The New Orleans Saints did their job in Week 17, ending the season with a decisive 33-7 win over the Carolina Panthers. In turn, they secured the No. 2 seed and will face off against the Chicago Bears in the Wild Card Round this Sunday.
While there was a possibility the Saints could clinch the No. 1 seed, fate ultimately rested in the hands of Chicago; the Bears and Seattle Seahawks both needed a win for New Orleans to get the first-round bye. That doesn’t take away from a resolute victory by a team that suffered the loss of an entire starting position group, and a clear, resounding reminder that the Saints will always find a way to win.