The Falcons face the Commanders on Sunday. We break down what the game means for the NFL playoff picture.
Sunday’s slate of NFL action draws to a close with a thrilling NFC matchup between the Washington Commanders and the Atlanta Falcons.
In addition to featuring a matchup between a pair of rookie first-round quarterbacks in Michael Penix Jr. and Jayden Daniels, both the Commanders and the Falcons can clinch playoff spots on Sunday. While Washington can theoretically clinch a spot before this game kicks off, and the Falcons might have to wait until Week 18 depending on how the early games go, there are still ways both teams can punch their postseason ticket tonight.
Let’s break them down.
Atlanta remains in the driver’s seat to the NFC South thanks to their season sweep of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Both teams enter play Sunday with an 8-7 record, but the Falcons have that critical tiebreaker advantage with the season sweep in their two meetings.
With a Buccaneers loss to the Carolina Panthers in the 1:00 p.m. Eastern window, the Falcons can clinch the NFC South title with a win over the Commanders on Sunday Night Football.
However, a Buccaneers win or tie against Carolina in the early window means that the Falcons cannot clinch the division — and a playoff spot — in Week 17.
A silver lining for the Falcons heading into Sunday’s games? They cannot be eliminated from playoff contention this week. Should the Buccaneers win and the Falcons lose, Atlanta can still win the division in Week 18 if they win, and Tampa Bay loses. Again, that season sweep of the Buccaneers looms large.
For the Commanders, they too will be watching that game against the Buccaneers with interest.
If Tampa Bay loses or ties against the Panthers, then the Commanders are in the playoffs, regardless of how they fare against Atlanta on Sunday Night Football.
But if the Buccaneers defeat the Panthers, Washington can still clinch a playoff spot in Week 17, provided they win or tie against the Falcons later tonight.
The Commanders are still alive in the NFC East title race. However, they would need to win their final two games (against Atlanta in Week 17 and the Dallas Cowboys in Week 18), and need the Eagles to lose their final two games. Philadelphia takes on the Cowboys in the early window on Sunday, and then the Eagles close out their season against the New York Giants.
But if the Eagles beat the Cowboys in the early window, the Commanders are eliminated from contention for the NFC East title race.
This game does not have significant tiebreaker implications.
