▁holding ▁the ▁wild - card ▁tie break ers . ▁ ▁Carolina ▁finished ▁last ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 0 ▁( 2 – 1 4 ) ▁and ▁was ▁elimin ated ▁from ▁play off ▁cont ention ▁in ▁Week ▁ 1 4 ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 1 ▁season ▁after ▁going ▁ 4 – 9 , ▁becoming ▁the ▁first ▁N FC ▁South ▁team ▁to ▁have ▁a ▁losing ▁season ▁after ▁placing ▁last ▁in ▁the ▁division . ▁ ▁From ▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁to ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁no ▁team ▁in ▁the ▁N FC ▁South ▁earned ▁back - to - back ▁play off ▁appearances . ▁In ▁Week ▁ 1 6 ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 0 ▁season , ▁New ▁Orleans ▁cl inch ed ▁a ▁wild - card ▁ber th , ▁becoming ▁the ▁first ▁N FC ▁South ▁team ▁to ▁ear n ▁consecutive ▁play off ▁appearances . ▁New ▁Orleans ▁earned ▁three ▁consecutive ▁play off ▁appearances ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁ 2 0 1 0 , ▁and ▁ 2 0 1 1 ▁seasons . ▁Atlanta ▁also ▁earned ▁three ▁consecutive ▁play off ▁appearances , ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 0 , ▁ 2 0 1 1 ▁and ▁ 2 0 1 2 ▁and ▁Carolina ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 3 , ▁ 2 0 1 4 ▁and ▁ 2 0 1 5 . ▁ ▁Each ▁team ▁has ▁won ▁the ▁division ▁at ▁least ▁three ▁times ▁and ▁made ▁a ▁play off ▁appearance ▁at ▁least ▁three ▁times ▁since ▁the ▁division ' s ▁formation . ▁T ampa