Atlanta Falcons: Can 2015 Dirty Birds Win Playoff Game?

It’s no secret that the 2015 Atlanta Falcons have the easiest strength of schedule of any team in the NFL entering the season. Atlanta plays in the NFC South where the 2014 Carolina Panthers made the postseason with a sub-.500 record (7-8-1) by winning a hapless division.

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The NFC East usually beats up on each other, but the Dallas Cowboys look primed to repeat as Division Champs. HC Dan Quinn’s Atlanta Falcons team draws the bottom-heavy AFC South in the rotation this year, with the Indianapolis Colts eying a Super Bowl, the Houston Texans hoping to get back into the playoffs, and the Tennessee Titans and the Jacksonville Jaguars are still the Tennessee Titans and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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Atlanta’s two other opponents are the ascending Minnesota Vikings and the San Francisco 49ers on the plummet. So with an improved defense, a more balanced offense, and for goodness sake, better clock management from the Head Coach, the 2015 Atlanta Falcons can certainly go 9-7 to 11-5 and make the NFC Playoffs. But do the Dirty Birds have what it takes to win a postseason game, assuming they get there of course?

11-5 would definitely ensure a playoff bid. Worst case scenario, it’s good enough for a 5-seed. Going 9-7 gives the Atlanta Falcons an opportunity to earn a 6-seed or possibly win the NFC South if it is another down year for the division. So if the 2015 Atlanta Falcons do make the NFC Playoffs, they will likely be a 4 to 6-seed in the Conference.

I don’t see Atlanta having a better year than the Seattle Seahawks, the Green Bay Packers, or the Dallas Cowboys, my pre-season picks to finish 1,2,3 in the NFC. The Falcons could surpass the Carolina Panthers in the NFC South standings by virtue of not having to play both Seattle and Green Bay on the road this regular season. Good luck with that, Carolina.

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So expect the Atlanta Falcons to play in Wild Card weekend if the Dirty Birds qualify to for postseason play this fall. That’s actually great for Dan Quinn and his staff as Atlanta will not have to play in Seattle or Green Bay in the first round as I expect both world-beaters to have first round byes in the 2015 NFC Playoffs.

When the Atlanta Falcons are playing sound football, they are as tough as anybody to beat at home so I would feel confident in the Dirty Birds winning a Wild Card Game at the Georgia Dome as the host. The road isn’t as easy. I expect traveling to Dallas, Charlotte, Glendale, and even Detroit as difficult, but navigable scenarios for the Atlanta Falcons. Like I said, anything is better than playing in Seattle or Green Bay in a playoff atmosphere.

Also keep in mind that Dan Quinn is bringing a new philosophy to Flowery Branch, coaching his players to play like it’s Championship Sunday every Sunday. Mike Smith preached about winning each quarter of the regular season. It didn’t work the last two seasons, going 10-22 in that horrid two-year stretch.

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