TAMPA -- The Atlanta Falcons playoffs chances are slim now, even after a 5-0 start to the season.
Sunday's 23-19 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was the Falcons' fifth in a row and dropped them to 6-6 on the season. The Buccaneers are 6-6 as well and own the tiebreaker over the Falcons in any wildcard scenarios, having swept the season series. But there's no real sign that the Falcons will rebound in time to remain in the postseason picture.
The Falcons next travel to Charlotte to take on undefeated Carolina. They'll face the Panthers again two weeks later, and it seems unrealistic to believe they could knock off the NFC's best team twice in a three-week period.