Falcons’ Fate In Their Hands

The Atlanta Falcons have endured many bumps in their attempt to bounce back from a shocking overtime loss in the Super Bowl.

Their offensive coordinator, Kyle Shanahan, departed. His replacement, Steve Sarkisian, lacks his predecessor’s magic. And a three-game losing streak in the middle of the season made it appear as if the Falcons wouldn’t reach the playoffs again.

They might not. But they also might win the NFC South Division again.

They slipped past the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-21 on Monday night when Patrick Murray missed a 54-yard attempt at the tying field goal on the final play. That left the Falcons at 9-5, one game in arrears in the division of the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers.

This was no beauty, this narrow victory over the Buds (4-10). It was sloppy. Two fumbles, a kick blocked. Ugh. But it’s a victory.

“We’re right where we need to be at this point of the season with two games to go in the regular season,” quarterback Matt Ryan said.

Football teams always like to say their destiny is in their own hands, but rarely is it truer than for the Falcons. They play the Saints on Sunday and the Panthers in the finale. A win over the Saints clinches a playoff berth and a sweep takes the division.

A loss to the Saints, however, can open the door to a collection of 8-6 teams who finish strong. For Atlanta, as late in the season as it is, the hard work is just beginning.

 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman