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NFL Playoff Scenarios: What If The Falcons Lose To The Saints And Seahawks?

We already know the Atlanta Falcons can clinch home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a win today over the Seattle Seahawks plus a win at home over either the New Orleans Saints or Carolina Panthers. But what happens if the Birds drop next week's Monday nighter to the Saints and slip up today after a long flight across like the entire world?

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As long as the Saints beat the Baltimore Ravens today, they would likely take the NFC's No. 1 seed away from Atlanta. New Orleans' week 17 game is at home against the depleted Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who the Saints already stomped in Tampa, so we're counting that as a W. A game against the Ravens is no gimme, but a Saints win and a Falcons loss today would make that Monday nighter a must-win for Atlanta.

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If Atlanta loses home field, they'll tumble all the way to No. 5 due to the NFL's seeding structure. They'd likely play a road game against the St. Louis Rams or Seahawks in round one, followed by a trip to either New Orleans, Chicago, New York, or Philadelphia.

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Let's just say today is a must-win, just to play it safe.

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Photographs by coka_koehler used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.