So here the Falcons sit at 6-6. It has definitely been a disappointing season to say the least. While national media didn’t expect much more from the Falcons than an 8-8 finish or even a 7-9 finish. However, that feeling wasn’t shared in Atlanta. There was a sense of something much better. Week 1 fueled that feeling with a dominating win at preseason Super Bowl favorite Carolina.

Several injuries, dropped passes, and just complete let downs later, the Falcons are eyeing a .500 record which includes losses to 2-10 Detroit and 4-8 Cleveland. It doesn’t get any easier from here on out. The good news for Falcons fans…Win and you’re in. It really is that simple. In fact, it is even simpler than that. The Falcons can lose to Dallas and still be in with a 9-7 record regardless of how things play out.

Here is the deal. The Falcons are tied for the 2 wild card spots with Carolina, New York, and Philadelphia. The Falcons finish their season home against Carolina and on the road at Philadelphia. Should those two teams win all but the game against the Falcons and still assuming a Falcons loss to Dallas only, all three finish at 9-7. Atlanta would hold a two game head to head edge over Carolina and would clinch their spot with their final win head to head against Philadelphia.

There are still a few divisions to be decided in the NFC since Chicago is the only team to have clinched at this point. The NFC West doesn’t factor given the scenario here of controlling your own destiny. The NFC South and NFC East are three team races, but regardless of how those races shake out, Atlanta still has the luxury of controlling their own destiny. Atlanta could just make it easier and win out giving them a 10-6 record and tie breakers over Carolina, Philadelphia, and Dallas. Easy enough right?