The Atlanta Falcons are one positive result away from being in the 2016 NFL Playoffs.
Saturday's win over the Carolina Panthers means that a Tampa Bay loss in New Orleans this afternoon, or a Lions loss in Dallas on Monday Night would guarantee the Falcons a playoff berth. And even if neither of those results occur, there is a long list of things that could happen between now and the end of the regular season that would put the Falcons into the postseason. In fact, FiveThirtyEight.com puts Atlanta as having a greater than 99 percent chance to make the tournament with Saturday's win. Atlanta's offense got rolling early against the Panthers, thanks to performances by Matt Ryan and tight ends Joshua Perkins and D.J. Tialavea who scored their first NFL touchdowns. Atlanta's defense held the Panthers to just three points and 105 yards in the first half.
Tevin Coleman's 31-yard reception on 3rd-and-21 gave the Falcons a chance to put the game away in the fourth quarter. Coleman followed it up with a 55-yard touchdown run that gave Atlanta a 30-16 lead.
The Falcons defense again showed their regard for the football, finishing plus-two in the turnover margin with interceptions from Brian Poole and Jalen Collins.
