Tuesday felt very much like Ash Wednesday in New Orleans. The morning streets were eerily quiet as the city slowly rousted itself from the Carnival-like celebration of Drew Brees’ record-breaking passing performance for the New Orleans Saints the previous night.

Alas, there’s always someone who wants to rain on the parade, even one as universally fun as Monday’s surprisingly easy 45-16 flogging of the Falcons.

The criticism of the Saints’ decision to go for Dan Marino’s 27-year-old single-season passing yardage record in the final minutes of a 22-point game was surprising. It also was unwarranted.

In case you missed it, apparently a few Falcons players and media members were offended by the Saints’ decision to go for the record with a 22-point lead and three minutes to play.

Some felt the Saints were running up the score, rubbing salt in the wounds of a bitter archrival when Brees hit Darren Sproles for a 9-yard touchdown pass that gave him 5,087 yards for the season, three better than Marino’s old mark. Others went further, calling the decision classless and disrespectful.

The Falcons’ frustration is understandable. They’d just been embarrassed by their archrivals on national TV in a critical game. It was their most lopsided regular-season loss in years and their fifth setback in the past six meetings with the Saints. Their Angry Bird mentality makes sense.

But truth be told, this really had nothing to do with them. They were just innocent bystanders. This had everything to do with Brees, the Saints and New Orleans.

This was a New Orleans moment, a town and team celebrating one of their own. It was their chance to honor Brees for his remarkable season and celebrate a significant accomplishment in his burgeoning Hall of Fame career. It was as if Coach Sean Payton and the Saints were saying to America, “OK, you can continue to snub this incredible player in the MVP balloting, but you can’t deny this moment. This is our time.” Or more appropriately, “This is his time.”

“I felt like the moment was right, so you go with your gut,” Payton said Tuesday afternoon. “I thought it was the right decision last night. This morning, I thought it was clearly the right decision.”

Right place, right time

Payton wasn’t trying to rub it in the face of the Falcons and their classy coach, Mike Smith, and he said so afterward. In fact, both Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan and Smith went out of their way after the game to praise Brees and acknowledge the significance of his accomplishment.

“We have a ton of respect for Falcons Coach Mike (Smith), his staff and his players,” Payton said Monday night. “It seemed like the right thing to do. I felt real good about the decision.”

He should. It was the correct thing to do.

Was it a little defiant and impulsive? Maybe. Did it fly in the face of conventional wisdom? You bet. And that’s exactly why New Orleanians loved every second of it. After all, what city loves itself or embraces its eccentricity more than New Orleans, right?

Besides, it’s exactly what everyone — with the exception of the Falcons and their fans — wanted. The sellout crowd had packed the stadium in anticipation of witnessing history. A nationwide audience on the “Monday Night Football” broadcast had stayed up past its bedtime to catch the historic event.

This was the appropriate setting for such a remarkable achievement by such a remarkable player. The alternative was to wait and watch him break the mark Sunday at noon against Carolina. No, this historic mark needed the right moment, and it materialized fatefully in the final minutes of play Monday night.

“He is such a great teammate,” Payton said of Brees. “His leadership ability transcends just the New Orleans Saints team and into this region. I think it is pretty obvious. It was pretty special last night for the fan base to share in that accomplishment.”

Make no mistake, Payton didn’t go for the record to ingratiate himself with fans. He did it for the only reason he should have: because it was the best thing for his team and organization.

The last thing the Saints (12-3) needed was the distraction of the record chase to carry over another week. Brees and his teammates needed to turn their attention toward the Carolina Panthers (6-9) and trying to secure the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs.

End games

Now Payton has some important decisions to make.

How does he handle Sunday’s game against the Panthers and the dynamic Cam Newton? Does he rest his regulars, knowing the chances of the Rams (2-13) beating the 49ers (12-3) are slim to none? Or does he go for it again and risk losing a key player or two to injury?

Payton was mum about his intentions Tuesday.

In a nearly identical situation last season, Payton elected to play his regulars and watched safety Malcolm Jenkins, tight end Jimmy Graham and running back Chris Ivory drop with injuries in the first half. A dreadful loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the playoffs followed.

Moreover, where do all of the records and historic streaks come into play?

The Saints are 219 yards shy of the NFL record for total yards in a season set by the 2000 St. Louis Rams.

Brees has a 42-game streak of consecutive games with a touchdown pass to consider.

And lest we forget, New England’s Tom Brady trails Brees by a mere 190 yards in the passing yardage race. If Payton sits Brees early, he runs the risk of seeing Brady overtake his star at the season’s finish line. After Monday night’s euphoria, you know he wants to maintain the record for Brees.

Then again, Payton can’t afford to expose his star quarterback to injury for a second longer than necessary. As soon as the 49ers’ game is decided, he needs to pull Brees and all of the regulars he can. This is one time where the team needs to eschew its one-game-at-a-time philosophy. The Saints need to be thinking ahead. The Super Bowl is the priority.

“What we have to do is keep playing,” Payton said. “The playoffs are close. How do we put ourselves in the best position to play well and put ourselves in an opportunity to win a championship?”

From here on out, a championship is the only thing that matters.

Jeff Duncan can be reached at jduncan@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3404.

So what will it come down to this time? A fourth-and-1 attempt in overtime? A missed field-goal attempt? A 90-yard touchdown drive? Two late defensive stands?

Each of the past four games between the Saints and Atlanta Falcons has been decided by three points, so why should Monday night’s showdown at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome be different?

As has become the norm, these longtime rivals will meet with an awful lot on the line. The Saints (11-3) can clinch the NFC South Division and stay alive for the conference’s No. 2 seed. The Falcons (9-5) can clinch a playoff spot and stay alive in the division title race.

“We already know emotionally we don’t have to get up for this game,” New Orleans linebacker Jonathan Vilma said. “It’s probably going to be about trying to calm your emotions so we can function, so we can do the things we need to do to win this game. It’s a huge game for both sides. … It’s going to be a great battle and a lot of fun.”

Even without the playoff implications, this would be a huge game for both sides.

This rivalry, which dates to the 1960s, has never been more intense, and both teams are in the midst of the greatest extended runs in their franchises’ histories.

The Saints have won 11 games or more for three consecutive seasons, and the Falcons have put together four straight winning seasons after never having done it twice in a row before.

New Orleans has won nine of the past 11 games since Coach Sean Payton arrived in 2006, but those wins haven’t come easily in recent years.

The past six games in the series have been decided by eight points or less, including the Saints’ 26-23 overtime victory at Atlanta on Nov. 13, which was ultimately decided by New Orleans’ fourth-and-1 stop in Falcons territory in overtime.

In September of 2010, Garrett Hartley missed a 29-yard field goal attempt in overtime that would have won the game, and Matt Bryant kicked a 46-yarder as the Falcons won 27-24.

Later that season, the Saints drove 90 yards late in the fourth quarter, capped by a 6-yard pass from quarterback Drew Brees to tight end Jimmy Graham, to win 17-14.

In their second meeting of 2009, Vilma stopped Jason Snelling on a pass from Chris Redman on a fourth-and-2 as the Saints held on for a 26-23 win. Vilma also had an interception with 3:55 to go.

Saints receiver Lance Moore said Monday night’s game is mostly important because it’s the “next game” and because of all the playoff implications, but he did admit that there’s something special about games against Atlanta.

“It’s a divisional game, so we’re familiar with one another, and neither team wants to lose to the other. That’s just how it is,” Moore said. “People can call it bragging rights or whatever, but we’re focused on just letting it be one game. We can’t make it bigger than it is. It’s an extremely important game, but we can’t put any extra pressure or any stress on ourselves. I mean, we’ve just got to go out and play.”

Vilma pointed out that Monday night’s game will be the exact reverse of last season, when the Saints went to Atlanta for a Monday night game in Week 16 and won 20-17 to keep their longshot hopes alive for the NFC South title.

Moore said he hopes the similarities end there, with the home team winning this time.

“They’re a real good team,” Saints Coach Sean Payton said. “Every time it seems we play them it comes down to a last possession or field goal. We’ve just played so many close games, so many hard-fought games, that it’s a sign that typically both teams are pretty evenly matched, very competitive and very good.”

Like the Saints, the Falcons seem to be playing their best football after an inconsistent start. They’ve stayed alive in the NFC South race by winning seven of their past nine games, including two in a row. And their last victory was their most impressive, a 41-14 rout of the Jacksonville Jaguars last Thursday night.

The Saints are even hotter, though, having won six in a row, and they are tied with the New England Patriots for the NFL’s longest active streak.

New Orleans’ 42-20 victory at Minnesota on Sunday was dominant despite some early miscues. The Saints have been even better at home, though, especially in prime time. Their past two home games were a 31-17 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday night in Week 13 and a 49-24 victory over the New York Giants on Monday night in Week 12.

Before defeating the Vikings, Payton pointed out to his team that they hadn’t won a Week 15 game since 2007. They steamrolled through that roadblock this season, which he said is significant because teams want to peak heading into the playoffs.

“You’d like to be hitting your stride and playing your best football,” said Payton, though he pointed out that the Saints were the exception to that rule when they lost their final three regular-season games in 2009 before winning Super Bowl XLIV. “You still recognize the importance of playing well here. I think you’re seeing some teams that are doing it, and you’re seeing some teams that maybe aren’t doing it as well. Fortunately for us, we’ve been able to get on a pretty good run, and we hope to continue it.”

EYE ON THE 49ERS: The Saints are openly rooting against the San Francisco 49ers (11-3), who need to lose one more game to allow New Orleans a shot at the No. 2 seed in the NFC.

Vilma was asked if he watched the 49ers’ 20-3 victory over the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night.

“I was all for watching it closely until Ben (Roethlisberger) threw those two interceptions early in the game, and then I realized I was bad luck, so I went and watched Sherlock Holmes,” Vilma said.

And when Moore was asked what he wants for Christmas besides a victory over the Falcons, he said: “A win by Seattle over San Francisco (on Saturday) would be good.”

‘DIRTY’ TALK: Vilma and Payton said they’re unfazed by recent accusations from other teams that their defense plays “dirty.”

Payton compared it to the whistle-blowing accusations from the Tennessee Titans last week, and Vilma said whether the accusations are fair or unfair, “it really doesn’t bother me.”

“You know, we’re an aggressive defense, we’ve always been an aggressive defense. I’d rather be labeled that than labeled a finesse defense,” Vilma said. “So I know we’re not out there maliciously trying to hurt anybody. If you’ve seen the way we play, if you’ve seen our games, we go hard — and that’s really about it. If we get a personal foul here or there it’s not intentional, and I know we’re not trying to hurt people.”

VILMA’S HEALTH: Vilma, who has been fighting through a knee injury since having a clean-up surgery performed last month, was asked how he has been feeling.

“The best I can say is good enough,” said Vilma, who said he plans to keep playing through it for the rest of the season. “I got to do what I got to do.”

New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton said three players – linebackers Jonathan Vilma and Jonathan Casillas, and running back Mark Ingram – did not practice Wednesday. It was the Saints first injury report of the week as they prepare to travel to Minneapolis and face the Vikings on Sunday.

Vilma (knee) has played the last two weeks after recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery; Casillas (knee) and Ingram (toe) were both inactive last week in the Saints victory at Tennessee.

Defensive end Turk McBride, out for weeks now with an ankle injury, returned to practice but was lmited.

Four players are nicked but practiced fully, Payton said. They were tight end Jimmy Graham (back), defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis (hamstring), cornerback Tracy Porter (wrist) and linebacker Scott Shanle (shoulder).

NASHVILLE, TENN. — An intense flare-up of back spasms during pregame warmups nearly kept Saints tight end Jimmy Graham out of the lineup Sunday — sending Saints fans and fantasy football players alike into a frenzy before kickoff. Ultimately, though, Graham fought through the pain and caught five passes for 55 yards. He almost added a 4-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, but officials ruled that his toe tickled the out-of-bounds grass.

“It kind of scared me,” Graham said of the lower back pain that “came out of nowhere” after he made an “awkward” catch during pregame warmups. “(Before the game) I’m like, ‘I can barely stand up right now. I’m here in the locker room by myself. I can barely put my pads on.’

“I was in excruciating pain. I didn’t think I was gonna go. If you noticed those first three or four plays, (Coach Sean Payton) is telling me, ‘Are you too hurt? Are you too hurt?’ And I’m gritting and gritting, and then eventually it kind of loosened up on me a little bit. But I was pretty much in constant pain the whole game.”

Graham wouldn’t say if he took any shots for the pain, but he was seen getting electric stimulation throughout the day to keep his muscles loose. He said he will get a MRI exam back in New Orleans and hopes he’ll start feeling better over the next few days.

“I’ll be good,” Graham said. “And even if I’m not, I’ll still play. … Doesn’t matter the pain, doesn’t matter what I’m going through, I’m still going to play.”

The Saints did lose starting defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis unexpectedly during pregame warmups. They expected him to play, but his hamstring was too tight, so he was a late scratch. And linebacker Scott Shanle was limited by his lingering shoulder injury. He didn’t start and played sparingly.

The Saints didn’t report any new injuries after the game, though cornerback Tracy Porter was in obvious discomfort and was inspected by the training staff after the game.

The Titans, meanwhile, lost starting quarterback Matt Hasselbeck to a calf injury during the second quarter. But that didn’t seem to be a problem because rookie backup Jake Locker came in and played very well in his absence, completing 13 of 29 passes for 282 yards and a touchdown. Locker also ran six times for 36 yards and another score.

HARPER ACCUSED OF ‘DIRTY’ PLAY: Titans receiver Nate Washington accused Saints safety Roman Harper of being a “dirty player” after Sunday’s game.

Harper was flagged for two personal foul penalties — a helmet-to-helmet hit against Hasselbeck and a full-speed facemask tackle against receiver Damian Williams. But Washington insisted that he considered Harper a dirty player even before Sunday.

“Honestly, he’s a dirty player. I’ve been watching him. We watched film on him,” Washington said. “He’s dirty, and I don’t appreciate it. I’m going to step out in public and say it — he’s dirty. That was dirty, what he did. It was unfortunate that he grabbed the facemask. And at the same time, you don’t walk over a guy and nudge him with your knee. You don’t do that. That’s dirty. Honestly, that’s a dirty player. This is not just one game. He’s been doing it all season. I’m tired of it. I hope the league does something about it.”

Whether or not he’s “dirty,” Harper is clearly an enforcer for the Saints’ defense. Earlier this year, he chased down Panthers receiver Steve Smith in the end zone and knocked him down to make a statement — and draw a flag. He has five personal foul penalties this year, though the NFL admitted one was an incorrect call against the Bears in Week 2.

Harper also regularly pushes the envelope with some extra shoves or push-offs after plays — which was the case last week when he helped incite Detroit tight end Brandon Pettigrew into a personal foul penalty in response.

Harper was not available for comment after Washington made his comments.

Two Titans players also told ESPN.com that they thought a whistle was being blown from the Saints’ bench area late in the game, though no source was identified.

PLAYOFF POSITION: The Saints (10-3) clinched a playoff spot when the Bears lost to the Broncos in overtime.

They also moved into a tie for second place in the NFC when the 49ers (10-3) lost to Arizona. The 49ers would win a tie-breaker based on conference record, though, so the Saints still need the 49ers to lose again while winning the rest of their games to get the No. 2 seed.

FLAG DAY: The Saints were flagged 11 times for 95 yards and the Titans eight times for 54 yards. Many of the Saints’ penalties were costly, including a holding penalty that nullified a punt return touchdown by Darren Sproles and an illegal formation penalty that stalled a drive inside the Titans’ 10-yard line.

The Saints did clean up their act as the game went on, though, with only two penalties in the final 26 minutes.

“We have got to be better there,” Payton said of his team, which also had 11 penalties two weeks ago against the Giants.

PLAY-CALLING SWITCH?: Payton, who worked without crutches for the first time since suffering a severe leg injury in Week 6, appeared to take over most of the play-calling duties in the second half. He said after the game that he and offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. were still alternating in the role, though.

“We kind of went back and forth,” Payton said. “Pete has done a great job with it, so I continue to lean on him, and we’ll do that. … So there wasn’t any big change or anything like that.”

PORTER FINISHES STRONG: Porter had a rough day early, missing two tackles that led to long gains by the Titans. But he came up with two huge plays in the final minutes.

First, he nailed Locker for an incomplete pass that was ruled a fumble before it was overturned by replay. Then he batted down a pass at the goal line with five seconds remaining and the Titans trailing by five.

“I was angry,” Porter said of his earlier missed tackles. “I was determined to make up for it.”

MAKING HISTORY: The Saints beat the Titans for the first time since 1993, when they were the Houston Oilers. That was the longest current drought for the Saints. Payton has beaten every team except for the Ravens and the Broncos. … Drew Brees threw a touchdown pass in his 40th consecutive game, moving him closer to Johnny Unitas’ NFL record of 47. Brees has thrown for 4,368 yards this year. He needs to average 239 yards per game over the final three to break Dan Marino’s record of 5,084 in a season.