The Atlanta Falcons saw their season unravel after an encouraging 3-2 start. Entering Week 17 with just six wins, Atlanta has struggled to find consistency on offense or defense, and its playoff chances have diminished as other NFC teams have gained momentum.
Can The Falcons Make the Playoffs?
The Falcons have endured a frustrating season marked by missed opportunities, late-game collapses, and recurring execution issues that have kept them from reaching their potential.
At 6-9 entering Week 17 against the Los Angeles Rams, the record alone doesn’t tell the full story. Atlanta has repeatedly been on the wrong side of close games, most notably the heartbreaking 24-23 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 9, a matchup many felt they should have closed out.
Costly mistakes have defined their season. Poor clock management, inconsistent third-down execution, and special teams miscues, particularly in the kicking game, have turned winnable moments into losses.
They can no longer make the playoffs, but they can certainly make things interesting in the NFC South. According to PFSN’s Playoff Predictor, if the Falcons win their next two games, against the Rams and Saints, they will also finish with an 8-9 record. This would trigger a three-way tie.
XAVIER WATTS INTERCEPTION, AGAIN!!!
ESPN | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/kWlQmwzusg
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 30, 2025
Since the Falcons secured the surprising win over the Rams, the landscape of the NFC South has changed significantly.
The Carolina Panthers can now win the NFC South even if they lose to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Here’s how that is possible:
- All three tied at 8-9
- CAR 3-1 vs. TB & ATL (swept ATL), TB 2-2, ATL 1-3
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Carolina simply needs a win, while the Buccaneers need a win and a loss by the Falcons. The Week 18 game would have been a winner-take-all game had the Falcons lost their Monday Night Football game. The Panthers and Buccaneers have left the door open for each other, and now it’s time for one team to shut the door.
The Buccaneers have lost seven of their last eight games, and the Panthers just beat them in Week 16. If this trend continues, Carolina will return to the playoffs after a long drought. If Tampa Bay gets out of its slump, it’ll be representing the NFC South yet again.
Atlanta has now turned back to veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins following Michael Penix Jr.’s injury. Penix, ranked 26th in PFSN’s QB Impact Metric, struggled to establish himself before going down. Cousins, since then, has impressed everyone and is making a case to be their starting quarterback in Week 1 next year.
The Falcons will face the New Orleans Saints in Week 18, and that will be a challenging game for them, as Tyler Shough has led the Saints to four straight wins.
