If you stuck around to watch the end of last night's Falcons-Saints tilt, you were reminded why the pointspread adds another element of intrigue to games whether you have money riding on the outcome or not.

The Saints, who were favored by anywhere from 10½-12 points by most accounts, led 35-24 with less than two minutes left and had the ball. All they had to do was run out the clock to secure a victory, or perhaps a push, for their backers.

We know what happened next: Saints RB Mike Bell fumbled, and the Falcons drove down and kicked a field goal to cut the margin to 35-27.

For Saints bettors who backed their team at minus-10½ or less, it was a bad beat, one to be stewed over on Tuesday and lamented over for years to come.

For Falcons bettors who took the points at minus-10½ or less, it was a miracle cover, a reason to believe that sometimes, the breaks go your way.

I didn't have a dollar on the game, but I picked New Orleans to cover a nine-point spread in the print edition of Pro Football Weekly when we went to press with our Week Eight issue back on Sunday, Oct. 25. So yes, I was quite aware of what I was seeing unfold in front of me.

All I could do was chuckle. The pointspread is always there to make things interesting.