The Atlanta Falcons really needed to have Sunday night's game against the Washington Commanders. If they won they'd simply have to take care of Carolina in Week 18 to win the NFC South. If they lose they'd need to also hope that the floundering New Orleans Saints can go into Tampa Bay and upset the Buccaneers. So a ton was riding on Riley Patterson's 56-yard field goal attempt with two seconds remaining in regulation and the score knotted 24-24.
Patterson calibrated his aim correctly and the ball appeared to be headed through for three points right off the foot. And for assembled Falcons fans at a watering hole, this is all they needed to see as the group erupted in celebratory cheer—completely oblivious to the fact that the attempt did not have the juice and harmlessly fell several yards short of the uprights.
