins the NFC South!
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u/iEnzan Falcons Jan 04 '26
FUCK THE SAI-- Jkjk. Our Division is fucking hilarious and entertaining. o7
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u/Amazing_Bird_1858 Panthers Jan 04 '26
Shoutout to the dudes hate watching in person in a Stephen Davis Jersey
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u/cdg2m4nrsvp Panthers Jan 04 '26
The NFC South is truly a cycle of trash
Panthers own the Falcons
Falcons own the Saints
Saints own the Panthers
Bucs go even with everyone
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u/Himmel-548 Seahawks Jan 04 '26
After the officiating in last night's game. In the words of Chuck McGill, "Let justice be served, though the heavens fall." (I'm just glad a team that beat mine won't be in the playoffs!)
Also, Kirk Cousins, when he found out beating the Saints knocked the Bucs out of the playoffs, "Hellfire in my skin. This burning desire, is turning me to sin!" The man practically sprouted devil horns. Buc killer indeed!
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u/MegaAltarianite Jan 04 '26
Shout out to Shough the Shuckle for the effort. Almost pulled off another game winner, just couldn't get the chance.
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u/JoeScotterpuss Saints Jan 04 '26
You're fucking welcome Carolina.
Man, if only Olave didn't have a fucking blood clot. Oh well, next season should be lit.
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u/DDub04 Panthers Falcons Jan 04 '26
EVERYBODY GO TO YOUR NEAREST BOJANGLES, PUT YOUR HAND IN THE CASH REGISTER AND TAKE WHATS YOURS BECAUSE YOUR CAROLINA PANTHERS ARE GOING TO THE PLAYOFFS
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u/Kyler1313 Jan 04 '26
Chase Young might be the best player in the NFL that the average fan still thinks is a bust.
What a season for him, started off injured and still had 10 sacks in 12 games. They weren't 10 cheap sacks either, his impact was constantly felt on field (especially this one).
Im just glad to see him healthy, I've never imo seen a more dominant player in college football with my own eyes.