New Orleans—There is a still feint heart in New Orleans Saints NFC playoff-land when Santa delivered a holiday gift to the Black and the Gold Sunday night by allowing the Washington Redskins to trip the Vikings in the NFL scramble. 

After an earlier and bruising 38 to 23 loss by the Saints to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Louisiana Superdome on Sunday there was hardly a playoff pulse.  However, due to the Washington win over Minnesota, the Redskins are in the last playoff-spot driver’s seat and could take that last berth in NFL week 16 as they play the Dallas Cowboys. 

The Cowboys have little to play for (other than pride) as they have won home field advantage during the playoffs and will likely be resting many of their star players.  Their home field advantage was helped when Green Bay lost to the Chicago Bears 35 to 7 on Sunday.

In addition, the Saints will need to watch the fate of the Minnesota Vikings as they take on the Denver Broncos.

Assuming the Cowboys do beat the Redskins and the Broncos defeat the Vikings, the Saints will have to beat the Bears in Chicago which was the scene of their playoff loss in 2006.  However, despite the possible wind, rain and snow which made their 2006 playoff game miserable, the Saints might have a better chance of winning than they would they have played in their own home, the Louisiana Superdome, where they have been 3-5, this season.  The Saints are 4-3 “away”, but have yet to play the December elements.