Detroit is listed as a 3-point underdog with the total set at 43 1/2.

A few weeks ago, the Atlanta Falcons were talking about gaining home-field advantage throughout the postseason. Their focus has switched to just making the playoffs.

Atlanta looks to end its two-game losing streak when it visits Detroit in the Lions` annual Thanksgiving game.

The Falcons won six of their first eight contests and had their sights set on securing home field after losing the NFC championship game at Philadelphia in January.

Atlanta, though, has dropped two in a row at home and now finds itself in third place in the highly competitive NFC South.

With six games left, the Falcons trail co-leaders Carolina and Tampa Bay by one game in the division. Four other NFC teams also have better records, which means Atlanta could miss out on the playoffs entirely if it doesn`t turn things around.

The Falcons still have two games remaining against Carolina, road trips to Tampa Bay and NFC North-leading Chicago, and a home contest against last-place New Orleans.

This is only the second two-game losing streak for Atlanta under coach Jim Mora since he took over before last season. The Falcons lost their final two regular-season games last year, but that skid came after they already had clinched the division championship and could afford to rest their starters for the playoffs.

``No one is going to cut their wrist, no one`s going to jump off a high building, or walk around like the sky is falling,`` Mora said following his team`s 30-27 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday. ``We have to learn from it and we have to keep pressing on. This is a little bit of uncharted territory for this football team.``

Atlanta fell behind 13-0 to the Bucs, then moved the ball at will against Tampa Bay`s highly-ranked defense. Michael Vick led five straight scoring possessions, including a 10-yard touchdown pass to Michael Jenkins that gave the Falcons a 27-20 lead with 7:36 remaining.

The Bucs, though, tied the game with 1:55 left, then got the ball back when Vick fumbled. Tampa Bay converted the game-winning field goal with 42 seconds remaining.

The Falcons have been outscored 38-0 in the first quarter of their four losses, including 24-0 in the last two games.

``It doesn`t matter how you start,`` Vick insisted. ``It matters how you finish.``

Detroit failed in its attempt to win back-to-back games for the first time this season with a 20-7 loss at Dallas on Sunday.

The Lions were their own worst enemy, getting penalized 17 times for 129 yards and nine first downs. Each of Dallas` four scoring drives included a failed third down that became a first down after Detroit was flagged.

``It`s those type of things that add up ... to the level of frustration I had,`` coach Steve Mariucci said.

Banged-up Jeff Garcia missed his third straight game for Detroit, which saw Joey Harrington go 17-for-25 for 169 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions against Dallas.

Mariucci has said Garcia will be the starter when he`s ready to return, but on Monday, said the Falcons will not know whether Harrington or Garcia will play until game time Thursday.

Detroit is hoping to get some other injured players back as well.

Standout cornerback Dre` Bly said he will play against the Falcons after missing four games because of wrist surgery. Linebacker Boss Bailey (ankle) and safety Terrence Holt (back) may also return to the lineup, though linebacker Earl Holmes(knee) is a longshot, Mariucci said.

``We are hoping and keeping our fingers crossed that we will add to our personnel,`` Mariucci said.

STANDINGS: Falcons - 3rd place, NFC South. Lions - 3rd place, NFC North.

 

FALCONS LEADERS: Offense - Vick, 1,466 passing yards and 10 passing TDs; Warrick Dunn, 978 rushing yards; T.J. Duckett, 5 rushing TDs; Alge Crumpler, 43 receptions, 529 receiving yards and 3 receiving TDs. Defense - Rod Coleman, 7 sacks; DeAngelo Hall, 4 INTs.

 

LIONS LEADERS: Offense - Harrington, 1,461 passing yards and 8 passing TDs; Kevin Jones, 491 rushing yards and 5 rushing TDs; Marcus Pollard, 26 receptions; Roy Williams, 376 receiving yards and 4 receiving TDs. Defense - Kalimba Edwards, 7 sacks; Bly, 4 INTs.

 

FALCONS TEAM RANK: Rushing Offense - 175.8 yards per game (1st in NFL); Passing Offense - 167.7 ypg (27th); Total Offense - 343.5 ypg (11th). Rushing Defense - 119.0 ypg (22nd); Passing Defense - 199.5 ypg (14th); Total Defense - 318.5 ypg (16th).

 

LIONS TEAM RANK: Rushing Offense - 92.7 ypg (23rd); Passing Offense - 176.7 ypg (25th); Total Offense - 269.4 ypg (27th). Rushing Defense - 109.9 ypg (15th); Passing Defense - 195.2 ypg (12th); Total Defense - 305.1 ypg (11th).

 

LAST MEETING: Oct. 10, 2004; Lions, 17-10. At Atlanta, Vick fumbled three times, losing two of them, and tossed an INT that led to Detroit`s go-ahead TD.

 

STREAKS AND NOTES: Falcons - Atlanta has lost seven of its last eight visits to Detroit. ... Five of the Falcons` last six opponents have run for more than 100 yards. ... Rookie WR Roddy White had four catches against Tampa Bay for a career-high 108 yards - only the second 100-yard game of the year for an Atlanta receiver. Lions - Detroit has filed a grievance against Charles Rogers. The team says the third-year WR owes the club $10.1 million as a prorated portion of his $14.4 million signing bonus because he was in default when he was suspended for four games for violating the NFL`s substance abuse policy. ... RB Jones is averaging 3.2 yards per carry after averaging 4.7 during his 2004 rookie season. ... Detroit is tied for third in the NFC with 22 takeaways.

 

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Falcons - 3-1 on the road; Lions - 3-2 at home.

 

INJURIES: Falcons - QUESTIONABLE: G Kynan Forney (leg); DE Brady Smith (toe); T Todd Weiner (arm). PROBABLE: DT Chad Lavalais (foot). Lions - DOUBTFUL: LB Holmes (knee). QUESTIONABLE: LB Bailey (ankle); QB Garcia (lower leg). PROBABLE: CB Bly (wrist).