With Week 9 of the 2022 season officially in the books, it is time for some Atlanta Falcons Week 10 bold predictions. They are traveling to face the division foe Carolina Panthers at the Bank of America Stadium for a Thursday Night Football matchup.

Atlanta is coming off a heartbreaking 20-17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The Falcons recovered a fumble with defensive end Ta'Quon Graham when the Chargers were close to the red zone, only for Graham to fumble in the same play. Los Angeles then recovered it and set for a field goal some plays later as time expired.

The Falcons are now 4-5, finding themselves in second place in the NFC South. On the other hand, the Panthers are just 2-7 and at the bottom of the division.

This will be the second time both teams play each other. In Week 8, Atlanta won 37-34 in overtime thanks to a 41-yard field goal by Younghoe Koo and missed kicks by Carolina's Eddy Piñeiro.

While the teams are in different situations this season, a division clash can always bring some exciting things. With that being said, here are three bold predictions for the Falcons as they face the Panthers for a Week 9 contest on Thursday Night Football.

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3. Kyle Pitts scores a touchdown

In 2021, Kyle Pitts had one of the best rookie seasons by a tight end ever. The No. 4 pick by the Falcons, the highest of his position, had 68 receptions for 1,026 yards. He became just the second rookie tight end in NFL history to surpass 1,000 receiving yards, joining Hall of Famer Mike Ditka. Pitts was also named to the 2022 Pro Bowl.

However, there was one aspect of his game that caught fans' attention for the wrong reasons. Pitts only scored one touchdown in his entire rookie campaign. So far in 2022, he has scored twice, but his numbers are not looking good compared to last year's.

This season, Pitts has been targeted 46 times and caught 23 passes, a 50% catch rate, and accumulated 285 yards.

Even though things are far from perfect for Pitts, the bold prediction is that he will score on Thursday. His most recent touchdown of the season came against the Panthers in Week 8, so it may happen again.

2. Marcus Mariota throws for 200+ yards, at least one touchdown

Known for his running abilities, Marcus Mariota has been struggling with his passing in 2022. The quarterback has completed 61.7% of his passes for 1,561 yards and 10 touchdowns against six picks. He is just No. 22 in passing yards and No. 16 in passing touchdowns this season.

Notably, the former Heisman winner has not surpassed 200 yards in six opportunities out of nine games. He has also thrown for multiple touchdowns in only three games. Luckily for the Falcons, there are signs things could change on Thursday.

Against the Panthers in Week 8, Mariota had his best passing game as a Falcon. He went 20-for-28 for a season-best 253 yards and three touchdowns. Although he threw for two interceptions, his passing played a crucial role in the Falcons' win.

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Based on what happened the last time they faced each other, the bold prediction is that Mariota will once again have a solid passing game. Expect him to go over 200 passing yards and at least one touchdown. Also, it would not be a surprise if his best game as a Falcon comes in Week 10.

1. The Falcons win by multiple scores

While Atlanta is having its ups and downs in 2022, Carolina has one of the worst records in the league. Additionally, the Panthers are still struggling to find their starting quarterback. Baker Mayfield and P.J. Walker had their chances, rookie Matt Corral is out of the season, and veteran Sam Darnold is just now returning from his ankle injury.

The struggles at the quarterback are shown in the stat sheet. Carolina has the worst passing offense efficiency with a 57.5% completion rate.

Because of how poorly Carolina's offense is performing in 2022, there is a good chance the Falcons goes back to the winning column on Thursday. Should Mariota play well as a passer, plus Pitts and rookie Drake London being on good days, the Falcons could return to Georgia with an important victory. A strong showing from their defensive line could also be key since the Panthers are struggling through the air.

The bold prediction is that the Falcons won't just win the game, they will win by multiple scores. With the positive result, Atlanta should be motivated for its next three games as it faces rebuilding teams such as the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders and Pittsburgh Steelers. This should be enough to get the Falcons back on track in their pursuit of the NFC South with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.