NFL Playoff Scenarios: Giants, Cardinals Results Mean Falcons Can Clinch On Sunday

Dec 24 5:01p by Jason Garrison

The stars have seemed to align for the Atlanta Falcons and the best Christmas present they receive could be a guaranteed playoff spot even before they play the Saints on Monday night in the Superdome.

Due to the fact that the Giants beat the Jets by a score of 19-14, combined with the Arizona Cardinals loss to the Bengals by a score of 23-16, the Falcons could get a guaranteed playoff berth with a Cowboys loss to the Eagles on Saturday afternoon and a Bears loss to the Packers on Sunday Night.

The Cowboys currently trail the Eagles early in the game and quarterback Tony Romo has injured his hand and his status is unclear. If the Eagles can hang on and beat the Cowboys on Christmas Eve, the Falcons would then only need to root for the Packers on Sunday night.

The Bears are still without starting quarterback Jay Cutler and and after Caleb Hanie's struggles, Chicago is going to be relying on Josh McCown to lead them to victory. McCown hasn't won a game in which he's thrown a pass in since 2007 and considering the Packers' high-powered offense and the fact that their defense leads the league in interceptions, there's a good chance the Falcons will get a playoff berth for Christmas.