Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith has insisted that his side can reach the playoffs despite their poor start to the season.

The Falcons have already lost more games this year than they did in the whole of the last campaign, making a disappointing 1-4 start to the season having been one of the favourites to reach the Super Bowl.

However, Smith insists that there is enough time for his side to turn things around as they enter a bye week before facing the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 20.

"We are still in this. There are still 11 games to be played, a lot of football to be played. We're focusing on us and focusing on what we have to do to get a win," Smith told reporters.

"We can't look beyond our next opponent. And right now, our opponent is the Atlanta Falcons this week. And next week, we'll start focusing on Tampa Bay."

The Falcons are currently third in the NFC South, behind the New Orleans Saints and the Carolina Panthers.