2016 Record - 11-5-0
Head Coach - Dan Quinn
Offensive Rank - 2nd (416 yards per game, 33.8 points per game)
Defensive Rank - 25th (371 yards allowed per game, 25.4 points allowed per game)
Quarterback Matt Ryan returns after winning the NFL Most Valuable Player award for the 2016 season. Ryan passed for 4,944 yards with 38 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. Matt Schaub will likely be the backup quarterback.
The running tandem of Devonta Freeman (1,079 yards, 11 touchdowns and also 54 receptions for462 yards and two TD) and Tevin Coleman (520 rush yards with eight TD and 31 catches for 421 yards and three TD) is the best in the NFL.
Julio Jones is the premier wide receiver in the league and last season he had 83 receptions for 1,409 yards with six touchdowns in 14 games played. Mohamed Sanu (59, 653, four TD), Taylor Gabriel (35, 579, six TD), Justin Hardy and Andre Roberts are the other receivers. The tight ends are Jacob Tamme (22, 210, three TD in only eight games played) and Austin Hooper, who had 19 receptions for 271 yards and three touchdowns.
The defense has NFL sacks leader Vic Beasley (15 1/2 QB sacks) leading the way while Adrian Clayborn (4 1/2 sacks) and run stuffer Dontari Poe (nose tackle) who was with the Chiefs last season, will also be in the front seven. Linebacker Deion Jones had three interceptions to lead the team.
Rookies Takkarist McKinley (UCLA) and Duke Riley (LSU) will look to make a difference this season. The secondary features Ricardo Allen (two INT), Keanu Neal, Robert Alford and Desmond Trufant.
OUTLOOK FOR 2017 - The Falcons high flying offense could not be stopped until they crashed and burned in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl loss in OT to the New England Patriots.
How they rebound from the biggest collapse in Super Bowl history remains to be seen, but with Matt Ryan and Julio Jones and the two-headed monster running game, the Falcons will be right there among the top offenses in the NFL once again.
Head Coach Dan Quinn needs to see the defense improve, especially against the pass, where the Falcons ranked 28th in the league.
As long as they stay healthy and the offense keeps humming along, Atlanta has a chance to get back to the Super Bowl again, but the defense has to get better. Another question is whether MVP Matt Ryan can duplicate the eye popping numbers he put last season.
The rest of the NFC South is no slouch as Carolina looks to rebound from a terrible season while the Tampa Bay Bucs appear to be on the rise and New Orleans can never be counted out with their league leading offense.
As long as the Falcons take care of business in the division and avoid any major injuries, they should at least finish 10-6, which could be enough to win the NFC South again. How far they go in the playoffs will hinge on Ryan and company and an improved defense coming through.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - at Chicago
Week Two - vs. Green Bay
Week Three - at Detroit
Week Four - vs. Buffalo
Week Five - BYE
Week Six - vs. Miami
Week Seven - at New England
Week Eight - at NY Jets
Week Nine - at Carolina
Week Ten - vs. Dallas
Week Eleven - at Seattle
Week Twelve - vs. Tampa Bay
Week Thirteen - vs. Minnesota
Week Fourteen - vs. New Orleans
Week Fifteen - at Tampa Bay
Week Sixteen - at New Orleans
Week Seventeen - vs. Carolina
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