Pittsburgh 28 @ New Orleans 31 Final - CBS

SAINTS CLINCH HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE THROUGHOUT NFC PLAYOFFS!!!!!



Scoring Plays:
1Q - PIT - Chris Boswell 49 yd FG GOOD 3-0 PIT
1Q - NO - Mark Ingram II 1 yd TD rush (PAT Good) 7-3 NO
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2Q - PIT - Chris Boswell 30 yd FG GOOD 7-6 NO
2Q - NO - Alvin Kamara 8 yd TD rush (PAT Good) 14-6 NO
2Q - PIT - Ben Roethlisberger to Jaylen Samuels 3 yd TD pass (Ben Roethlisberger to Eli Rogers 2 yd pass 2PC Good) 14-14
2Q - NO - Wil Lutz 43 yd FG GOOD 17-14 NO
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3Q - NO - Alvin Kamara 1 yd TD rush (PAT Good) 24-14 NO
3Q - PIT - Ben Roethlisberger to Antonio Brown 3 yd TD pass (PAT Good) 24-21 NO
3Q - PIT - Ben Roethlisberger to Antonio Brown 20 yd TD pass (PAT Good) 28-24 PIT
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4Q - NO - Drew Brees to Michael Thomas 2 yd TD pass (PAT Good) 31-28 NO
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Hello, Merry Christmas, & Happy Holidays, Who Dats. Welcome to the Week 16/Game 15 Game Thread!!



Hey Pittsburgh... there's only 1 turnover photo op... and it belongs to the Saints



It could be a big day for your favorite National Football League club, and mine, as the Saints try to lock up the top-seed in the NFC playoffs for just the second time in franchise history, with the other obviously coming back the season the Saints won it all, 2009.

But, unlike last week, the NFL's schedule makers got what they wanted when they scheduled this game this late in the season, two teams fighting for position in the postseason. Pittsburgh is just a half-game ahead of Baltimore in the AFC North, so the Steelers need this win to stay in front of the Ravens for the division title, which could end up being the difference between making the postseason and seeing their season come to a close next Sunday.

On the injury front, what could have been a disaster Monday night with all the injuries on the offensive line seems to have washed out ok as Jermon Bushrod is the only player injured during Monday's game listed as OUT for today's game. That injury is wiped out by the return of the player he was originally replacing, Terron Armstead. The Saints wide receiver corps is getting a huge boost today with the return of Ted Ginn, Jr., who has been taken off of IR and is set to get back on the field this afternoon.

The Saints may also get a bit lucky with Steeler injuries, too. RB James Conner is set to miss another game with an ankle injury, while WR JuJu Smith-Schuster injured his groin during practice on Thursday and is QUESTIONABLE to play today. He'll test things out pre-game, but even a hobbled Smith-Schuster is a win for the Saints.

LET'S MELT THE STEELERS AND ENJOY DOMEFIELD ADVANTAGE FOR THE REST OF OUR REMAINING GAMES!!!

Saints Playoff Clinching Scenarios:
Saints Clinch Home Field Advantage Through NFC Playoffs With:
A) Saints Win
B) Saints Tie & Rams Loss or Tie (@ Cardinals @ 3:05 PM)
C) Bears Loss or Tie (@ 49ers @ 3:05 PM) & Rams Loss

Saints Clinch First Round Bye With:
A) Saints Tie
B) Bears Loss or Tie
C) Rams Loss

Uniforms: The Saints will go with the all-black look today against the Steelers



Today's Officials:
Referee: #4 Craig Wrolstad (this crew worked our game at Minneapolis earlier this season, a 30-20 Saints win)


Umpire: #121 Paul King
Down Judge: #6 Jerod Phillips
Line Judge: #101 Carl Johnson
Field Judge: #21 Jeff Lamberth
Side Judge: #29 Adrian Hill
Back Judge: #93 Scott Helverson
Replay Official: Larry Nemmers
Replay Assistant: Kevin Stine

Inactive Lists:
PIT-
QB Mason Rudolph
S Marcus Allen
CB Brian Allen
RB James Conner
OT Zach Banner
LB Olasunkanmi Adeniyi
DE L.T. Walton

NO-
TE Dan Arnold
T Jermon Bushrod
WR Austin Carr
WR Simmie Cobbs
DE Trey Hendrickson
DL Mitchell Loewen
LB Manti Te’o