ATLANTA FALCONS
2020 Record - 4-12-0
Head Coach - Arthur Smith
Key Additions - Mike Davis (RB), A.J. McCarron (QB), Josh Andrews (OL), Fabian Moreau (DB), Cordarrelle Patterson (RB), Lee Smith (TE), Brandon Copeland (LB), Erik Harris (DB), Duron Harris (DB), Barkevious Mingo (LB)
OFFENSE - Matt Ryan will be entering his 14th season as the Falcons starting quarterback. In 2020, Ryan passed for 4,581 yards with 26 touchdowns and eleven interceptions. A.J. McCarron will be the backup. The running backs will be Mike Davis (642 yards with a 3.9 ypc average and six TD with Carolina last season as well as 59 receptions and two touchdowns), Cordarrelle Patterson (232 yards with 3.6 ypc and two TD with Chicago), Qadree Ollison and rookie Javian Hawkins (Louisville).
The wide receiving corps will be without Julio Jones, who was dealt to the Tennessee Titans for future draft picks in the off-season. Calvin Ridley led the team with 90 receptions in 2020, good for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns. He will team with Russell Gage (77,786, four TD) as the primary receivers. Juwan Green, Christian Blake and Olamide Zaccheaus will provide depth this season. The tight ends are Hayden Hurst (56, 571, six TD) and rookie Kyle Pitts, the team's top draft pick from Florida.
DEFENSE - Tyeler Davison, Grady Jarrett (four QB sacks), Steven Means and Dante Fowler, Jr. comprise the defensive front line and John Cominsky, Jacob Tuioti-Mariner, Marlon Davidson and Jonathan Bullard are also available up front this season. The linebackers are Brandon Copeland Foyesade Oluokun on the outside and Deion Jones (4 1/2 sacks) in the middle.
In the secondary is A.J. Terrell and Isaiah Oliver at the corners and Duron Harmon (two interceptions) and either Erik Harris or rookie Richie Grant (UCF) at the safety spots. Kendall Sheffield, Fabian Moreau and Jaylinn Hawkins add depth to the crew.
The Falcons were 29th overall on defense a year ago, giving up 398 yards per game. The pass defense was last in the NFL, allowing 294 yards per game. The run defense allowed 104 YPG, which was sixth in the league. The Falcons allowed 25.9 points per game and had twelve interceptions and 29 QB sacks.
2021 SEASON OUTLOOK - Atlanta has a new Head Coach with Arthur Smith coming on board this season and he would like to see the team get it turned around after a last place finish in the NFC South division.
Quarterback Matt Ryan has been maligned the last couple of seasons and will have a different looking tandem this season at wide receiver with Jones now gone from the team. Ridley and Gage along with tight ends Hayden Hurst and highly touted rookie Kyle Pitts will be the primary targets for Ryan this season. Meanwhile, the running game will have a new look as Todd Gurley is gone (free agency) and newcomer Mike Davis (from Carolina Panthers) will likely get the bulk of the carries this season. Will the revamped offensive look pay dividends? It will depend on the line play to protect Ryan and open the holes for the backs.
The Falcons were in the middle of the pack a year ago on offense, averaging 368 yards per game and scoring 24.8 points per game. The passing game ranked fifth best in the NFL, going for 273 YPG but the run game was not so effective, averaging only 95 YPG, which was 27th overall.
If the team can get the ground game going again and the pass defense improves, perhaps the Falcons can be better and get out of the basement in the division this year. A 6-11 record would be an improvement this season as the Falcons look to retool and get back to some level of respectability.
2021 SCHEDULE
Week 1 - vs. Philadelphia
Week 2 - at Tampa Bay
Week 3 - at N.Y. Giants
Week 4 - vs. Washington
Week 5 - vs. N.Y. Jets (In London, England)
Week 6 - BYE
Week 7 - at Miami
Week 8 - vs. Carolina
Week 9 - at New Orleans
Week 10 - at Dallas
Week 11 - vs. New England
Week 12 - at Jacksonville
Week 13 - vs. Tampa Bay
Week 14 - at Carolina
Week 15 - at San Francisco
Week 16 - vs. Detroit
Week 17 - at Buffalo
Week 18 - vs. New Orleans
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