Falcons face Tampa in crucial NFC South game

The Atlanta Falcons’ three-game win streak may have ended at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday following a 34-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but all is not lost. The Falcons (4-3 overall, 3-0 in division) remain undefeated in the NFC South and have an opportunity on the road this Sunday to define their season.

Atlanta will be in Tampa on Sunday, with a chance to sweep the rival Buccaneers and solidify the top spot in the NFC, virtually for good. A 4-0 record in the division would put the Falcons in the best position to make the playoffs for the first time in five seasons. That advantageous positioning comes courtesy of defeating Tampa 36-30 on Thursday, Oct. 3. A sweep of the Bucs will leave Atlanta with just two remaining division games in New Orleans (on Sunday, Nov. 10) and at home against Carolina on week 18 in early January. 

A win in Tampa this weekend can make those games against the Saints and Panthers a lot less important. New Orleans is currently 2-5 overall and the Panthers are a league-worst 1-6 overall, neither team looks like they will rebound to win enough games to keep an NFC South division title for Atlanta from being enough to secure a playoff spot. Atlanta has wins over New Orleans (26-24 on Sept. 29) and Carolina (38-20 on Oct. 13), so the best-case scenario for the Saints and Panthers would be to play spoiler.

Tampa’s 41-31 loss to Baltimore on Monday night makes this week’s game against the Falcons more crucial for both teams now that they are both 4-3 overall.

Against Seattle, Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins had one of his worst games of the season with a pair of interceptions to go with just 232 yards and a touchdown. On the brighter side, tight end Kyle Pitts had his best game of the season with seven receptions for 65 yards. 

This weekend in Tampa would be a great time for Cousins, Pitts, and the rest of the Falcons to have their best game of the season so they can move closer to the ultimate goal: the playoffs.

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