The NFC South might not have produced the same fireworks as other divisions in NFL this season, but the division certainly saved its best game for last the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers play for the final playoff spot in the NFC on Sunday at Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. (4:25 p.m EST on CBS Sports / Live Stream on CBS Sports Live Stream & Sports Stream / Box Score Stats, Play by Play & Updates)
What's at Stake?
Both two games below .500, the Falcons and Panthers still found themselves in the thick of playoff conversations, thanks to a very weak NFC South.
Atlanta, which lost three of the last four games, surpassingly has a shot at making into the next round with a win against Caroline, which once again stepped on the gas in the final month of the regular-season.
In spite the car accident to quarterback Cam Newton, the Panthers posted a perfect 3-0 record in December, beating the New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Cleveland Browns.
Since Ron Rivera took over as head coach, the Panthers posted strong output in the final months of the year, In fact, their 14-3 in December is the second-best slate in the NFL during that time behind New England (15-2).
Quotes to Ponder via ESPN:
"It doesn't matter how you get there -- you just have to get in," Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said on the Falcons seizing the chance of making the playoffs despite a sub .500 record.
"We have a game at home and for us, if you win, you're in. Obviously this year has shaken out a lot different than any other year I've been a part of in our division. But even saying that, it doesn't matter. We are where we are, and we're excited about our chances."
"There was a two-month stretch where we didn't win. But you have 16 games, and every team's road is different. Our road has been difficult," All-Pro linebacker Luke Kuechly talked about team's inspiring run in December.
"We just had to tweak a couple things and by the time December rolled around, we were a team that was ready to roll. We got hot at the right time. We just have to keep rolling now."
