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There has been a growing sense of pessimism surrounding the Atlanta Falcons‘ playoff chances among NFL media members.
The initial excitement around the new offensive scheme under coordinator Zac Robinson and the arrival of veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins has faded quickly, likely not helped by the drafting of Michael Penix Jr. in the top ten.
However, a recent pre-training camp power ranking by Josh Kendall of The Athletic has placed the Falcons right in the thick of the playoff race, and for Falcons fans, that’s all that matters at this point.
Aggressive Offseason Moves
Falcons double down on quarterbacks
To bolster their offense, the Falcons handed 35-year-old quarterback Cousins the richest free-agent contract in NFL history, a four-year deal worth up to $180 million.
They then used their No. 8 pick on University of Washington quarterback Penix Jr.
This aggressive approach reflects the deep scar left on Falcons owner Arthur Blank and his executives by two years of inconsistent quarterback play, with Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder alternating under center.
Cousins will be playing within the McVay offensive system, thanks to Altalnta’s hiring of former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, as the Falcons’ new head coach.
NFC South: A Path to the Playoffs?
Can the Falcons turn NFC south dominance into playoff berth?
The Falcons’ ranking of 17th puts them as the eighth-best team in the NFC, which suggests they might miss out on the playoffs.
However, they do find themselves at the top of the NFC South, with their closest divisional rivals, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, trailing behind at 22nd. The New Orleans Saints came in at 25th and the Carolina Panthers finished dead last at 32nd.
Seventeenth place is a more optimistic outlook on the Falcons than most analysts have offered, considering the widespread concerns regarding Atlanta’s defense.
However, according to Kendall, he stated that:
“This division will perform bad enough to where the Falcons, despite not being one of the seven best teams in the league, will squeak in for their first playoff appearance since 2017 and division crown since 2016”.
While the Falcons may not be a dominant team, their path to the playoffs appears to be much clearer thanks to the mediocrity of their divisional opponents. The question remains whether they can capitalize on this opportunity and end their playoff drought.
With the regular season approaching, all eyes will be on the Falcons to see if they can live up to the modest expectations and make a return to the playoffs.
Source: Sporting News
