Following a much-needed bye week, the Atlanta Falcons were looking to bounce back against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 13 in a game with serous playoff implications for both teams.
Unfortunately, the Falcons fell short against the Chargers. What are Atlanta’s chances of making the NFL playoffs or winning the Super Bowl? Let’s look at all the scenarios in play.
Can the Falcons Make the Playoffs?
Heading into Week 14, the Atlanta Falcons are 6-6 and now have a 41.5% chance to make the playoffs.
They have a <0.1% chance for the first seed, a 0.1% chance for the second seed, an 8.2% chance for the third seed, a 29.6% chance for the fourth seed, a <0.1% chance for the fifth seed, a 0.4% chance for the sixth seed, and a 3.2% chance for the seventh seed.
Can the Falcons Win the NFC South?
Here’s what the NFC South race looks like heading into Week 14:
- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a 58.8% chance to win the NFC South.
- The Atlanta Falcons have a 37.9% chance to win the NFC South.
- The New Orleans Saints have a 3.1% chance to win the NFC South.
- The Carolina Panthers have a 0.2% chance to win the NFC South.
Current NFC South Standings
- Atlanta Falcons (6-6)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6)
- New Orleans Saints (4-8)
- Carolina Panthers (3-9)
NFC Playoff Race | Week 18
1. Detroit Lions (14-2)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
3. Los Angeles Rams (10-6)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
5. Minnesota Vikings (14-2)
6. Washington Commanders (11-5)
7. Green Bay Packers (11-5)
In The Hunt
9. Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
Eliminated From Playoffs
8. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
10. Dallas Cowboys (7-9)
11. Arizona Cardinals (7-9)
12. San Francisco 49ers (6-10)
13. New Orleans Saints (5-11)
14. Chicago Bears (4-12)
15. Carolina Panthers (4-12)
16. New York Giants (3-13)
Falcons’ Super Bowl Chances After Week 13
Can the Falcons win the Super Bowl? The PFN Playoff Predictor projects that Atlanta has a 1% chance to win it all.
Falcons’ Remaining Schedule
- Week 14: at Minnesota Vikings
- Week 15: at Las Vegas Raiders
- Week 16: vs. New York Giants
- Week 17: at Washington Commanders
- Week 18: vs. Carolina Panthers
What PFN Predicted for the Chargers vs. Falcons Matchup
Here’s where the Chargers and Falcons rank in various Pro Football Network metrics.
Chargers
Offense+ Metric: 21st (C-)
Defense+ Metric: 5th (B)
Justin Herbert QB+ Metric: 19th (C)
Falcons
Offense+ Metric: 12th (C+)
Defense+ Metric: 30th (D-)
Kirk Cousins QB+ Metric: 16th (C+)
The Chargers saw their four-game winning streak snapped by the Ravens last week. Now they’ll look to bounce back against the Falcons, who enjoyed a much-needed bye week in Week 12. Sunday’s matchup is pivotal for both teams, as they push to make the playoffs.
Los Angeles has relied on its stout defense all season long, led by Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. The Chargers have allowed just 15.9 points per game in 2024, which is the best mark in the league, despite Minter being a first-year NFL defensive coordinator.
Despite the Chargers moving on from several key wide receivers in the offseason, Justin Herbert has continued to play at a high level. While Herbert is just 18th in the NFL in passing yards (2,404), he has thrown 13 passing touchdowns with just one interception.
Thanks to Herbert’s ball security, the Chargers have just five turnovers as a team in 2024. Los Angeles’ efficiency on offense and dominance on defense has allowed it to remain competitive in nearly every game this season.
Following a 6-3 start to the regular season, the Falcons lost back-to-back games ahead of their much-needed bye week in Week 12. Now Atlanta will look to get back on track at home against the Chargers on Sunday.
Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins struggled mightily in Atlanta’s last two games, as he failed to throw a touchdown and threw two interceptions. The Falcons were dominated by the Denver Broncos in Week 11, who play similarly to the Chargers, as they also rely on an efficient offense and a dominant defense.
Atlanta’s pass defense could be an issue against the Chargers, as Herbert’s connection with rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey continues to improve each week. The Falcons have allowed 229.9 passing yards per game, the seventh-most in the NFL. Herbert could be in for a big day in Atlanta unless the Falcons corrected their issues during the bye week.
PFN Prediction: Chargers 23, Falcons 17
