While Falcons fans were likely still processing yet another down-to-the-wire loss in Washington, an upset was brewing on the shores of Lake Eerie in Cleveland as the Browns and Buccaneers were heading into overtime.
With time running out in the extra frame, the Browns were able to put a drive together and punctuate it with a touchdown from Cedartown native and former Georgia Bulldog Nick Chubb as he loaned a helping hand to his hometown Falcons to keep their hopes in the NFC South alive and well.
With the Bucs now sitting at 5-6, the Falcons remain just .5 game back in the division at 5-7 with five games left to play.
“It’s crazy that we’re still in this situation," Falcons head coach Arthur Smith told the media today. "I feel like a broken record where we were two weeks ago, and where we were yesterday. And the way the schedule is, in a perverse way, you have a late bye and you’re .5 game back in the NFC South, so it’s a unique opportunity I guess.”
92.9 The Game's Dukes & Bell recognize that same opportunity with Carl Dukes saying that if the Falcons want to make the playoffs, they’ll have to win the division.
“The wild card is out—forget about it. Yesterday, you had a chance to really position yourself for that, but you still have a chance with games against the Saints and the Buccaneers to win this division,” Dukes said.
The Falcons will take on the Steelers next week before their bye week, and two division games highlight the final stretch of the season, including a week 18 matchup with Tom Brady and the Buccaneers in Atlanta that could very well decide the division.
At 4-8, the Saints and Panthers remain within striking distance of the division lead as well. Atlanta split their two matchups with Carolina and will have a chance to avenge their week one loss to New Orleans after the bye.