/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57662863/631702466.jpg.0.jpg)
We’re one day away from a meaningful showdown between two NFC wild card hopefuls. One is suffering from a spate of injuries that threatens to derail their season, while the other is trying to rise out of a self-inflicted mire that put them behind two teams in the NFC South. You, uh, know which is which, right?
The Falcons more or less have to win this one, as a loss here will put them further behind in the NFC South, give Seattle a two game leg up on the wild card and a tiebreaker, and it will put the Falcons in the position of having to win at least five of their final six games to have a realistic shot at making the playoffs in this hyper-competitive conference. The kind of flat efforts that have cropped up so many times this year just can’t happen Monday night, or Atlanta is in serious trouble.
They’ll draw a Seattle team that will play them tough but is genuinely suffering from a rash of issues right now, including a non-existent run game, the loss of Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor, and shaky play by both lines. The Seahawks are dangerous enough to pull this off, but the Falcons are never going to get a better shot at this matchup than they are right now.
Here’s what you’ll need to know tomorrow night to watch. Let’s hope this is a great one, and more importantly, a W for Atlanta.
Atlanta Falcons vs. Seattle Seahawks Week 11
Time: Monday, November 20th, 8:25 p.m. EST
Location: CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington
TV Channel: ESPN
Announcers: Booth: Jon Gruden & Mike Tirico
Radio: 92.9 The Game
Odds: The Seahawks are favored by about a field goal
Prediction: Falcons win, 27-24
Key Questions: Can the Seahawks overcome the loss of so many quality players, especially on defense? Will Tevin Coleman be able to carry the load against a tough Seattle front seven? Can the Falcons’ run defense hold up against one of the league’s most anemic attacks?
SB Nation Opposition Site: Field Gulls
Twitter: @TheFalcoholic
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheFalcoholic