2018 Record - 7-9-0
Head Coach - Dan Quinn
Newcomers for 2019 - Kenjon Barner (RB), J.J. Wilcox (DB), Jamon Brown (OL), James Carpenter (OL), Tyeler Davison (DL), John Wetzel (OL), Adrian Clayborn (DL)
Keys on Offense - Matt Ryan continues to excel at quarterback, passing for 4,924 yards last season with 35 touchdown passes and only seven interceptions. The wide receivers are Julio Jones (113 receptions for 1,677 yards and eight touchdowns), Mohamed Sanu (66, 838, four TD) and Calvin Ridley, who had 64 receptions for 821 yards and ten touchdowns. Austin Hooper (71, 660, four TD) is the tight end.
Running back Devonta Freeman is looking to come back from a lost season due to injuries while Ito Smith will be the man should Freeman falter once again. Smith rushed for 315 yards last season as a rookie and scored four touchdowns while spelling Tevin Coleman, who joined San Francisco in the off-season.
The running attack was weak a year ago, ranking 28th in the league while gaining just 98.3 yards per game.
Keys on Defense - After putting up some impressive sack and tackle totals in recent seasons, defensive end Vic Beasley, Jr. will be looking to rebound after getting just five QB sacks last season. Takkarist McKinley led the team with seven sacks and tackles Jack Crawford and Grady Jarrett each had six sacks. Deion Jones mans the middle at linebacker and had two interceptions and a sack last season.
The secondary has safety Damontae Kazee, who tied for the NFL lead with seven interceptions last year while Desmond Trufant is at cornerback, along with Isaiah Oliver and safety J.J. Wilcox, who signed as a free agent.
OUTLOOK - The offense can score points, averaging 26 points per game in 2018, but the defense must improve this season as they allowed 26.4 points per game last year. Head Coach Dan Quinn was considered a defensive guru in Seattle, so he would like to see the Falcons defense take the next step and improve in all areas after finishing near the bottom of the league in every major category.
This team slipped to 7-9 last year after back-to-back playoff appearances, including a near Super Bowl victory just three years ago, so the window is still open for the core players to make things happen.
As long as Ryan stays healthy and the players around him play to their abilities, the Falcons can soar back into the playoffs and perhaps even make one more Super Bowl run, but the running game has to improve while the defense must also step up and limit opposing offenses. A 9-7 finish looks likely this season, which might be enough to get a wild card berth.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week 1- at Minnesota
Week 2 - vs. Philadelphia
Week 3 - at Indianapolis
Week 4 - vs. Tennessee
Week 5 - at Houston
Week 6 - at Arizona
Week 7 - vs. LA Rams
Week 8 - vs. Seattle
Week 9 - BYE
Week 10 - at New Orleans
Week 11 - at Carolina
Week 12 - vs. Tampa Bay
Week 13 - vs. New Orleans
Week 14 - vs. Carolina
Week 15 - at San Francisco
Week 16 - vs. Jacksonville
Week 17 - at Tampa Bay
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