When the Atlanta Falcons play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next Monday night, there will be plenty at stake for both teams. The difference is that the things at stake for Atlanta are tangible, and for Tampa Bay, they really are not.
For Atlanta, a win puts them at 9-5, still firmly in the thick of the playoff race in the NFC, and in excellent position to make the postseason if they win out. It will be another notch on the belt in the NFC South, where they can go 5-1 for the second straight year under Dan Quinn and company.