Sense of urgency based on the outcome of tonight's game?

[t96]

How much do you all think this game impacts the team's mindset against the Vikings?

If Falcons win, two things happen relating to us. Aints losing opens up the division if we win out and they drop one more (very possible with Atlanta again, Jets who are surprisingly competitive every week, and Bucs a division game anything can happen in). Falcons winning brings them closer to competing with us for a wildcard spot. 

On the other hand, if the Aints win, the division is much less likely to be within reach, AND we have more cushion for a wildcard spot.

 

So if the Falcons win tonight there is a MUCH greater sense of urgency to win against the Vikings than if the Aints win. But how much does this impact the team and how well they will play on Sunday? Just something to think about. I went into tonight pulling for TIE but if not then Aints all the way but I think it could possibly be better for the team to have more pressure than to think that they have a wildcard spot wrapped up easily with no shot at the division anyways. So maybe a Falcons win ain't so bad. I hate both teams so much obviously I'd love for a way for both of them to lose, but one's gotta win (absent the unlikely TIE). Thoughts?

[Fox007]

Since when does this team show any sense of urgency in any situation? They sleep walked through the SB ffs.

[LinvilleGorge]

We better have a sense of urgency anyway. Between us, the Seahawks, and the Falcons there's gonna be a team that would go to the playoffs in just about any other season sitting and watching from home. 

[PleaseCutStewart]

Probably more urgency from the fans because the last game of the season against Atlanta becomes a must win.

For the team, they have played with no urgency for the entire year so I doubt that changes now.

[Yaboychris28]

We’re screwed 

[Cyberjag]

It better not make a difference.  After the way they shti the bed against New Orleans, if they don't have max urgency already then the season is over regardless.

[Snake]

Every game is a must win. We could be knocked out with a record of 10-6.

[Hoenheim]

There really should be one if the players/coaches are paying attention to the division records and tiebreakers.

• Falcons will win the division if they win their final 3 games. That would make them 11-5, and it would also make us and the Saints 11-5 at the most because we both already have 4 losses. In fact, it doesn't even matter if both NO and Panthers win all the rest of their games but lose their final ATL matchups with them winning out.  All of us at 11-5 means that ATL has the division sweep tiebreakers over NO, and they'd have split the series with us but they would have a better NFC record than us ( Panther losses to Bears, Eagles, Saints, Saints, Falcons [5 NFC losses] ) (Falcons losses to Panthers, Vikings [only 2 NFC losses! ])
• Panthers win the division if we win out , and the Saints lose 1 more game. That puts us at 12- 4 , Saints 11-5 at best, and Falcons at 10-6 at best. This really is the senario we should be hoping for now that he Saints are injured up the wazoo . But of course we'd need to beat the Vikings to make this happen, Sunday is huge. That would also knock the Vikings down to 3 losses like the Rams and Eagles . 
• Panthers actually can still get the #2 Seed in the NFC, however unlikely that may be. Eagles would have to impoad and lose 3 of their last 4 games, but none of of those are gimmies. Rams are good, Giants is a divisional game, Raiders aren't terrible, and they have a huge end of season game vs the Cowboys with Zeke back. Rams could easily lose a couple more games to put them at 5 losses. Vikings have the easiest remaining schedule , they might lose to us but I dont see them losing to Bengals, Packers, or Bears. 
• Saints win the division if they win out. That puts them at 12-4 , us at 11-5 at best, and Falcons at 10-6 at best . So they win if they take care of business down the stretch. 

[Hoenheim]

Even if the Saints win the rest of their games, we make the playoffs if we do the same and win out as well. If the Saints win out and we win out, that means the Falcons lost 2 out of their last 3  and the division would look like this :

• Saints 12- 4 (1st b/c of their sweep against us obviously)
• Panthers 12- 4 
• Falcons 9 - 7 

12-4 should get us in somewhere in the playoff seeding since there's still a few matchups between the big dogs in the NFC left. But if we lose even 1 more time things start getting muddy if the other teams do well 

[JPino]

If we win our next 3 games wouldn’t that makes us a playoff lock? Regardles if we lose in ATL. I’m not talking about clinching the division. Just getting a wild card

[t96]

We need to win out, along with the Aints losing to the Jets but beating the Falcons. That leaves us at 12-4, Aints at 11-5 and Falcons 9-7 and out of the playoffs. 

Still likely wouldn't get the 2 seed just because the Vikings have a joke of a schedule after us--though they could lose to Rodgers in Green Bay, hopefully. And Eagles would have to lose 3 of their next 4 if Vikings don't lose one, which isn't happening.

 

Amazingly, the NFC could have all 6 playoff teams be 12-4 or better...