Can the Atlanta Falcons stay in wildcard contention after road win?

After Sunday’s win over Jacksonville, the Atlanta Falcons are once again back in the wild card conversation with losses from the Panthers, Eagles, and Saints. Atlanta currently would be out if the season ended today due to tiebreakers, however, they play the team in front of them and certainly control their own destiny.

The fact we are still discussing Atlanta in the playoffs as a possibility speaks to how wacky this NFL season has been. Clear favorites are getting beaten by huge underdogs with regularity and teams we thought would be contenders are failing to live up to expectations.

For Atlanta, this means they do have a shot at the playoffs but to get there they are going to need to find at least four wins left on their schedule. You would surmise that an eight or nine-win team will be the final wildcard considering the contenders.

The Atlanta Falcons season will be determined by whether or not they can get a quality win before the season ends

Right now Atlanta is putting their best foot forward against teams like the Dolphins, Jets, or the Jaguars. Atlanta isn’t beating contenders or teams that are in the mix. The best two teams that Atlanta has played blew them off the field.

If Atlanta wants any chance of making the playoffs they are going to have to win against either the Bills, Bucs, or 49ers.  Winning one of these games paired with wins over the Lions, Panthers, and Saints would give Atlanta nine wins and very likely the final wildcard spot.

Whether Atlanta makes the playoffs depends on whether they can beat their failing division rivals and steal a win against one of the better teams on their schedule.

If that is going to happen the Atlanta defense is going to have to show growth and Matt Ryan must elevate his play. For now, the Atlanta Falcons and their fans should take this as a win. This is the first time since the Eagles beat the Falcons in the playoffs in 2017 that this Atlanta team is in the conversation this late into the season.

A conversation that may well end after Atlanta plays Tampa on Sunday. A team that Atlanta seemingly has no chance to beat in a division that it seems Tom Brady owns.