In any other division, the Falcons beating the Buccaneers might not have meant much.
But the Falcons live in the NFC South, so they have a chance.
It wasn’t quite the hammering like they put on the Buccaneers the first time through, but a 27-17 victory was enough for Sunday. That moved the Falcons to 3-6, which could get them within a game of first place, pending the outcome of the Saints-49ers game which has gone to overtime.
Coming into this game, the Falcons had lost five straight, and the Bucs had lost four in a row.
And for long stretches of the afternoon, it looked like neither of them were particularly interested in changing that.
The Bucs got a few big plays late, both on overturned challenges. But when a third on that final drive was picked off by Saints safety Dwight Lowery, their chances at the upset went away.
Bucs quarterback Josh McCown really wasn’t that bad until two late interceptions, throwing for 301 yards and two touchdowns.
But the Falcons did just enough to escape the basement of the NFC South, which means they have a shot at the playoffs.
It’s a roomy basement.
