Herm Edwards put it perfectly when he said, "you play the game to win." This statement holds true, and today we will concentrate on three particular matchups in the Falcons' upcoming schedule that are essential to secure if they hope to have any dreams of making it back to the postseason.
Week 1 Tampa Bay
How amazing is it to walk into the office the day after your football team secures a victory on Sunday, particularly when it's their season opener? It's the I-75 rivalry against the Bucs, and after sweeping last season, there's a slight shift in momentum with Atlanta winning four out of the last five matchups. The significance of a strong start cannot be emphasized enough, especially for Penix Jr, who will be experiencing his first full season of play. Additionally, it's important to note that teams starting the season with a record of just 1-2 have only made it to the playoffs 25% of the time since the expanded playoff format was introduced.
Week 5 Buffalo
It was a year ago on MNF when victories were secured against the Eagles and Raiders. A win in this situation after a bye week would definitely boost momentum. Many viewers will be tuning in that night who haven't seen Penix Jr play on the national stage since he had 24 incompletions and two interceptions in the title game loss to Michigan. Strong performances here (and on SNF against Minnesota) will confirm that Atlanta is heading in the right direction with their new quarterback. An interesting note, the Falcons have actually won 7 out of their last 8 games on MNF.
Week 13 Seattle
If a postseason return is on the horizon, it will be confirmed with a victory in this situation. Luckily, this time the Falcons' defense won't have to contend with D.K. Metcalf, who posed a significant challenge last season. In that loss, the Falcons hindered themselves by committing three critical turnovers that cost them the game. "Revenge" will be the highlight of this matchup. Winning early and frequently in December will help finish strong, and may even allow for resting starters in the final game against the struggling Saints. A trio of wins in these home games will nearly guarantee a spot in the playoffs. The sentiment within the organization is to "just make it to the playoffs," and there is value in that perspective. We saw the Steelers (twenty years ago next February) qualify as a 6 seed and go on to win it all. Here's hoping.