Patriots fans should be rooting for Falcons in finale

Leave a Comment / Falcons / By /
NFL: NOV 18 Patriots at Falcons

In the NFL’s final week of the regular season, there are several games with playoff implications and draft consequences, especially for the Falcons.

Here is a look at the current draft order ahead of Week 18 (via USA Today):

  1. Chicago Bears (via Carolina Panthers): Panthers record: 2-14 (strength of schedule: .520)
  2. Washington Commanders: Record: 4-12 (.504)
  3. New England Patriots: Record: 4-12 (.527)
  4. Arizona Cardinals: Record: 4-12 (.566)
  5. New York Giants: Record: 5-11 (.500)
  6. Los Angeles Chargers: Record: 5-11 (.520)
  7. Tennessee Titans: Record: 5-11 (.527)
  8. New York Jets: Record: 6-10 (.523)
  9. Atlanta Falcons: Record: 7-9 (.418)
  10. Chicago Bears: Record: 7-9 (.461)
  11. Las Vegas Raiders: Record: 7-9 (.488)
  12. Minnesota Vikings: Record: 7-9 (.496)
  13. New Orleans Saints: Record: 8-8 (.430)
  14. Denver Broncos: Record: 8-8 (.488)
  15. Seattle Seahawks: Record: 8-8 (.531)
  16. Cincinnati Bengals: Record: 8-8 (.574)
  17. Arizona Cardinals (via Houston Texans): Texans’ record: 9-7 (.473)
  18. Pittsburgh Steelers: Record: 9-7 (.527)
  19. Green Bay Packers: Record: 8-8 (.473)
  20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Record: 8-8 (.508)
  21. Indianapolis Colts: Record: 9-7 (.480)
  22. Los Angeles Rams: Record: 9-7 (.520)
  23. Jacksonville Jaguars: Record: 9-7 (.543)
  24. Buffalo Bills: Record: 10-6 (.457)
  25. Kansas City Chiefs: Record: 10-6 (.496)
  26. Miami Dolphins: Record: 11-5 (.434)
  27. Dallas Cowboys: Record: 11-5 (.461)
  28. Detroit Lions: Record: 11-5 (.484)
  29. Philadelphia Eagles: Record: 11-5 (.484)
  30. Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns): Browns record: 11-5 (.539)
  31. San Francisco 49ers: Record: 12-4 (.504)
  32. Baltimore Ravens: Record: 13-3 (.543)

Ironically, the Falcons can do both, make the playoffs or improve their draft position, depending on the outcome of the game in New Orleans.

If they win and the Buccaneers lose to the Panthers, Arthur Smith’s team will end the organization’s postseason drought. However, if the Falcons lose and the Jets beat the Patriots, they’ll move up from the 9th to the 8th pick.

To say ending up in the exact same position as the prior two seasons under Arthur Smith is a disappointment would be an understatement. The Falcons spent a boatload of cash on the roster this offseason, and it could net no improvement in the win-loss columns.

On the flip side of things, as Peter Schrager noted, if the Falcons and the Jets win this weekend, the Patriots will lead the Commanders for that valuable second overall pick.

Assuming one of Drake Maye or Caleb Williams goes first, the second pick becomes that much more valuable for Washington and New England, who very well could be in the market for a quarterback.

Patriots fans should apparently be rooting for the Falcons; be prepared to be disappointed!

—

Photographer: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire

 

Scroll to Top
%d bloggers like this: