Atlanta Falcons Playoff Chances: Can the Falcons still qualify for the playoffs?

Falcons stay alive in NFC South after Week 15 win

The Atlanta Falcons have finally snapped their four-game losing streak with a 15-9 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Sitting at 7-7, the Falcons are very much alive in the NFC South race, trailing division leaders Tampa Bay Buccaneers by just one game.

Falcons defense/ST tonight:

• 4 sacks
• 2 interceptions
• 1 FF
• 10 TFL
• 8 PD
• 2 blocked punts
• 1 blocked PATpic.twitter.com/wueH55skor
— 𝙁𝙖𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙚 (@ATLFalconsMuse) December 17, 2024

With three games remaining, Atlanta will face the New York Giants, Washington Commanders, and Carolina Panthers—a stretch that gives them a favorable shot at the division title.

Earlier in the season, the Falcons looked poised to dominate the NFC South. However, a string of losses knocked them down the standings, and Tampa Bay capitalized. Now, Atlanta’s recent win has revived their hopes, though the margin for error is razor-thin.

Atlanta Falcons playoff chances

Ahead of Week 15, ESPN’s Football Power Index had Atlanta’s chances of winning the NFC South at 25.8% and their playoff odds at 29.6%. While updated numbers are yet to reflect the win against the Raiders, this victory keeps the Falcons in the hunt.

The NFC South standings as of Week 15:

Rank	Team	Record
1	Buccaneers	8-6
2	Falcons	7-7
3	Saints	5-9
4	Panthers	3-11

The Falcons hold a key advantage over Tampa Bay, having swept the season series. If both teams finish with the same record, Atlanta will win the division based on the tiebreaker.

A favorable schedule down the stretch

Atlanta’s remaining schedule works in their favor:

Week 16: vs. Giants (2-12)
Week 17: at Commanders (9-5)
Week 18: vs. Panthers (3-11)

With two of their final three games against struggling teams, Atlanta has an opportunity to rack up wins. The Week 17 matchup against Washington will be their biggest test, as the Commanders are also in the wild-card hunt.

Meanwhile, the Buccaneers face the Cowboys, Panthers, and Saints—three games that could shake up the standings.

Are the Falcons out of the playoff race?

Not yet. The Falcons’ Week 15 win kept their division title hopes alive, but they’ll need to win out and hope for a Tampa Bay stumble.

The NFC wild-card picture remains cluttered, with teams like the Commanders, Seahawks, and Cardinals all competing for limited spots. The Falcons’ best path to the playoffs is still through the NFC South title.

Falcons record 2024

The Falcons now stand at 7-7 with three games left. Their path is clear—win all three to finish at 10-7 and put pressure on Tampa Bay. Atlanta has momentum on their side after ending their losing streak, but consistency, especially from Kirk Cousins and the offense, will be key.

The Falcons have bought themselves a lifeline. With the division still up for grabs and a manageable schedule ahead, Atlanta isn’t done yet.

Image: Imagn

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Natasha Bose

I write about sports because, well, it brings in the big bucks! I’m not some lifelong analyst or stats guru, truth being told, you’ve probably never heard of me!—I just know how to research, write, and make things sound good. That’s the job!
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