5 things to aid Falcons’ playoffs bid

“We still have two more division games,” defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said. “Seven more games left in this regular season. Our mindset is to finish.”

Here are five things that must happen for the Falcons to make the playoffs:

1. Ryan must stay hot. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has thrown 23 touchdown passes and just four interceptions. He completed 18 of 20 passes against the Bucs after starting the game 7 of 14.

Ryan has a passer rating of 119. His previous career high was 99.1 set during the 2012 season.

What is he doing differently from last season when he threw 21 touchdown passes, 16 interceptions and finished with a passer rating of 89.

“Just going to the right places with the ball,” offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan said. “He’s been attacking coverages and not really forcing it. (He’s) finding the weaknesses in the coverage and going to right person, whoever it is, if it is a back, a receiver or tight end. He’s done a good job of executing the offense and getting the ball in the right spot.”

Ryan has hit at least seven different receivers in all nine games.

“That’s the thing about our offense right now is that everybody is patient,” Ryan said. “Everybody understands that with time the ball is going to come their way and when it does, make the best of that opportunity.”

2. Best supporting actors. Several players are filling roles.

Wide receiver Taylor Gabriel has stepped forward as a play-maker at the third wide receiver slot.

“He’s another piece of the puzzle,” Ryan said. “For us to be at our best we have to get a lot of guys touches. We’ve done that pretty well so far.”

Backup tight end Levine Toilolo has been dependable.

“Jacob Tamme goes down (with a shoulder injury) and we have Levine Toilolo up, we have Austin Hooper up and Josh Perkins, up,” Ryan said. “Our tight ends came up and made two touchdown catches for us (against Tampa Bay). At different times, we’ve had a lot of different people step up.”

The Falcons may get running back Tevin Coleman back from his hamstring injury for the Philadelphia game.

“Terron Ward is another guy, who’s come in (and played well),” Ryan said. “That’s been the coolest thing to see, regardless of who we’ve asked to do certain things, guys have stepped in and played their role.”

3. Cornerback play. With cornerback Desmond Trufant's status in question with a shoulder/pectoral injury, cornerbacks Robert Alford, Jalen Collins and Brian Poole must improve their play if Trufant is out for an extended period of time.

Trufant took a MRI on Friday, but Falcons coach Dan Quinn doesn’t plan to update his status until he has to release his official injury report on Wednesday.

Alford must clean up his play. He’s been called for penalties in six games, including six defensive pass interference calls.

“To tell you the truth, on the pass interference, the refs called it,” Alford said about his penalty against Tampa Bay. “That’s something that I’ll see once I watch the film. That’s all I’ll say. I’m just out there competing and battling every week. I’ll leave that up to the officials and then once I get to watch it on film, then I’ll know what I can improve on and what not.”

Trufant, a Pro Bowler in the middle of his fourth season in the league, hasn’t missed a game over his career.

Collins stepped in and played well against Tampa Bay.

“I was very excited for Jalen,” Alford said. “He got out there and did what he had to do.”

4. Keep the pass rush rolling. The Falcons have registered 21 sacks, surpassing their total of 19 for 2015, which was last in the league.

Jarrett became the third player to have a multiple-sack game this season against Tampa Bay, joining Vic Beasley and Adrian Clayborn.

“I guess it was just my turn to get in there,” Jarrett said. “We’ve been getting there every week. We just have to keep hunting.”

5. Third downs. The defense must improve on third downs. Teams have converted on 54 of 120 third downs (45 percent). The Falcons must lower that percentage to the lower 30s.