The Atlanta Falcons have five more wins than the Seattle Seahawks, but it will still be a matchup of NFC division leaders on Sunday in the Pacific Northwest.
Atlanta (11-2) has won its last seven games and is tied with the New England Patriots for the best record in the NFL. After tying their 1998 mark for the best 13-game start in franchise history, the Falcons lead the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints by one game in the NFC South.
Seattle (6-7) remained tied with the St. Louis Rams for first place in the NFC West despite a 40-21 loss at the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, a result that turned the division into a three-team race for one playoff spot.
Atlanta can also clinch a playoff berth with a win over Seattle, or a loss by either the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers or the New York Giants. The Falcons clinch home field advantage through the NFC playoffs by winning two of their last three games.
The Seahawks, who have won just two of their last seven games, can still get a home game in the playoffs despite the possibility of finishing with a losing record.
Seattle now needs either a win over Atlanta or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next week and a victory over the Rams at home in the regular-season finale to likely secure its first division title since 2007.
Atlanta, which is 8-1 against NFC teams, could have a big day against a Seattle defense that ranks 30th in the NFL at 266 yards allowed per game.
Quarterback Matt Ryan, who is 15-0 when posting a passer rating of 100 or higher, is averaging 247.4 yards passing while throwing 13 touchdowns and four interceptions during the seven-game winning streak. To boot, Ryan has won his last eight games played in December or January.
The Falcons' success hasn't been just through the air, even with wide receiver Roddy White leading the league with a career-high 99 receptions and 1,219 receiving yards.
Running back Michael Turner has rushed for 708 yards and 10 touchdowns in the last seven games, including a three-TD performance in last week's 31-10 victory at the Carolina Panthers.
Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck is coming off a five-turnover performance against San Francisco and will be without the services of wide receiver Deon Butler, who broke his leg against the 49ers and has been placed on injured reserve.
Wide receivers Mike Williams (ankle sprain) and Ben Obomanu (hand laceration), who both missed last week's game, could see action this week.
Hasselbeck has been intercepted eight times in his last three games. On the flip side, Atlanta has turned the ball over only three times in its last six games.
Atlanta, which is sixth in the league with 17 interceptions, has converted 24 turnovers into 84 points.
Seattle has won four of the last five meetings with Atlanta and is 8-3 all-time against the Falcons, but the two teams haven't met since the 2007 season.