AK is a maybe for Sunday

Good morning, and welcome to the January 6 edition of the Saints Insider newsletter. Only one more day until we know the Saints playoff fate. 

Will the Saints have one of their best playmakers there to help them clinch a spot? That remains to be seen. 

Let's get to the news. 

Kamara is questionable

Alvin Kamara missed his third straight day of practice with a sprained ankle yesterday, which means he did not suit up at all this week in preparation for Atlanta.

But does that mean he's ruled out? Not so fast. 

Coach Dennis Allen said yesterday that Kamara will be a game-time decision for Sunday's game, saying, "He’s one of those guys that is so valuable to our team that we’re going to go all the way up to game-time to see where he’s at."

Kamara is the most notable of the Saints on this week's injury report, but he's far from the only one with a game designation. Check out the full list here. 

Tough guys

One of the most eye-opening aspects of last week's win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was the way the Saints physically dominated the game. Maybe that didn't happen just by chance. 

Matthew Paras has the story about how the Saints sent a message about what they expected out of their team last week with a late-season padded practice. 

As Paras explained, "The re-discovered physicality is an aspect the Saints will have to continue this weekend. To have any chance at the playoffs, New Orleans must win Sunday when it hosts the Atlanta Falcons. And for the Saints to win, they’ll have to shut down a vaunted Falcons run game that has given them fits over the last year and a half."

New pod! 

The Saints Insider crew was back in studio for one final regular season podcast, in which Jeff Duncan, Rod Walker, Zach Ewing and yours truly break the Saints' Week 18 matchup down, dissecting the game on both sides of the ball, giving an injury update and analyzing the mentality of the New Orleans players.

Check it out here today before you go out to catch the beginning of another carnival season in New Orleans. 

Cheers, and feel free to send some king cake to your friendly neighborhood sports writer. 

Luke Johnson