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What must the Falcons do to clinch a playoff spot?

December 18, 2017 Tampa: Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan prepares to play the Buccaneers in a NFL football game on Monday, December 18, 2017, in Tampa. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: ccompton@ajc.com

December 18, 2017 Tampa: Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan prepares to play the Buccaneers in a NFL football game on Monday, December 18, 2017, in Tampa. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
By Juliakate E Culpepper
Dec 19, 2017

The Atlanta Falcons have two ways to clinch a playoff spot ahead of Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints.

The easiest way to earn a spot is to win Sunday’s matchup against the Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

The defending NFC Champions can also clinch if they tie with the Saints, the Seattle Seahawks and the Dallas Cowboys tie and the Detroit Lions lose or tie at the Cincinnati Bengals.

So far in the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles have clinched the NFC East and a first-round bye and the Minnesota Vikings have clinched the NFC North.

The Falcons (9-5) are coming off a 24-21 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night.

The Falcons kick off against the Saints at 1 p.m. ET and can be watched in the Atlanta area on Fox.

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Juliakate E Culpepper
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