With the Detroit Lions winning but only narrowly over the Green Bay Packers, this one could suddenly matter. A lot.

The New Orleans Saints sealed up the third spot in the NFC, so a Falcons loss today would ensure Atlanta heads back to the Super Dome to play the team that has tormented them in 2011. In my opinion, that would be somewhat less than ideal.

It's time for the Falcons to buck up and play a full game of football, beat an inferior opponent and lock up a game against the winner of the NFC East. That game, contrary to my earlier post, isn't until later tonight. Either way, it's a better early matchup than the Saints.As much as I'd like to see the Falcons rest their starters, it's not gonna happen this week.

So let's hope the Falcons come out of the gates swinging, win this game and get a decent matchup for the divisional rounds of the playoffs. It'd enjoy that.

GO FALCONS!