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00:00The Atlanta Falcons did what they had to do last night in Las Vegas, heck they even covered
00:08a five and a half point spread, courtesy of a safety and a block PAP in the final three
00:14minutes of regulation to snap a four game skid against the Raiders and get back to an
00:20even 500.
00:21Joe here's the incredibly compelling thing about the Falcons and where they sit now in
00:27the NFC South up until about three weeks ago before the four game slide really became
00:33that of a four game slide.
00:35It made us question everything we know about Kirk Cousins and Atlanta.
00:39The Falcons were in pole position despite not blowing people out, despite not looking
00:44overly impressive for a good majority of this season to win the NFC South because the Falcons
00:50against the only other team that really could give them competition, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
00:55had swept the Bucs in the regular season.
00:58So as long as they matched the Bucs who at the time were a four and six team in terms
01:04of the record, Atlanta would hold that decisive head to head tiebreaker.
01:09Well the tiebreaker only matters if you have the same mark and right now the Bucs have
01:14won fourth straight.
01:15The Falcons have snapped a four game skid to get back to an even 500.
01:20When you look at the Falcons price to win the NFC South based on last night and a victory,
01:26yes, a win in Las Vegas, does Atlanta have any life in your mind to contend for the division?
01:34No.
01:35I mean looking at the schedules that we were just laughing Ben, I mean Atlanta piece of
01:40cake except they got to take on the Giants this week.
01:44They'll have the commanders who are also battling here Ben in a big way.
01:49So that is going to be the most important game coming up for them.
01:53Then they end with the Panthers.
01:55And then in the meantime, you got the Bucs who are at the Cowboys.
01:59So what?
02:00Then they got the Panthers and the Saints.
02:03And even though the Bucs got swept, I believe by Atlanta this year, there's still a game
02:07up and I don't see any game that the Bucs have that is going to compare to the commanders
02:13game in two weeks for Atlanta.
02:14So I think it's very much in favor of Tampa being able to win it once again.
02:20Absolutely.
02:21So Joe and that price for the Falcons to win the NFC South even three, four weeks ago in
02:26minus money, the number now for the Buccaneers is minus 360 to win the divisional crown.
02:33As of this moment, that number had they split the season series would be closer to a minus
02:39600 price.
02:40It just is because of that looming tiebreaker.
02:44Joe, if Atlanta does miss out on the postseason, frankly, they are not going to contend for
02:49an NFC wildcard spot to fight.
02:51Despite the fact that technically there are only two games behind Washington, a team they
02:56play in just a few weeks, it will be seen as a failure.
03:03There is no doubt about it.
03:04And I wonder as we talked Michael Pennix jr.
03:07Before the break, if it would expedite, expedite, excuse me, the timeline of a quarterback change
03:14in the A, it felt like you invested $180 million, a hundred mil guaranteed over a four-year
03:20contract length in Kirk Cousins.
03:23So that when you selected Michael Pennix jr.
03:25Eight overall, you were going to have him play in two to three years, which would be
03:30near the end of his rookie deal and not really get a good look.
03:34If you wanted to pick up his fifth year option for a guy that is not necessarily a 20 year
03:40old rookie, even entering the NFL, Michael Pennix jr.
03:43I believe is already 23 years old.
03:45If not 24, if the Falcons miss out on the postseason, I wonder if that changes the thought
03:52process of what this off season has in store for Atlanta.
03:57Atlanta is going to be very interesting because you're right.
04:00They have all the pieces necessarily, certainly on the offensive side of the ball.
04:06They did have a big issue this year on the defensive side of the ball, trying to be able
04:10to rush the quarterback, which cost them a couple of games, Ben, certainly early on.
04:16But I think it's all going to come down to the real health of Kirk Cousins and that Achilles.
04:23And is he going to be a little bit more mobile moving forward?
04:27Because it looks to me like he's, he's trying to play through it and they're allowing him
04:32to try to play through it, Ben.
04:35Which means I don't think they believe Pennix jr. is the guy, is the answer at this point
04:40right now.