Subscribe
Follow Us
The Atlanta Falcons are coming off of a disappointing 2018 campaign in which they won just seven games and missed the playoffs, but now, heading into the 2019 NFL season, the Falcons look poised to make another run.
Thanks to an explosive offense and a (hopefully) better defense, Atlanta is becoming a trendy pick to make some noise in the NFC, and with good reason.
Of course, it doesn't help that the Falcons play in the same division as the New Orleans Saints, but a good team is a good team regardless of whom you are battling.
So, here are five bold predictions for Atlanta going into this season:
5. They'll be Significantly Better Defensively
Let me preface this by saying this: the Falcons are not a great defensive ballclub. I am not expecting them to be the Chicago Bears or the Los Angeles Chargers. However, they will be better than they were in 2018.
Atlanta ranked just 28th in the NFL in total defense and 25th in points allowed this past season. But there is a caveat: the Falcons' defense was absolutely ravaged by injuries.
Now, Atlanta has gotten healthy, and while the Falcons likely won't be an elite defensive team, they will be much improved from a year ago, which should be a pivotal factor in their quest to get back to the playoffs.
The biggest name Atlanta is getting back is linebacker Deion Jones, who played in just six games last year due to foot issues. When healthy, he is one of the better linebackers in football, so having him back on the field leading the defense is huge.
4. They will have the Most Productive Receiving Corps in Football
When you think of the best receiving corps in the league, you probably think of the Los Angeles Rams with Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp and the Cleveland Browns with Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry.
But what about the Falcons?
Atlanta has a fearsome trio of Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Mohamed Sanu. Jones and Ridley represent arguably the most explosive duo in the NFL, and Sanu is a wily, sure-handed veteran.
We won't even get into tight end Austin Hooper, who is one of the most underrated tight ends in the game.
The best part is that the Falcons have an incredibly efficient quarterback in Matt Ryan to get these guys the ball, which should lead to the aerial attack being absolutely lethal.
3. They'll have the Best Offense in the NFC
While the Kansas City Chiefs will probably end up having the NFL's best offense again, I see no reason why the Falcons won't have the best offense in their respective conference.
Yes, the Saints are still around, and we know how high-octane the Rams are, but the Falcons have Ryan, those receivers and are getting Devonta Freeman back from injury.
Make no mistake about it: so long as Atlanta stays healthy, its offense will be phenomenal, as it can hit you in so many different ways and from so many different positions.
Quarterback. Running back. Wide receiver. Tight end. The Falcons have it all.
And believe it or not, Atlanta's offense actually ranked a couple of spots ahead of New Orleans last year in terms of yardage. The Saints were much more efficient and put up more points as a result, but look for the Falcons to narrow that gap in 2019.
2. They'll Make the Playoffs
The Falcons have a pretty brutal schedule on tap for this season, but they should be good enough to plow through and win enough games to put themselves in the playoffs.
Look for Atlanta to win 10 or 11 games on the strength of its offense and a defense that, again, should be better.
Can the Falcons win the NFC South? Absolutely. They certainly have enough talent, and I actually think the Saints are going to take a bit of a step back from 2018 when they won 13 games.
But while winning a division crown would definitely be nice, all Atlanta really needs to do is get into the playoffs, and it will have a shot of making a run.
1. They'll Make it to the NFC Championship Game
The Bears are my pick to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, and I think the Falcons will be the runner-up.
Obviously, a lot of this depends on seeding, because if Atlanta plays Chicago prior to the NFC Championship Game, this can't happen, but the thought here is that the two clubs will avoid each other until that contest.
This is definitely going out on the limb, because the Saints and Rams are still pretty darn good, and if Ezekiel Elliott ends up returning, the Dallas Cowboys are not going to be pushovers, but I really, really like the Falcons.
That offense is just going to be so, so good.
