“These next two weeks, we’re going to have to put it on the line,” tight end Juwan Johnson said. “The next 14 days that we can take to prioritize … being committed, being focused. That’s all we ask you for, is 14 days to really give it all you have so we can just have a chance.”
The Saints (7-8) have to win out to have a shot at making the postseason, and even that won’t guarantee them a spot. They’ll need to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons and hope some other things fall their way as well.
Coach Dennis Allen was asked if it was safe to say the playoffs start this week. He didn’t confirm that thinking, but did say the Saints needed to be at their bes
“I think it’s safe to say we need to go out and win this week,” Allen responded. “That’s the only thing we really control, so any of those other variables, it’s in somebody else’s hand. But we control how we play this week so we need to go out and play really well against Tampa.”
Tampa (8-7) can clinch the NFC South title for the third straight season with a win against the Saints on Sunday.
“The only scenario for us to make the playoffs is we have to win out the last two. … You have to win if you want to have any chance,” center Erik McCoy said.
The Buccaneers have beaten the Saints in their last three meetings, including a 26-9 victory in Week 4 when the Saints failed to score a touchdown.
