Falcons' Playoff Picture Bleak After Loss to Saints

ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Falcons entered Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints with a 6-6 record and their playoff hopes in dire need of a victory. The Falcons' defense did their job and limited the Saints' potent offense, but Atlanta's offense couldn't match the effort -- sending the Falcons' playoff chances onto life support.

Atlanta had two possessions down three points in the final five minutes, but could not overcome the Saints' small lead.

At the 4:42 mark of the fourth quarterback, Falcons quarterback Chris Redman -- starting for the injured Matt Ryan -- overthrew Roddy White on a pass that was picked off by Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma.

A botched fake field goal attempt by the Saints then gave the ball back to Atlanta. Redman took the team 39 yards to the Saints 46, threw two incompletions, then found Tony Gonzalez for an eight-yard strike. On 4th-and-2, Redman hit Jason Snelling for a completion, but he was stopped short of a first down by Vilma.

The Falcons' playoff hopes were likely stopped short with that play, as well.

No one is giving up in the Falcons locker room, though, not yet. But the atmosphere was less hopeful after this loss to the Saints then after last week's loss to the Eagles -- especially since the Falcons had more then one chance to win this football game.

"I'm pissed off," Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez said. "And I think everyone else in this locker room is -- at least they should be because we had it. Give them [New Orleans] credit, they're a good football team, but it's gut-wrenching."

Gonzalez also spoke of the fact that the Falcons would need some help moving forward to get into the playoffs: "Anything can happen.We can get hot and someone else doesn't get hot, and they go out there and drop some games -- maybe we can sneak up into the playoffs".

Instead of being in great postseason position by winning out, which was the locker-room mentality last weekend, the Falcons now must win their final three games and get a great deal of help.

Atlanta is on the outside looking into a wild-card picture that has four teams front and center: Dallas, the New York Giants, Philadelphia and Green Bay are all ahead of the Falcons (one of the Dallas-New York-Philadelphia group will earn a playoff berth by winning the NFC East). And with the best result for the Falcons being 9-7, there isn't much hope for this Atlanta team.

With its win today, Green Bay already has nine wins. Since the Packers will not catch the NFC North-leading Vikings, it looks like the Packers will take one of the two wild-card spots.

The other spot will likely fall to whichever team finishes second in the NFC East. As of Sunday afternoon, both Dallas and Philadelphia needed just one win to get to nine on the year -- or, the same total that Atlanta could reach by winning out.

After playing the Giants on Sunday night, the Eagles finish their schedule with San Francisco, Denver and Dallas. That's not the easiest way to complete a season, but if Philadelphia beats New York on Sunday, they only need one of those three wins to place themselves above Atlanta for good.

Dallas also finishes its season with a tough schedule. The Cowboys have to travel to New Orleans and Washington before hosting Philadelphia.

The Packers' final three games are a bit easier-- and they've already won their Week 14 game, meaning they only have to beat Pittsburgh, Seattle or Arizona to finish ahead of the Falcons.

The Giants are currently 7-5 and play Philadelphia on Sunday Night Football. If they win tonight, they will have to win two games to mathematically eliminate the Falcons. Not counting their Sunday night game, the Giants play Washington, Carolina and Minnesota to finish their year. If they lose to the Eagles in Week 14, they are in the same sinking boat the Falcons currently are sitting in.

After Sunday night, the playoff picture will look a little more clear, but it still won't be crystal clear. The most accurate statement, at this moment, might be that the Falcons need lots and lots of help.