Wiedmer: Can both the Falcons and Titans reach the playoffs?

Atlanta Falcons middle linebacker Deion Jones (45) intercepts a ball in the end zone ahead of New Orleans Saints tight end Josh Hill (89) during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017, in Atlanta. The Falcons won 20-17. (AP Photo/David Goldman) Atlanta Falcons middle linebacker Deion Jones (45) intercepts a ball in the end zone ahead of New Orleans Saints tight end Josh Hill (89) during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017, in Atlanta. The Falcons won 20-17. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

By Mark Wiedmer December 13, 2017 5 min read

Were the NFL playoffs starting today instead of Jan. 6 and 7, both the NFC’s Atlanta Falcons and the AFC’s Tennessee Titans would make the field as wild-card entries.

The problem for both franchises is that the three games each must play before that weekend easily could knock either or both of them out of the postseason.

So who’s got the better chance to once again chase their Super Bowl dreams?

Go to MakeNFLPlayoffs.com and you’ll find a chart that rates the Titans’ chances of winning the AFC South at 37 percent but the chance of reaching the playoffs a stout 86.6 percent.

The site isn’t quite as high on the Falcons, giving last year’s Super Bowl loser a 20 percent chance to win the NFC South but a fairly strong 65 percent chance of reaching the postseason.