One of the best parts of the NFL is getting to watch late season games between two opponents with a ton of motivation to win, and tonight’s contest in New Orleans is certain to live up to that standard, with both teams in need of a win to keep their dreams alive.

For the Saints, a victory would give them home field advantage throughout the playoffs, and extend their undefeated streak to an awe-inspiring 14 straight games this season. Obviously, the right to host any and all playoff games they’re a part of is by far the biggest motivator for New Orleans, as their rowdy fan base has the ability to drive opposing teams into making major mistakes.

That said, continuing their run to perfection has a tremendous amount of pull for this team, so much so that it’s doubtful that head coach Sean Payton will take his foot off the gas and rest his starters until the season is completely finished. It could hurt them in the long run, especially if a key player gets hurt, but having the mindset of wanting win them all is admirable and will keep every member of the team focused on the task at hand.

The Cowboys on the other hand, have more than their fair share at stake in this game as well, seeing as a loss would place them squarely behind the eight ball in the race for their division title, not to mention the wild card standings. December has been extraordinarily cruel to Dallas in recent years, handing the Cowboys a losing record every year in that month since 1996, and a loss tonight would only further that misery.

Dallas will also have their coach’s future to worry about, as the fate of Wade Phillips will likely hinge on the outcome of this game, especially if the Cowboys fail to make the playoffs this season. Owner Jerry Jones has made it utterly clear that he expects his team to win when it matters most, and anything short of a playoff victory will almost certainly spell the end of Phillips’ run in Big D.

All in all, this game should prove to be an epic affair, with both teams fighting for something of tremendous value, and we the viewers should consider ourselves lucky to have the chance to watch a game of this magnitude take place outside the friendly confines of Sunday afternoon. Kick back, grab something good to eat, and enjoy this one… it’s going to be fun.

If you’re like me, and your cable provider doesn’t carry the NFL Network, you can watch the game live on NFL.com

No related posts.