Three reasons why the Falcons will make the playoffs
The Atlanta Falcons have missed the playoffs the last three seasons after qualifying in four of Matt Ryan’s first five seasons with the team. Now that they spent crazy money to add Alex Mack, Derrick Shelby, Mohamed Sanu, Courtney Upshaw and Sean Weatherspoon, the pressure is on. It’s playoffs or bust.
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Though the Falcons play in a competitive NFC South that features talents like Green Bay, Dallas, Arizona, Seattle, Minnesota and Carolina, this team is more primed than ever before to finally put up and make the postseason in 2016.
Here are three reasons why it’ll happen.
Balanced offense
Matt Ryan never had an elite running back to work with, then Devonta Freeman came along to post a 1,061-rushing yard season that saw him reach the endzone 11 times. Also, Tevin Coleman showed flashes as a second back.
Julio Jones remained the best receiver in the NFC South, but Ryan didn’t have any other reliable targets to throw to. Enter Sanu, whose speed and deep-threat talents will help ease the pressure off Jones. Third-round pick tight end Austin Hooper out of Stanford also promises to help in the passing game.
Looking around, Ryan’s offense has never been so complete. He has a reliable ground game to help, and three reliable passing targets.
2. Offensive line is elite
The Falcons offensive line was a mess for years, but the rising stock of 2014 first-rounder Jake Matthews has made it better. In just his third year, he should be reaching his prime now, giving the Falcons the guy on the o-line they’ve always lacked.
But the Falcons don’t stop there. Center Alex Mack, one of the premier linemen in the league, signed a five-year, $45 million contract with the team. Atlanta now has two stars anchoring the offensive line. That’s huge when Thomas Davis, Luke Kuechly, Star Lotulelei, Cameron Jordan, Lavonte David and Gerald McCoy are pass-rushers in the division.
3. Defense finally looks complete
After years of being unable to stop the pass, make a difference against the run and having virtually no pass-rush, Dan Quinn has already built this squad into a unit that looks like the Seattle Seahawks he ran for two years.
Desmond Trufant is a top-five shutdown corner in the NFL, and Robert Alford is a nice complementary piece. If Keanu Neal can produce immediately, the Falcons secondary could be the best in the NFC South.
The pass-rush and rush defense, which were this team’s main weakness for years, have been addressed. Shelby, Upshaw and Weatherspoon will work with Adrian Clayborn and Vic Beasley to get more pressure on the quarterback without allowing 110-plus rushing yards a game.
Atlanta has to feel confident in their defense, which is set to take the league by storm in 2016.
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