Why the Atlanta Falcons will not make the playoffs

Oct 15, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn and New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton meet at the end of their game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints won, 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Before you crucify me, know that this isn’t necessarily what I think will happen, but it’s always good to be realistic and look at it from both sides. This side happens to be the negative one.

The Atlanta Falcons are 6-3 on the season, yet are in second place in the NFC South. The Carolina Panthers continue to defy all odds and sit at 8-0 with wins against the Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints and most recently, the Green Bay Packers.

While there is still a lot of time left to make something happen, the division is likely out of reach. To think that the Falcons can make up three games on the Panthers with the way they are playing right now just doesn’t seem possible. It would take a sweep of the Panthers in head-to-head play to pull it off in my opinion. It’s possible, but not likely.

So, if they won’t win the division, they will still make it to the playoffs in one of the wild-card spots right? Wrong. Here’s a few reasons why.