National Football League

Week 16 storylines: Like it or not, Falcons and Saints playing one huge game

Published Dec. 17, 2014 10:22 a.m. ET

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Every week, our FOX Sports NFL Insiders break down three of the most important storylines you need to watch heading into Sunday. If you have any questions, be sure to hit them up on Twitter.

Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo)

Giants at Rams: This game comes with zero playoff implications. What it will provide is some clarity on Tom Coughlin's future. The New York Giants coach would love to continue in his role, despite many pointing to his age (68) and using that as a reason to suggest the game has passed him by. The Giants, though, are one of the more patient franchises out there and sources have told FOX Sports the organization would love to find reasons to keep Coughlin. Those reasons include Eli Manning's growing comfort in Ben McAdoo's offense and the emergence of rookie phenom Odell Beckham Jr.

There have been reports suggesting the Giants' victories over the Tennessee Titans and Washington Redskins have improved Coughlin's chances of sticking. A source is adamant the front office has not changed its opinion drastically and that management understands those are two of the worst teams in the league. But the source did say a good showing against the Rams, followed by another solid performance in Week 17 against the Philadelphia Eagles, would surely help Coughlin's case. Despite their sub-.500 record, the Rams are tougher competition than Washington and Tennessee.

If the Giants can play well, particularly on offense, and avoid an implosion in the final two weeks of the season, the organization might very well opt for the continuity that sticking with Coughlin would provide. But if they fall off the table and prove there is indeed a huge gap between them and the better teams in the league, Coughlin will probably have to do some convincing to stick. This is a huge two-game stretch for him, beginning this Sunday in St. Louis.

Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez)

Seahawks at Cardinals: The Cardinals have done an amazing job all season overcoming injuries to post the NFC's top record at 11-3. But now Arizona head coach Bruce Arians faces his greatest challenge so far: Finding a way to defeat Seattle and its top-ranked defense with Ryan Lindley at quarterback.

In his first NFL game action since 2012 as a Cardinals rookie, Lindley came through when forced into action during last Thursday night's 12-6 win over St. Louis after Drew Stanton went down with a sprained knee. But not embarrassing himself by playing a caretaker role and helping Arizona maintain a lead is one thing. Making impact plays in the passing game against an opponent as tough as Seattle is entirely different. Arizona's quarterbacking issues couldn't have come at a better time for the red-hot Seahawks (10-4), who can capture the NFC West and potentially snag home-field advantage throughout the playoffs by winning Sunday and in Week 17 when they host St. Louis (6-8).

Seattle already manhandled the Cardinals last month when Stanton was playing with a 19-3 triumph. If the Cardinals do squander their division lead, at least Arizona can take solace in knowing it has clinched a wild-card berth and Stanton could be available for the postseason.

Peter Schrager (@PSchrags)

Falcons at Saints: There's this feeling around the league that the 2014 NFC South champion isn't worthy or should almost feel guilty about making the playoffs, let alone hosting a first-round game. Don't tell that to the Saints and Falcons. Both teams -- and the Panthers -- will assure you that the playoffs are the playoffs and at the start of any season, winning the division is the goal.

"Nothing is odd about the NFL season," Falcons head coach Mike Smith said after Sunday's loss to the Steelers. "We've sat on the other side of it going on the road and having to play an 8-8 team that went to the Super Bowl, (then) playing a 9-7 team that won a Super Bowl. We're just glad that we're in the situation that we're in."

He's right. The Falcons traveled to Arizona to play the 9-7 Cardinals in January 2009 (okay, so he had the record wrong), and had to go to New York, despite winning two more games in the regular season than the Giants, in 2011. Both teams marched right by Atlanta and on to the Super Bowl.

Sean Payton gets it, too. His Saints were 11-5 in 2010, only to lose to a 7-9 Seattle team in Seattle during the Wild Card round.

Both teams enter Sunday's game still in control of their own destiny. I was in the Falcons' locker room after their loss Sunday to the Steelers, and though disappointed, there was no doomsday feeling of dread.

Atlanta beat New Orleans in Week 1. The last four teams who've traveled to the Superdome have come out winners. There's no reason to believe Atlanta can't come into New Orleans, win on Sunday, beat Carolina in Week 17, and host a playoff game the following weekend.

Then 7-9 will be enough. Whether the critics like it or not.  

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