For the 11-2 Atlanta Falcons, a win over the 6-7 Seattle Seahawks would all but clinch a NFC South title and home field advantage. They'd still need a home win over either the New Orleans Saints or Carolina Panthers in their last two games, but -- no, didn't you just see I said the Falcons get to play the Panthers again? Beat Seattle and playoff football comes to the Georgia Dome for the first time since 2004.
Seattle is 4-2 at home, however, and this is about as far of a road trip as any NFL team can take. Though Seattle has only two wins over teams with winning records, ranks 27th in total offense and 30th in total defense, and ... OK, I'm trying to find a reason Atlanta should lose this game, but it all comes back to that long road trip, weather (Sunday's Seattle forecast: chilly, rainy!), and Qwest Field's traditionally involved crowd.
Special teams! That's it. Seattle has three kickoff touchdowns, though Atlanta has a better average. The Hawks also have better punt coverage by about three yards per punt, and their kickoff touchback percentage is among the league's best.
No disrespect, but the Falcons and Seahawks will both have to play uncharacteristic games for the Falcons to lose what very well may be their last road game of the year.