NFL
By Monte Perez
The Atlanta Falcons are going to look totally different at the start of the 2022 season. Matt Ryan is not longer the teams starting quarterback, he is now calling signals for the Indianapolis Colts. Calvin Ridley will be suspended all year for betting on football games, that he did not play in. There are a ton of question marks with this team, including their offensive line, but I am looking at the 2022 season as the glass half full.
5 Reasons Why The Falcons Could Make the Playoffs:
5) The NFC South has gotten weaker over the past few years:
If Tom Brady is playing quarterback, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will always be a playoff team but, when Rob Gronkowski retired a few weeks ago, Brady lost his security blanket. Two years ago, Drew Brees retired, last season head coach, Sean McVay, walked away from the New Orleans Saints. NO is a team that has a ton of question marks coming into the 2022 season. Matt Rhule has compiled a 10-23 record with the Carolina Panthers. Even with a healthy Christian McCaffrey, does anyone expect this team to win more than 6-8 games? 2nd place is up for grabs in this division.
4) Size Always Matters:
That Atlanta Wide Receiving group and Tight Ends are huge. Here are their stats:
- Kyle Pitts, TE… 6’4, 250lbs. 68 receptions, 1,026 yards in his rookie season last year.
- Drake London, WR… 6’4, 220lbs. Drafted No.8 overall out of USC.
- Bryan Edwards, WR… 6’3, 220lbs. 23 years old, 571 receiving yards last season.
- Auden Tate, WR, … 6’5, 230lbs. 25 years old, only has 61 catches for his career. Make or break season for him.
3) Low Expectations:
The Atlanta Falcons are playing with house money. Falcons general Manager, Terry Fontenot said, “We are taking it on the chin this year. But, taking it on the chin this year and how you look at where we are next year, it’s significant. This team should get better as the season goes on. Their 1st 7 games are brutal
- New Orleans Saints
- @ LA Rams
- @ Seattle Seahawks
- Cleveland Browns
- @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- San Francisco 49ers
- @ Cincinnati Bengals
If they can be 3-4 or 4-3 after these 7 games, they will have a good shot at a post-season birth.
2) Can Cordarrelle Patterson be the Falcons every-down running back?
Last season Patterson was forced into the backfield, he had 615 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns. He also caught 52 balls for 549 yards and 5 touchdowns. If he can stay healthy, he could be their featured back. If he increases his productivity, he could rush combine for 2,000 yards.
1) The Marcus Mariota Affect:
For the first time since high school, Marcus Mariota must prove himself. He has shown flashes of being a franchise quarterback, but he has not been consistent enough. In 2017 the Tennessee Titans traveled to Kansas City and upset the Andy Reid Chiefs, 22-21 with Mariota at the helm. If Mariota can use his feet and arm to develop the young talent around him, this team could surprise the entire NFL.
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