The stars have aligned for the Saints ahead of Sunday’s game vs. the 49ers

Thanks to two unwitting friends named Baltimore and Seattle, the football stars have aligned for the newly-crowned NFC South-champion New Orleans Saints.

After the dramatic events of Week 13 and a sudden switch at the top of the NFC West standings, the Black and Gold have the inside track for home-field advantage and all the great perks that go with it: A first-round bye, a divisional home game and the right to host a second straight conference championship with a berth in Super Bowl LIV awaiting the winner.

It’s all there for the taking with a December to remember, beginning Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome (noon, Fox).

A Saints’ victory won’t guarantee squat, but it would give them a leg up on those teams vying for home-field advantage. A loss would muddy the playoff waters with three games remaining in the regular season.

The Saints (10-2) slipped past the 49ers (10-2) into the No. 1 spot in the conference standings by virtue of Seattle’s exciting 37-30 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night at CenturyLink Field.

Seattle (10-2) now leads the NFC West because of an overtime victory against San Francisco in Week 10 and leapfrogged from No. 5 into the No. 2 overall seed. The teams meet again in Seattle in the regular-season finale.

Green Bay (9-3), Dallas (6-6), San Francisco and Minnesota (8-4) round out the top six seeds.

That’s how it stands if the playoffs were to begin today. Things remain fluid. The seedings can change on a weekly basis. In some ways, the playoffs already have begun for many teams fighting to stay afloat.

Unquestionably, Sunday’s marquee matinee in the Superdome has a serious playoff feel to it and perhaps is a portent of things to come. A Saints-49ers matchup for the NFC Championship on Jan. 19?

I didn’t view the 49ers as championship timber back in September, nor did I place a great deal of stock in their 8-0 start against mostly lightweights. But I’ve slowly changed my tune. The 49ers seem too legit to quit. They showed a lot of spit and vinegar Sunday in a driving rainstorm at M&T Bank Stadium in downtown Baltimore before losing to the Ravens 20-17 on Justin Tucker’s 49-yard field goal as time expired.

Some think that matchup was a sneak peak at Super Bowl LIV on Feb. 2 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

The Ravens seem to possess all the right ingredients to represent the AFC in the Big Show with a stout defense, solid running game led by Mark Ingram II and a true showman in quarterback Lamar Jackson.

But, I’m not buying the new kids on the blocks, largely because 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo strikes me as a turnover waiting to happen. Exhibit A: Though he played well against Baltimore, his fumble under a heavy pass rush led to a first-half touchdown for the Ravens and ultimately proved costly in a three-point game.

I wonder if moments like the one Sunday in Baltimore and the upcoming one in the Superdome might be too big for him. Unquestionably, the moment won’t be too big for Saints quarterback Drew Brees.

Jimmy G vs. the Jimmy John’s franchisee? Gimme Jimmy Brees and hold the mayo.