Seahawks, Falcons Set for Divergent Paths to Collide in Atlanta ATLANTA (Interstat) — A Seattle Seahawks team surging toward the playoffs will face an Atlanta Falcons squad clinging to faint hopes when the NFC opponents meet Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Seahawks (9-3) arrive with one of the NFL’s best records, having won three of their last four games, including a dominant 26-0 shutout of Minnesota last Sunday. Their defense has allowed just 43 total points over the past three weeks. Conversely, the Falcons (4-8) have lost three of their last four, including a 27-24 road loss to the New York Jets last week. Their season has been marked by inconsistency, with a promising 24-10 win over New Orleans on Nov. 23 sandwiched between narrow defeats. Seattle’s success has been built on a balanced attack and stout defense. Quarterback Sam Darnold has provided efficient play, completing 74.1% of his passes for 550 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions over his last three starts. The running game, led by Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet, grinds out yards and controls tempo. Atlanta’s fortunes rest heavily on veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins and star running back Bijan Robinson. Cousins threw for 234 yards and a score against the Jets, while Robinson erupted for 193 total yards and a touchdown. Their performance will be critical against Seattle’s formidable defense. Despite the disparity in records, National Statistical’s game simulator projects a close contest, favoring Atlanta 29-25. Betting markets list the Falcons as 7-point favorites, with an over/under set at 44.5 points. The Seahawks will look to solidify their postseason positioning, while the Falcons aim to play spoiler and salvage pride in a disappointing campaign. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. EST Sunday.