Many fans firmly believed the Atlanta Falcons would hold the fate of the NFC South in their hands late in the 2025 season, and that has proven correct... just not in the way anyone thought.
After the top of the division fell flat on its face in Week 17, there is still one team in the NFC playoff picture that has yet to be determined: the No. 4 seed, which will go to the NFC South winner.
And the Falcons are the team that could ultimately determine which team makes it.
Atlanta Falcons hold the fate of the NFC South in their hands
With the Buccaneers losing to the Dolphins, the Panthers could've clinched the NFC South if they could've beaten the Seahawks—but they didn't.