Falcons 24, Vikings 17: Falcons Are Headed to the Playoffs; Yes, We're Serious

Minnesota got a Pro Bowl caliber performance from Tarvaris Jackson, the best game of Visanthe Shiancoe's life, won the battle of time of possession and outgained Atlanta by nearly 130 yards.

But as the clock hit zero on Sunday night, Minnesota still needs one win or a Bears loss to make the playoffs, and they can thank their own mistakes for that. Jackson threw for 233 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another 76 yards, but he also fumbled four times with Minnesota losing two of them. Bernard Berrian fumbled a punt that the Falcons recovered and Adrian Peterson fumbled twice, losing one of them. In all, Minnesota lost four fumbles while Atlanta didn't turn the ball over at all.

Atlanta doesn't care if they got some fortunate bounces. A year after they were a league laughingstock, Atlanta is a playoff team. On a weekend when the Bucs, Cowboys, Jets and Broncos couldn't step up and win key games, the Falcons showed they can be clutch when everything is on the line. And they're doing it with a team that should have its best football ahead of it.

The good news for the Vikings is that they had a little margin for error. Minnesota still can wrap up a playoff spot by beating the Giants or if the Bears lose to either the Packers or Texans. And since the Cardinals got blown out by the Patriots on Sunday, Minnesota is still on pace to finish with the No. 3 seed if they do win the division.

And this was a loss that was painful for Minnesota, but it's not one that leads to more questions. If Jackson had come out and stunk up the Metrodome, the entire next week would be full of questions about whether Jackson or Gus Frerotte should start the regular season finale. But instead, Jackson has staked another claim to the job, and will likely QB this team until this season ends, whether it's in a week or in Tampa in a month.