Sunday’s loss to the Bengals was a huge setback for the Falcons, as a win would have kept the Falcons within a win of the first-place Saints in the NFC South. The loss marks the second consecutive close home loss and a killer on the postseason outlook. Atlanta’s probability of making the playoffs dropped 11%, from 44% to 33%, according to FiveThirtyEight predictions.
Atlanta is clearly a talented team, especially on the offensive side of the ball. The Falcons have put up 30+ points in every game since the opener and are clicking on all cylinders. The problem lies with the defense, where several players have missed time due to injuries.