While the Saints can wrap up the NFC South title today with a win, or a loss by the Atlanta Falcons, the final five games on the schedule are significant for New Orleans because all are against NFC opposition.

With the Minnesota Vikings right on their heels, one game back in the race for home-field advantage in the conference, the Saints know there's no room for error - not as long as the Vikings, who go against the Arizona Cardinals tonight, keep winning.

Winning the division is nice, and winning it so early is nicer, but the Saints realize there's a whole lot more out there. An undefeated season is one goal, but the most important one is earning home-field advantage for the playoffs.

To do that, they may have to run the table if the 10-1 Vikings keep on winning as well.

To remain on track to stay home throughout the playoffs, barring a loss or two by the Vikings, the Saints will have to start their stretch run with a win today.

"It's an NFC game, which is significant," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "We're at that stretch of the season now where there are a lot of things you're playing for."

A win would give the Saints only the fifth division title in the 43-year history of the franchise. While that's significant in itself because it hasn't happened that often, it's only the first step to getting where they want to go.

"Winning your division and getting in the postseason is the first goal when you start the season," Payton said. "Then, getting yourself in position to make a run in the postseason (is next). So all of that's ahead of us."

After today, the Saints play at Atlanta, then host Dallas and Tampa Bay before closing the regular season at Carolina.

Quarterback Drew Brees, who was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for the fourth time this season after leading his team to a 21-point win against the New England Patriots on Monday night, knows the first step is as important as any - regardless of the Redskins' record.

"The fact that no matter what happens with the (Falcons), if we win, we win the division," Brees said. "That's a big accomplishment with still four games to go. It's definitely one of our goals on the way to our ultimate goal. So yes, that's something we're going to be preaching."

The last time the Saints won the division, in 2006, they clinched despite a loss to the Redskins. While on the way to a 16-10 setback in the Superdome, the Carolina Panthers lost to fall out of the division race.

"Yes, that eats at us a little bit," admitted Brees.

The Redskins also recorded a 29-24 win over the Saints in FedExField in Week 2 last season, scoring two touchdowns in the final six minutes. The game-winner came when Jason Campbell stepped up in the pocket and heaved a 67-yard TD pass to Santana Moss to shock Payton's team.

"It was an example last year of our inability to finish," Payton said. "When you look at the game, the quarterback made a big play and got out of a hole. Defensively, we had them pinned back and they ended up hitting a big pass play and rallied from behind."

While the first loss in 2006 eats at them, that setback last September rankles them as well. It was one of several games they couldn't close out, which helped produce an 8-8 record and kept them out of the playoffs.

The Saints , however, have gotten better in that aspect this season and have found a way to get it done in the few times they've been challenged.

"That's an area we've really improved upon," Brees said. "It's something we're going to have to prove again. We want to keep this streak going, so there's no more important game than this week."

Which is why he and his teammates aren't going to take the Redskins lightly.

Coming off an emotional Monday night win and going on the road on a short week, they have to be ready for a team that lost its last two games in heartbreaking fashion to Dallas (7-6) and Philadelphia (27-24). The Redskins also handed Denver its first loss of the season, 27-17, on Nov. 15.

"To me, we're on point right now," Saints running back Pierre Thomas said when asked if this could be a trap game. "We have to stay focused, that's all it is. Yeah, we had a big win against the Patriots, but we've still got more season to go."

Saints at Redskins

WHEN: Noon today.

WHERE: FedExField, Washington.

TV: Fox.

RADIO: WYPY-FM, 100.7.