The Falcons are the NFL’s iffiest division leader. They have nothing to apologize for

 Somebody had to say it to Arthur Smith: His team is, gulp, in first place.

That was the bonus for the Atlanta Falcons after a 24-15 victory that was neither stylish nor dominant. It just worked, in part because the New Orleans Saints were just bad-awful whenever their offense sniffed the end zone.

No, the Saints didn’t deserve to leave town still holding onto first place in the worst division in the NFL. And that’s where the Falcons (5-6) come in after snapping a three-game losing streak.

Suddenly, they lead the danger zone that is the NFC South…even while still looking at .500.

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“This thing’s got to play out,” Smith, the embattled Atlanta Falcons coach, replied. “We’ve got six games to go, right? That will feel like six lifetimes in the NFL. It ebbs and flows.”

No, now is not the time to pop the cork for a champagne toast. The NFL can be so fickle.