The Atlanta Falcons' Week 12 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars is a must win as they try to keep their playoffs hopes alive. This is why we'll be looking at the Falcons-Jaguars game with predictions in mind.
Atlanta had a disappointing performance against the New England Patriots as they were soundly defeated 25-0. While they lost, the Falcons are still in the playoff hunt in the tight NFC race. It will take improvement on both sides of the ball, though, especially since they have been very inconsistent.
This is a great week to get back on track against the Jaguars. Jacksonville has struggled this season and is still in rebuild mode. Trevor Lawrence was taken with the No. 1 overall pick but has not played well so far. While the Jaguars are not playing great, Atlanta still needs to come out with a strong effort.
That being said, here are four bold predictions for the Falcons' Week 12 matchup against the Jaguars.
Atlanta Falcons Week 12 Predictions
4. Kyle Pitts leads Falcons in receiving
After star receiver Calvin Ridley stepped away from football to focus on his mental health, Atlanta has not solidified a new top target. Kyle Pitts needs to step up and become the leading receiving target for Matt Ryan.
Pitts, taken by Atlanta with the fourth pick in the 2021 NFL draft, is a versatile player. He can line up anywhere on offense and is a matchup nightmare for defenses. On the season, Pitts has 43 receptions for 635 yards and one touchdown. These are solid numbers for the rookie, but if Atlanta is going to make a playoff push, they need Pitts to play better.
Against a weak Jacksonville defense, he should have an outstanding performance.
3. Falcons pressure Trevor Lawrence all game
Despite the Falcons' loss against the Patriots last week, they were still able to put pressure on the quarterback. They had three sacks and five quarterback hits.
The Jaguars have been unable to protect Lawrence for a majority of the season, as he was sacked three times last week against the San Francisco 49ers.
Atlanta should be able to keep Lawrence under duress behind their defensive front.
2. Matt Ryan has a bounce-back performance
Matt Ryan struggled heavily against the Patriots, leading to the offense being shut out. Ryan only threw for 153 yards along with zero touchdowns and two interceptions.
Against a bad Jaguars defense, Ryan and the Falcons' offense should have a bounce-back performance. This season, Ryan has thrown for 2,427 yards along with 15 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions.
While it hasn't been a great season, Ryan is still a proven veteran that can lead his team to victory.
1. Falcons pick up the win
The Falcons need to pick up the win following their horrendous loss. Although it will be a tall order, Atlanta has the potential to make it to the postseason. They have a better roster and coaching at the moment, which should propel the Falcons to the victory.
If they come away with the win, they will be right back in the playoff race in the tight NFC. The top five teams all have a shot at the one seed, leaving two spots below for Wild Card teams. While the Falcons don't have the talent to make a Super Bowl run, it would be great to make it to the playoffs.
This would build team chemistry as the Falcons head into next season. Atlanta should beat the Jaguars to improve to 5-6 on the campaign.
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