String of wins could give Falcons a wild card

Sure, chances are slim. But here’s how it could go down.

For all the gloom and doom surrounding the Falcons and their playoff chances, there may a little light above the clouds hovering over the team.

Various computer projections suggest that Atlanta has between a 6 and 9 percent chance to make the postseason. That’s better than zero.

First, the easy-to-understand part:

At 4-6 after Sunday’s 22-19 loss to the Cowboys, Atlanta today will begin preparing for Thursday night’s game at New Orleans (9-1) with a microscopic chance of catching and passing the Saints for the NFC South title. They’re five games back, and a loss Thursday would wipe out the last sliver of that shot.

A wild card spot remains more in play, although the Falcons didn’t much want to talk about that after the Cowboys beat them on a field goal as time expired in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“Right now, I’m just looking at the next game on Thanksgiving night,” said wide receiver Calvin Ridley.

A win in New Orleans would be a step toward moving into one of the two NFC wild card spots. The Falcons trail Carolina (6-4) for the first wild card, with a win over the Panthers in hand and a road game coming against them. The Falcons trail Minnesota (5-4-1) by a game and a half, but they have company between themselves and the Vikings.

Atlanta also trails Seattle (5-5), Dallas (5-5) and Green Bay (4-5-1) with a road game coming against the Packers. The Lions (4-6) are even with the Falcons.

The toughest game of the six remaining is on deck in New Orleans (9-1). After that, the Falcons will play Baltimore (5-5) at home, at Green Bay (4-5-1), home against the Cardinals (2-8), at Carolina (6-4) and at Tampa Bay (3-7).

If the Falcons can win five of their final six games to finish 9-7, chances are pretty good they’ll be in the mix for one of the wild card spots, because their competitors have stiff schedules remaining.

The Panthers’ remaining slate: Seattle, at Tampa Bay, at Cleveland, New Orleans, Atlanta, at New Orleans.

The Packers: at Minnesota, Arizona, Atlanta, at Chicago, at N.Y. Jets, Detroit.

The Seahawks: at Carolina, San Francisco, Minnesota, at San Francisco, Kansas City, Arizona.

The Cowboys: Washington, New Orleans, Philadelphia, at Indianapolis, Tampa Bay, at N.Y. Giants.

The Lions: Chicago, L.A. Rams, at Arizona, at Buffalo, Minnesota, at Green Bay.

CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley scores his second of three touchdowns in a game against the New Orleans Saints in September. The Saints won that contest in Atlanta, 43-37.