Atlanta Falcons vs. Indianapolis Colts: Full game preview

Oct 15, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver

(11) before a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Why to watch

We are marching towards December football, which is the best time of the season. The Falcons have already completed the first task of the season, which is to get to December in the playoff hunt. Win or lose the next two weeks, the Falcons will be no worse than tied with a team in the wild-card spots.

But with a victory from the next two, the Falcons will enter December in a wild-card place with a chance to reach the postseason for the first time since 2012. But forget about December for a moment, because this game is an important one.

First of all, it’s at home. The Falcons let a home game slip when they were beaten in overtime by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and they can’t afford to lose another inside the Georgia Dome. It’s going to take at least 10 wins to secure a playoff place in my opinion, which means the Falcons would need to win four of its final seven games. Drop this one and it becomes four from six.

To enter a tough NFC battle with the Minnesota Vikings next week at 7-3 would be ideal; go into that game at 6-4 and the outlook is much gloomier.

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