Falcons secure NFC South crown with Bucs loss

ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Falcons have wrapped up the fifth division title in franchise history with a month to go in the regular season.

The Falcons (11-1) clinched the NFC South on Sunday when Tampa Bay lost at Denver 31-23, handing Atlanta its second division championship in three years. With two more wins, it would secure home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs.

The team also won the NFC South in 2004, and captured NFC West crowns in 1980 and 1998.

The Falcons can use December to tune up for the playoffs, setting their sights on the franchise's first Super Bowl championship and looking to turn around their recent history of flopping in the postseason. Atlanta was one-and-done in its last three postseason appearances dating back to 2008.