The set-up: The Falcons opened Dan Quinn's first season as head coach by winning their first five games and sat 6-1 through Week 7. However, the Falcons imploded down the stretch to finish 8-8 while missing the playoffs for a third consecutive year. In stark contrast, the Redskins were just 5-7 through Week 13 but a four-game winning streak to close the season gave Washington the NFC East title, as at 9-7, the Redskins were the lone team in that once-proud division to own a better than .500 record.

The game: If this was a regular season contest, it would be a matchup featuring two QBs facing an important season. Matt Ryan became a quality QB in the NFL and back in 2012, almost led the Falcons to a Super Bowl appearance. However, he's on the ‘hot seat' in 2016, as recent accomplishments hardly match his ‘pay check.' As for Kirk Cousins, he was Washington's choice at QB over RG III before the start of last season and after a so-so start, had a terrific finish to 2015 in which he threw 23 TD passes against only three INTs over his last 10 games. Cousins will be playing for a HUGE contract, as he'll be a free-agent after this year.

The pick: This is not a "real game"and we won't see much of Ryan or Cousins. Washington has a better QB rotation and Atlanta has had a troubling recent history of poor second-half preseason performances (note: Falcons were out-score in the second half of all four games last preseason). However, I believe the Falcons will be the more motivated team in this contest and I'm backing the home team. Atlanta is a 10* play.