In the Nest

Behind-the-scenes stories, locker room insight into team culture

Since being mathematically eliminated from the playoffs nearly a month ago, the Falcons have rattled off three consecutive wins against the Bucs, Cardinals and Rams — two of those wins coming in prime-time slots. To this locker room that has found a way to stick together without much to truly play for, it’s a sign of what they believed to be true about themselves.

“We confirmed who we are,” Falcons safety Jessie Bates III said. “Our record doesn’t reflect who we are as a group. We’re two, three, four snaps away from being in the same picture with Carolina and the Bucs. But that’s not the case.”

The Falcons may not be fighting for a playoff berth this weekend, but they could be fighting for a second-place finish in the division. Yes, even after everything there is still that chance. A trending Saints team stands in their way.

Despite their own struggles and uncertainties through the midway point of the season, the back quarter of 2025 has been prosperous for the Saints. They have won their last four games. What’s significant is that two of those wins came at the expense of the other NFC South teams, the Bucs and Panthers.

Let’s allow Terrin Waack the floor to explain what all of this means as the weekend quickly approaches.

The Carolina Panthers lead the NFC South entering Week 18 with an 8-8 record. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are second at 7-9. In third, the Falcons are also 7-9, but because of their record in common games, the Buccaneers hold the tiebreaker. Then, the Saints are fourth at 6-10.
The Panthers and Buccaneers play Saturday. If Carolina wins, it clinches the division.
The Falcons and Saints play Sunday. If the Atlanta wins, Carolina takes the division. If New Orleans wins and Tampa Bay wins, the Buccaneers claim the division.
The best the Falcons can finish is second, and that would require a win against the Saints and the Panthers beating the Buccaneers. If the Saints win in that same scenario, then they’re second, and the Falcons are last.

Despite all of this, however, the Falcons are singularly focused.

“You can feel it around the building that we want this one bad,” Divine Deablo said about playing the Saints to close out 2025.