It wasn’t that long ago when Matt Ryan was connecting with Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley to help the Atlanta Falcons jump out to a 25-point lead over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI. Historically collapsing did keep the Falcons from closing the sale, but it seemed la case of when, rather than if, the Falcons would ascend to the title. Now, Ryan’s in Indianapolis with the Colts, Jones has joined the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Ridley’s been suspended indefinitely (gambling), leaving the Falcons to rebuild the franchise.
Reconstruction of the offense went into high gear with the drafting of tight end Kyle Pitts in 2021. This past draft, the Falcons made former Southern California star Drake London the first receiver selected. Good news is the Falcons went 7-2 in one-score games during the 2021 season. The bad news is that Atlanta lost four games by more than 20 points.
The Falcons (+2500) are a distant fourth (last) in the odds to win the NFC South Division title, according to the NFL predictions.
Atlanta (+15000) is tied with Detroit for the highest price among NFC teams in odds to win the Super Bowl, as per NFL playoff odds.
- 2021 record: 7-10 (third in NFC South)
- Playoff result: Did not qualify
- Coach: Arthur Smith
- Season opener: vs New Orleans Saints, Sept. 11, 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Playoff teams on 2022 schedule: HOME – Arizona, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Tampa Bay; AWAY – Cincinnati, Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay.
- Key newcomers: LB Rashaan Evans, QB Marcus Mariota, RB Damien Williams, CB Casey Hayward, OL Germain Ifedi, LB Lorenzo Carter, WR Geronimo Allison, WR Brian Edwards, WR Auden Tate, WR Damiere Byrd, TE Anthony Firkser, LB Nick Kwiatkoski, CB DeAundre Alford, P Bradley Pinion, WR Drake London (first-round pick), DE Arnold Ebiketie (second-round pick), Troy Andersen (second-round pick), QB Desmond Ridder (third-round pick), LB DeAngelo Malone (third-round pick).
- Key losses: QB Matt Ryan, LB Foye Oluokun, WR Russell Gage, WR Calvin Ridley (suspended for the season), RB Mike Davis, S Duron Harmon, CB Fabian Moreau, LB Steven Means, LB Brandon Copeland, DE Dante Fowler, DT Tyeler Davison, RB Wayne Gallman, WR Tajae Sharpe, TE Hayden Hurst, TE Lee Smith, S Shawn Williams, DE Jonathan Bullard, DT Mike Pennel, P Dustin Colquitt, OL Josh Andrews.
- Award candidates: Drake London, +650 (NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year); Desmond Ridder, +1400 (NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year); Arnold Ebiketie, +5000 (NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year); Tyler Allgeier, +7500 (NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year); A.J. Terrell, +8000 (NFL Defensive Player of the Year); Kyle Pitts, +10000 (NFL Offensive Player of the Year).
Offensive breakdown
Things are going to look much different without Matt Ryan, who was Atlanta’s starting quarterback over the last 14 seasons. He is now a member of the Indianapolis Colts. Veteran Marcus Mariota was signed, while rookie Desmond Ridder is also vying for the job.
With the 6-foot-6 Pitts and 6-foot-5 rookie Drake London leading the way, there will be intriguing red-zone options for whoever the starting quarterback might be. Pitts will head into the season with a projected total of 900½ yards, London’s number set at 800½.
Russell Gage will join Jones in Tampa Bay. He was second on the 2021 Falcons with 66 catches and 770 receiving yards, so that production needs to be replaced.
The Falcons added receivers Geronimo Allison, Brian Edwards, Auden Tate and Damiere Byrd, as well as tight end Anthony Firkser in the offseason. They won’t be reminding Atlanta fans of the days when Jones and Ridley were tormenting opposing defenses.
Atlanta was 31st (out of 32 teams) in rushing offense a season ago, and second-leading rusher Mike Davis is now with the Baltimore Ravens.
Cordarelle Patterson is back, leading Atlanta with 618 rushing yards a season ago. Damien Williams, enjoying his best seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, arrives, while fifth-round pick Tyler Allgeier could also factor into the running game as well.
The Falcons used top-100 picks (2018-21) on offensive linemen Chris Lindstrom, Kaleb McGary, Matt Hennessy and Jalen Mayfield, so will this be the seasons the line comes together as a unit? The club also added Germain Ifedi, a former starter with the Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks.
Defensive Breakdown
Atlanta is coming off a season when it ranked 26th (total defense) and 30th (scoring defense), respectively. However, Foye Oluokun is now a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars after leading the NFL in tackles. Safety and fourth-leading tackler Duron Harmon headed to play for the Las Vegas Raiders. Those departures could mean that the Atlanta defense is going to-get worse before it gets better.
A.J. Terrell is among the top cornerbacks in the NFL, but the Falcons are lacking impact players at many of the other positions.
Defensive end Arnold Ebiketie and linebacker Troy Andersen were second-round picks, while DeAngelo Malone went in the third. It’s the hope that they can help improve a pass rush that managed just 18 sacks during the entire 2021 season. Dante Fowler, who led Atlanta with 4½ sacks, signed with the Dallas Cowboys.
Linebacker Deion Jones was tied for 10th in the NFL with 87 solo tackles, eight tackles for loss included. Along with Terrell, he will be the face of the defense.
Veteran defensive tackle Vincent Taylor had been brought in to help the interior of the defense. He’s missing the 2022 season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon.
The Falcons have suffered a significant injury setback along the defensive line.https://t.co/Matyw2CjYr
— Scott Bair (@ScottBairNFL) August 2, 2022
Linebackers Rashaan Evans, Nick Kwiatkoski and Lorenzo Carter were acquired during the offseason, as was veteran cornerback Casey Edwards. Third-year linebacker Mykal Walker could have an expanded role in 2022.
2022 Outlook
Rebuilding in Atlanta is going to take some time. A lack of a pass rush and an ineffective run game proved to be costly a season ago. It’s unlikely to expect much improvement in either area this season.
It will be a challenging start to the season, with a game against the division-rival New Orleans Saints in the opener, then a trip to play the Super Bowl-champion Los Angeles Rams. Consecutive opponents in Tampa Bay, San Francisco and Cincinnati won’t be any easier.
There will be plenty of eyes on Ridder to see if he can take the starting quarterback job from Mariota at some point this season.
The regular season expected win total is set at just 4½, -125 for the Falcons to go over and -105 to go under that.
Something to consider for those who bet online, Atlanta was 2-6-1 against the spread in the final nine games of the season. Seven of the last nine Atlanta games went under the Las Vegas odds total.
