ATL Standard

Raheem Morris, head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, introduced the phrase "Outrun the South" during a team meeting in the offseason. This slogan has defined their season's ambitions as they navigate through a competitive NFC South division.

At one point, the Falcons were leading with a 4-0 record within their division and stood at 6-3 overall. However, November brought challenges as they faced defeats against the Saints, Broncos, and Chargers. These losses have narrowed their lead in the division standings.

Currently tied with Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 6-6, both teams are vying for dominance in Week 14. The Falcons hold an advantage due to previous victories over Tampa Bay but must maintain or exceed this pace to secure postseason play.

Morris emphasized that maintaining control of their destiny is crucial: "They shouldn't want their own postseason hopes decided by someone else." He stressed that relying on others' losses isn't ideal for confidence heading into playoffs.

Looking ahead, if Tampa Bay wins against the Raiders and Atlanta loses to Minnesota Vikings in Week 14, it could shift divisional leadership to Tampa Bay. Such scenarios would require Atlanta to match every subsequent Buccaneers win to stay competitive.

Morris remains optimistic about his team's prospects despite recent setbacks: "How even-keel can you stay to pull yourself out of...a slump we're having right now?" He acknowledges that only those within the organization can ensure success moving forward.

The remainder of this season presents a challenging path for both teams as they aim for playoff positions amidst shrinking margins for error.