"I mean, we have a game at home and for us, if you win, you're in. Obviously this year has shaken out a lot different than any other year I've been a part of in our division. But even saying that, it doesn't matter. We are where we are, and we're excited about our chances."
Atlanta lost four starting offensive linemen and linebacker Sean Weatherspoon early in the year. More recently,Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale, cornerback Robert Alford was placed on IR. Safety William Moore missed seven games with a shoulder injury and left Sunday's game with another shoulder injury.
The winner of Sunday's game between the Falcons (6-9) and Carolina (6-8-1) will clinch the NFC South and have a home playoff game. Wide receiver Julio Jones says the losing record won't matter if the Falcons make the playoffs.
Tickets for a Falcons playoff game on Jan. 3 or 4 at the Georgia Dome were placed on sale Monday.
"We recommitted to one another," Smith said. "We had some collaboration in terms of what we need to do to put us in better positions to win. We approached it as one game at a time, to be 1-0 for the week. Here we are at Week 16 and I don't think it can be any clearer or any truer than being 1-0 this week."
Smith said Monday he has not been distracted by speculation about his status,China NFL Jerseys. It's unknown how advancing to the playoffs or winning at least one playoff game might affect owner Arthur Blank's decision on Smith's future,Cheap Jerseys 2018.
Carolina, at 3-2, is the only other team in the NFC South with a winning record in the division.
The Falcons have remained in contention by winning each of their five games in the NFC South.
The Falcons may be playing to save coach Mike Smith's job,Cheap Basketball Jerseys. They are assured of their second straight losing record after five straight winning seasons under Smith,NFL Jerseys China.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Atlanta Falcons players have been wearing 1-0 shirts in recent weeks as a reminder to focus on one game instead of their ugly record.
"I know that's a subject that everybody wants to talk about," Smith said. "As I said four or five weeks ago,Sale NFL Jerseys, and I hope this is the last time I have to answer it, I'm going to prepare just like I've done for the seven years that I've been here. My focus is on winning football games and winning the next football game and I'm going to continue to do that until Arthur Blank tells me differently."
Smith said the Falcons regrouped during their bye week following a devastating 22-21 loss to Detroit in London on Oct. 26. The fifth-straight loss left Atlanta 2-6, and the team returned for back-to-back road wins at Tampa Bay and Carolina.
"People are going to jump on the bandwagon, they're going to jump off the bandwagon," Jones said after Sunday's 30-14 win at New Orleans. "But when you get to the postseason, it's 0-0."
Now Atlanta needs one more win in the division to complete its improbable path to the playoffs.
"It doesn't matter how you get there — you just have to get in," quarterback Matt Ryan said. "And we've done it all kinds of different ways before, but it's no less sweet when you get it done.
Smith said his team has been resilient but inconsistent as it has been hit with a large number of injuries for the second straight year.
Running back Steve Jackson (quad) and cornerback Josh Wilson (hamstring) also left Sunday's game with injuries. Smith said Moore, Jackson and Wilson were having tests on Monday.
The win over the Saints kept Atlanta in the playoff chase.
