Nothing about the past five weeks went well for the Falcons, who lost back-to-back games heading into their bye and looked no better after the break with two more losses.
What once looked like a commanding NFC South lead has disappeared for Atlanta, and quarterback play has to improve for the team to get back on track. Kirk Cousins hasn't thrown a single touchdown pass during the Falcons' losing streak, but he's averaging two interceptions per game in that span.
The schedule might work in the Falcons' favor, however. Atlanta faces just one team with a winning record the rest of the way, which leaves the door wide open for Cousins & Co. in the NFC South.
With two minutes to go in Week 15, Atlanta was on the verge of another collapse. The Falcons had a six-point lead, already whittled down from 12, and all of a sudden, the defense was bending. Raiders QB Desmond Ridder nearly led a touchdown drive with two Hail Mary attempts to the end zone, but Atlanta escaped with the much-needed win, stopping its losing streak at four games and keeping them in the hunt for the NFC South title.
Here's an updated look at the Falcons' playoff chances after their Week 15 win over the Raiders.
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Falcons playoff picture
NFC South standings
| Rank | Team | Record |
| 1 | Buccaneers | 8-6 |
| 2 | Falcons | 7-7 |
| 3 | Saints | 5-9 |
| 4 | Panthers | 3-11 |
The Buccaneers faced pretty long odds to reclaim the NFC South lead with a multi-game deficit and the tiebreaker in the Falcons' hands, but Tampa Bay has gotten healthier just as Atlanta has stumbled.
The Falcons entered Week 15 with a one-game deficit in the division, though their season sweep of the Buccaneers means any two-way tie between the teams would favor Atlanta. That's an important asset to have down the stretch.
With Derek Carr potentially out for the remainder of the season, the NFC South could simply come down to whether the Falcons can gain a game on the Buccaneers over the final four weeks. They don't face each other again, so that means Atlanta will have to take care of business against teams like the two-win Giants and three-win Panthers.
NFC wild-card standings
| Seed | Team | Record |
| 5 | Vikings | 12-2 |
| 6 | Packers | 10-4 |
| 7 | Commanders | 9-5 |
| 8 | Seahawks | 8-6 |
| 9 | Falcons | 7-7 |
| 10 | Cardinals | 7-7 |
| 11 | 49ers | 6-8 |
| 12 | Cowboys | 6-8 |
| 13 | Saints | 5-9 |
| 14 | Bears | 4-10 |
| 15 | Panthers | 3-11 |
| 16 | Giants | 2-12 |
The Falcons are within striking distance in the NFC wild-card standings, but they would almost certainly win the NFC South before they earn a wild-card spot. Atlanta's only focus down the stretch should be on winning the division, which is much more attainable.
Falcons remaining schedule
| Week | Date | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| 16 | Dec. 22 | vs. Giants | 1 p.m. |
| 17 | Dec. 29 | at Commanders | 1 p.m. |
| 18 | Jan. 5 | vs. Panthers | TBD |
The Falcons have a favorable schedule down the stretch, as they face the Giants and Panthers, who entered Week 15 with a combined 7-32 record. Their toughest remaining matchup appears to be in Week 17 when they go on the road to face a Commanders team that could still be trying to nail down a playoff spot.
Falcons updated playoff chances
ESPN's Football Power Index had the Falcons' playoff chances at 29.6% and put Atlanta's chances of winning the NFC South at 25.8% percent ahead of the Week 15 victory. This figure should improve with the win, but will take time to update and re-calculate. The best path for the Falcons' to the playoffs remains through a division title.
