The Atlanta Falcons had such a promising start to their season, with five consecutive wins, but since that streak have lost five of their last six games and all of their last four. They've dropped games to the struggling New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers, and don't really have a win over quality competition yet this season.
Falcons vs. Buccaneers 2015 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online
The Falcons have lost four straight and their playoff hopes are slipping away.
On Sunday, the Falcons will try to keep their playoff hopes alive when they travel to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the second time this season.
The first time these two teams met, Matt Ryan threw for 297 yards with two touchdowns and an interception for the Falcons. Devonta Freeman had 88 yards, while Jameis Winston managed 177 yards and a touchdown for the Buccaneers.
Atlanta trailed in the fourth quarter but scored 10 unanswered points to force overtime, where the Buccaneers kicked a field goal on the first possession. Atlanta only managed a single first down in overtime and eventually lost the game with a failed attempt on fourth down.
Since that game, the Falcons have lost three straight, including a 20-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in their last game.
Both teams are in the running for a playoff spot, though both are currently on the outside looking in. One wild card spot in the conference looks like it will be taken up by either the Green Bay Packers or Vikings, while the other is currently held by the 6-5 Seattle Seahawks.
Atlanta sits at 6-5 and is the next team in, but the Buccaneers, at 5-6, are just behind them. Two other teams share the same record but Tampa Bay currently holds the tiebreaker over them. For Atlanta, the chances of a playoff berth seem low given the competition remaining this season. The Falcons still have both games to play against the Carolina Panthers, a team that is still undefeated with an 11-0 record.
With a four-game losing skid, if the Falcons also lose to the Buccaneers, it’s unlikely they would be able to sweep the Panthers and could end, at best, 9-7. That might be enough to get a playoff berth in the NFC, but the Falcons shouldn’t count on it.
Tampa Bay has a rougher road to the playoffs because they’re back a full game behind the Falcons. They also have to play the Panthers, in Week 17, and already lost to them back in Week 4. They will face New Orleans, St. Louis and Chicago as well this year.
Both teams show well on paper, interestingly enough. The Falcons rank 11th in the league in total defense, and Matt Ryan leads the league’s fifth most productive offense. That’s from a yardage standpoint -- where they struggle is in the red zone. The Falcons average just 23.6 points per game, ranking 14th in the league. The Buccaneers rank 11th in the league in total offense, 18th in the league in points per game (22.5) and rank 12th in the league in total defense. It should be a close one, like the first matchup between the two.
How to watch
When: 1 p.m. ET
Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
TV: FOX
Announcers: Dick Stockton, David Diehl, Kristina Pink
Online: NFL Game Pass
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