The Falcons are the NFC South Champions following Tampa Bay's 31-24 loss in New Orleans. And following Seattle's loss in a wild one to the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta now has a shot next weekend to earn the #2 seed in the NFC and first round bye.
Atlanta got the ball rolling with a 33-16 win in Carolina. Making the playoffs was nearly a foregone conclusion at that point, it was just a matter of how they would clinch and how good of a position they would be in going into next week. A Raiders win later in the afternoon officially put the Falcons in the playoffs, and Tampa's loss gave Atlanta the NFC South title.
The Falcons will host a playoff game, it's now just a matter of when and against who. Fans can purchase tickets to that first playoff game here.
They got the best possible scenario in today's games: Falcons win, Buccaneers and Seahawks lose. As a result, they have clinched a playoff spot, won their division and moved into the second seed in the NFC.
Everything went Atlanta's way today, including the wildest finish of the day. Seattle seemingly scored the go-ahead touchdown in the final minute against Arizona, but a missed extra point left the game tied 31-31. Carson Palmer quickly moved the Cardinals down the field, and Chandler Catanzaro hit a game-winning 43-yard field goal on the final play of the game. That gave the Falcons control of the #2 seed in the NFC.
At a minimum, the Falcons will host a playoff game in the Wild Card round. But Atlanta will lock up a first round bye in the playoffs if they are able to knock off the Saints at home next home.
This will be the Falcons first playoff appearance since 2012, when they made it to the NFC Championship game before falling to the 49ers.
