Atlanta Falcons fans, read it and get used to it.

“The NFC South remains a division for the taking — a division the Falcons are back atop after a Monday night loss by the New Orleans Saints.”

Currently, the playoff standings have somehow found a way to sneak in the Falcons at the 4th seed when the team has an embarrassing record of 4-7. But as long as Mike Smith is the head coach, there is only a very slim chance that the team will find themselves playing in December.

Take a look at the rest of the schedule for the Dirty Birds.

REMAINING OPPONENTS Atlanta Falcons: vs. Arizona Cardinals (9-2) at Green Bay Packers (8-3) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4) at New Orleans Saints (4-7), vs Carolina Panthers (3-7-1)

Let’s give a quick projection on each game!

REMAINING OPPONENTS Atlanta Falcons: vs. Arizona Cardinals (9-2) LOSS (Cardinals defense will be too strong for Matt Ryan) at Green Bay Packers (8-3) LOSS (Aaron Rodgers……….Yes that is all) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4) LOSS (They lose to easy teams (Jets), but can also beat very good ones (Colts) at New Orleans Saints (4-7), WIN/LOSS (They beat them before with low hopes, they can do it again. But it’s going to be close, too hard to predict) vs Carolina Panthers (3-7-1) LOSS WIN (Depends on if the Panthers and/or Falcons are still very much alive in the race)

The Atlanta Falcons are just not good enough to beat their next three opponents. The Cardinals and Packers are still playing for the top seed, the Steelers are tight in the playoff race (although they did drop a game to the Jets), and the Saints and Panthers are obviously not an “easy” win.

Now let’s take a look at the Saints’ upcoming schedule.

REMAINING OPPONENTS New Orleans Saints: at Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4), vs. Carolina Panthers (3-7-1), at Chicago Bears (5-6), vs. Atlanta Falcons (4-7), at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-9)

Again, quick projections.

REMAINING OPPONENTS New Orleans Saints: at Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4) LOSS (Drew Brees is seriously going to test this Steelers defense, but Big Ben should be able to run away with the W) vs. Carolina Panthers (3-7-1), WIN (The Panthers are just bad right now….Oh, and Cam Newton sucks too) at Chicago Bears (5-6), WIN (I’ll give them the win here. The trio in Jeffrey, Marshall, and Forte is rough, but the Saints will be much more motivated to pick up the win) vs. Atlanta Falcons (4-7), WIN/LOSS (Could go either way) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-9) WIN (No comment necessary)

It’s going to be a fun ride. Atlanta Falcons fans have been drinking since week 5 nonstop, but it’s a huge early Christmas present that they can even have hopes for a playoff spot even when standing at a pathetic record.

But they won’t be playing in January…