In a dramatic finale to the regular season, the Atlanta Falcons delivered a result with major playoff implications, defeating their rivals the New Orleans Saints 19-17. The victory had the direct consequence of handing the NFC South division title to the Carolina Panthers.
Alford's Game-Changing Play
The pivotal moment came late in the fourth quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. With the Falcons leading 16-10, the Saints mounted a threatening drive from their own 25-yard line deep into Atlanta territory. On a pass from quarterback Tyler Shough intended for Dante Pettis at the Atlanta 20, cornerback Dee Alford stepped in for a critical red-zone interception.
Alford didn't just secure the turnover; he returned it 59 yards to the Saints' 27-yard line with just 3:14 remaining on the clock. This spectacular play set up kicker Zane Gonzalez for his fourth field goal of the day, a 38-yard effort that extended Atlanta's lead to nine points. Although Shough connected with Ronnie Bell for a 16-yard touchdown with 1:11 left, the Falcons' Kyle Pitts recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal the win.
NFC South Standings Fallout
By closing their campaign with four consecutive victories, the Falcons finished with an 8-9 record. This placed them in a three-way tie for first place in the NFC South with both the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Panthers claimed the division crown by virtue of holding the best record in games between the tied teams.
For the Saints, the loss ended a four-game winning streak and concluded a disappointing season with a 6-11 record. Atlanta completed a season sweep of their historic rivals.
Elsewhere in the NFL
The final Sunday of the regular season was packed with significant results across the league:
New York Giants 34 - 17 Dallas Cowboys: Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart threw two touchdown passes as the Giants (4-13) ended a lost season on a positive note with a second straight win. The result, combined with other games, cost New York a chance at a top-two draft pick, clinching the No. 1 selection for the Las Vegas Raiders. Dallas (7-9-1), with their playoff position settled, treated the game like an exhibition, with star quarterback Dak Prescott playing only the first half.
Minnesota Vikings 16 - 3 Green Bay Packers: The Vikings (9-8) finished a frustrating season with a fifth straight win, beating a Packers (9-7-1) side that had already secured the NFC's No. 7 seed and rested key players like quarterback Jordan Love. Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson surpassed 100 yards for the first time in 12 games, securing his sixth straight 1,000-yard season.
Jacksonville Jaguars 41 - 7 Tennessee Titans: Trevor Lawrence threw three touchdown passes, breaking the franchise's single-season record for total scores, as the Jaguars (13-4) romped to the AFC South title. The win, their eighth in a row, secured a home playoff game. It was the most lopsided result in the history of this divisional rivalry, sweeping the Titans (3-14) for the third time in four seasons.
