NEW ORLEANS (AP) — For Saints rookie sensation Alvin Kamara http://www.falconsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-kaleb-mcgary-jersey , a rematch with rival Atlanta is all about unfinished business.Kamara, who has 1,336 yards from scrimmage and a team-leading 12 touchdowns as both a runner and receiver, played little in New Orleans’ first meeting with the Falcons.He was knocked out of the Dec. 7 game in Atlanta with a concussion during the Saints’ first offensive series and watched the rest of the game, which the Saints lost 20-17, on a television in the locker room.“It was annoying, really. That’s all I can say. Of course I wanted to play, but we’ve got another one,” said Kamara, who was selected to the Pro Bowl this week along with fellow Saints running back Mark Ingram. “We can get some payback. So I think that’s what we’re kind of looking at.”If the Saints (10-4) do indeed get payback, they’ll clinch their first playoff berth since 2013 and also could win the NFC South with a Carolina loss.If Atlanta (9-5) wins, it’ll have swept the season series with New Orleans for a second straight season and could move into a first-place tie with the Panthers.The versatile Kamara is one of three Saints players — along with Ingram and receiver Michael Thomas — who have gained more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage this season.Yet, it remains to be seen whether Kamara’s return tips the balance against the Falcons, who’ve won five of their past six and have a dynamic running back tandem of their own in Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman.“If you like running back play, this is the game,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. “There’s four good ones that all are unique that are all unique catchers, runners, (have) toughness, can make guys miss — all the ingredients that you’re looking for.”Both teams also have elite quarterbacks in the Saints’ Drew Brees and Falcons’ Matt Ryan.Both clubs have 1,000-yard receivers, with Thomas last week joining Atlanta’s Julio Jones above that benchmark. Both teams are ranked 11th or better in total defense.So this rematch is full of story lines. Here are some others:EMOTIONAL RIVALRY: Atlanta leads the series 52-45 between these regional rivals since both teams were founded in the 1960s.A little more than two weeks ago Kendall Sheffield Jersey , they staged a highly competitive game, with New Orleans threatening to take a late lead until Falcons linebacker Deion Jones made a leaping interception of Brees’ pass to the end zone.Saints coach Sean Payton was so wound up that he was flagged — and later fined — for running onto the field to yell at an official a few plays later. The penalty allowed Atlanta to run out the clock.“We definitely feel the pent-up energy when it comes to an Atlanta week and especially after the way we lost the last game” against the Falcons, Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan said. “Clearly, we know we have a chance at redemption.”CRYING FOUL: Payton made a point of calling out officials for inconsistent enforcement after these teams’ previous meeting, going so far as saying it’s a problem the NFL’s leadership needs to address.Quinn said he did not believe Payton was trying to preemptively influence officials in this week’s rematch. But Quinn also said he didn’t recall anything unusual about the officiating during the teams’ first meeting and added that he generally sees no point in complaining about it after the fact.“That’s his prerogative and his opinion. I don’t share it,” Quinn said when asked about Payton’s criticism of officials. “Every game is different. The plays are different. The crews are different.”INTERCEPTION PERCEPTION: The Saints have five interceptions in their past two games — including three against Atlanta’s Ryan. They have 16 this season, which is tied for fourth most in the NFL.Quinn says penalties have nullified six Atlanta interceptions. While Deion Jones had a crucial interception against the Saints, the Falcons have only four all season, tied with Oakland for fewest.“We know that’s going to be a factor in this game,” Quinn said. “Who takes care of it better, who goes after it better, and who has more explosive plays.”DEFENSIVE ATTRITION: The Saints placed two starting defensive players on injured reserve this week, both of them captains and leaders of their position groups. Middle linebacker A.J. Klein, who was the primary defensive signal caller, went on IR on Tuesday.On Thursday, the same fate befell safety Kenny Vaccaro, a 2013 first-round pick who had three interceptions and who made or assisted on 60 tackles, including seven for losses.New Orleans has lost starters at all levels of its defense in the past five weeks, starting with a season-ending Achilles injury to Alex Okafor in Week 11. DENVER (AP)Patrick Mahomes II made both his first NFL start and his first NFL relief appearance a success. After handing off a two-touchdown lead midway through the fourth quarter in his spectacular NFL debut, the rookie first-round QB returned to rescue the Kansas City Chiefs , driving them 67 yards in 11 plays to beatDenver 27-24 on Harrison Butker’s 30-yard field goal as time expired. ”You always have to be ready,” Mahomes said. ”All season long http://www.falconsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-john-cominsky-jersey , it’s kind of been the same thing – you have to make sure you’re ready to go at any moment.”Article continues below ... The Chiefs (10-6) will go back to starting Alex Smith for their wild-card game Saturday against Tennessee, even more secure in the knowledge they have a clutch backup in Mahomes, the former Texas Tech standout they selected with the 10th overall pick in April. ”He played fantastic,” said Kareem Hunt, who secured the league’s rushing title by scurrying 35 yards for a touchdown on his only carry. Smith and several other starters rested because Kansas City was locked into the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoffs, allowing coach Andy Reid to essentially use this regular season finale as a playoff bye. ”It was good to get a couple bumps and bruises healed up,” Reid said. Von Miller said he was impressed by Mahomes, whom he expects to see plenty of in the coming years. ”He’s great,” Miller said. ”He’s the quarterback of the future for the Chiefs.” The Broncos (5-11) head into another offseason still searching for their quarterback of the future – and maybe their fourth coach in five years after Vance Joseph oversaw a team that lost eight times by double digits and oversaw an eight-game skid, their longest in 50 years. Joseph, who inherited what was seemingly the best situation of the half dozen new head coaches in 2017 only to finish with the worst record of the bunch, will meet with GM John Elway on Monday to discuss his future. ”I want to be here,” Joseph said. ”It’s a football team that’s close. We have to make some adjustments in some places, but our football team all year has not stopped working. That was fun to see, even tonight. It’s been a hard year but everyone kept fighting. I want to be here to fix it.” Mahomes became the first quarterback drafted by the Chiefs to win a game for them since Todd Blackledge in 1987. He threw for 284 yards on 24-of-35 passing with no touchdowns and an interception. Mahomes thought his day was won at 24-10 and Reid sent in Tyler Bray, who handed off late to fullback Anthony Sherman, who carried 14 times for 40 yards after coming into the game with six career carries in seven NFL seasons. Linebacker Zaire Anderson scooped up the loose ball and scored from 38 yards out to pull Denver to 24-17. After the Chiefs punted, Lynch added a 6-yard TD pass to Demaryius Thomas on fourth down with 2:53 left, and Brandon McManus’ extra point tied it at 24. Mahomes took off his jacket, put on his helmet and returned to the game with 2:45 left. He was promptly sacked by DeMarcus Walker but recovered nicely to drive K.C. to victory. Mahomes made a good first impression , connecting with tight end Demetrius Harris for 51 yards on Kansas City’s opening drive. Then, he handed off to Hunt Qadree Ollison Jersey , who dashed for a 35-yard touchdown less than a minute into the game. TOP RUSHER: Hunt secured the NFL rushing title over Todd Gurley II and Le’Veon Bell, both of whom were inactive Sunday. Hunt wasn’t planning on playing, either, but the Chiefs were thin at running back and dressed him. ”Honestly, it wasn’t on my radar because I wasn’t supposed to play,” said Hunt, who finished with 1,327 yards and joined the Bengals’ Paul Robinson, who led the AFL in rushing in 1968, as the only rookie rushing champs not selected in the first round of the common draft era – the last 50 years. C.J. Anderson gained 61 yards to top 1,000 for the first time in his five-year with the Broncos. ”It was tough,” said Anderson, who carried 18 times. LYNCH SO-SO: Broncos QB Paxton Lynch was 21 of 31 for 254 yards with two TDs, two interceptions and was sacked five times. He threw an interception late in the first half and was sacked three times in a five-snap span in the third quarter, losing the ball on one of them with linebacker Ramik Wilson scooping it up and scoring from 11 yards out. It was 17 degrees at kickoff, the fifth-coldest home start in Broncos history and the coldest temperature for any of Lynch’s starts, in the pros or at Memphis. INJURIES: Chiefs backup PR De’Anthony Thomas broke his right leg and CB Phillip Gaines was knocked out with an elbow injury just before halftime. Broncos S Will Parks (shoulder stinger) left in the fourth quarter. UP NEXT: The Chiefs seek their first playoff win at Arrowhead Stadium in their history while the Broncos, who have lost five straight to K.C. for the first time since the early 1970s, head into another offseason where the only certainty is change. —