Lord, this is THE game.
Regular season games are important in thier relation to getting to the playoffs. this game is only important when it comes to helping maintain a lead in the division. The actual matchup is incredibly unimportant. A win helps a whole lot more than a loss hurts. This isn't an NFC south team we're playing, it isn't a NFC team, it isn't a team that is going to effect tiebreakers. So, outside of pundits views, this is the closest to a game that doesn't matter as it gets.
Still it is important to win, and it is important to the team to establish who they are. The saints are still developing a self image, and any win helps in that respect.