FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn said from the outset that offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan interviewing for head coach jobs wouldn't be a distraction.

You'd better believe Quinn is stressing that message again this week as the Falcons prepare for the NFC Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers.

There's a strong chance the Falcons will lose Shanahan to San Francisco, with ESPN's Adam Schefter reporting the 49ers plan to offer Shanahan the job. Quinn is unlikely to speak much on the topic right now, knowing from his own experience that the 49ers are not allowed to contact Shanahan this week, per NFL anti-tampering rules.

Shanahan will address the media Thursday afternoon, when he's sure to be asked about the current situation. He's bound to talk about how focused he is on preparing for the Packers and finding ways to propel the Falcons, who have the league's top scoring offense at 33.8 points per game, into this year's Super Bowl.

If the Falcons win Sunday, Shanahan is allowed to have a second interview with the 49ers before the Super Bowl. He already had an interview during the playoff bye week. Based on the latest developments, it seems like such an interview would be more about Shanahan getting a feel for which general-manager candidate would work best alongside him if he decides to take the job.

Here is how the NFL rules dictate Shanahan's process in a Super Bowl-bound scenario:

In any year in which there is at least a two-week break between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl, an assistant coach who (a) has previously interviewed for another club’s head coaching job and (b) whose current employer-club is participating in the Super Bowl may have a second interview with a club with which he has previously interviewed for an open head coach position provided that (1) the employer-club elects to grant permission for a second interview, and (2) the interview takes place at a time and location that is acceptable for the employer-club, but no later than the Sunday preceding the Super Bowl. (iii) Signing Restrictions/Timing. No contract shall be executed, and no agreement to execute a contract, or an announcement of a contract or of an agreement for employment, shall be permitted until after the conclusion of the employer club’s playing season.

For the Falcons, the other distraction to avoid is any chatter about Shanahan's possible successor as offensive coordinator. It's only natural to speculate about internal candidates. Wide receivers coach Raheem Morris is very close to Quinn; quarterbacks coach Matt LaFleur has a natural feel for the offense; offensive assistant Mike McDaniel perhaps knows the offense better than anyone, having been at numerous stops with Shanahan; and offensive line coach Chris Morgan has a tie with Quinn dating to their time in Seattle and was on staff under Shanahan in Washington.

It certainly helps when you have essentially another offensive coordinator on the field in quarterback and MVP candidate Matt Ryan, who has thrived in his second year in the system.

However it all unfolds, the biggest factor for the Falcons is keeping the focus on the task at hand. There's little doubt anyone on the Falcons' staff and in the locker room would be happy for Shanahan to take the next step in his career. First, though, the team wants to take that step to the Super Bowl.