NFL 2022 Season Preview - ATLANTA FALCONS

ATLANTA FALCONS                                                                     

2021 Record - 7-10-0

 

Head Coach - Arthur Smith 

 

New Additions - Marcus Mariota (QB), Damien Williams (RB), Damiere Byrd (WR), Lorenzo Carter (LB), Rashaan Evans (LB), Bryan Edwards (WR), Auden Tate (WR), Casey Hayward, Jr. (DB), Anthony Firkser (TE), Vincent Taylor (DL), Germain Ifedi (OL), Dean Marlowe (DB)

 

Offensive Rank in 2021 - 29th (304 YPG); Scoring - 26th (18.4 PPG) 

Defensive Rank in 2021 - 26th (364 YPG); Scoring - 29th (27.0 PPG) 

 

A new era for the Atlanta Falcons will begin this season as quarterback Marcus Mariota comes over from the Raiders replacing Matt Ryan, who is now with the Indianapolis Colts after fourteen seasons. Mariota played sparingly last season in Las Vegas and he will be backed up by rookie Desmond Ridder (Cincinnati). The running backs are Cordarrelle Patterson (618 rushing yards, 4.0 YPC average and six touchdowns along with 52 receptions for 548 yards and five TD) and Damien Williams, who was a backup in Chicago a year ago. Bryan Edwards, Auden Tate, Olamide Zaccheaus, Damiere Byrd and rookie Drake London (USC) are the primary wide receivers and the tight end is Kyle Pitts, who led the Falcons with 68 receptions for 1,026 yards (one score) as a rookie last year. 

The defense will see several new faces on the team this season as linebackers Lorenzo Carter and Rashaan Evans come in along with defensive back Casey Hayward, Jr. to go with holdover A.J. Terrell (three interceptions in 2021) in the secondary. Grady Jarrett and Marlon Davidson are the defensive ends.

 

Outlook for 2022 season - After a mediocre season, Head Coach Arthur Smith and his team could be in for a long one in 2022 as the offense will be going through a big transition with Ryan gone at the quarterback spot. Mariota has been spotty at QB throughout his seven years in the NFL, but does provide mobility at the position. The rest of the offense is unknown as several new players are in tow for the upcoming season. The running game (85 YPG) was 31st overall in 2021, so Patterson and Williams will be relied upon to boost those numbers.

The defense was woeful last year, ranking near the bottom of the league in total defense and points allowed. The secondary had just twelve interceptions and the Falcons had a league low 18 quarterback sacks last year. If they want to improve, they must pressure opposing passers and make more opportunities with the turnovers. A third or fourth place finish in the NFC South is likely this season.

 

TEAM SCHEDULE

Week One - vs. New Orleans 

Week Two - at L.A. Rams 

Week Three - at Seattle 

Week Four - vs. Cleveland 

Week Five - at Tampa Bay 

Week Six - vs. San Francisco 

Week Seven - at Cincinnati 

Week Eight - vs. Carolina 

Week Nine - vs. L.A. Chargers 

Week Ten - at Carolina  

Week Eleven - vs. Chicago 

Week Twelve - at Washington 

Week Thirteen - vs. Pittsburgh 

Week Fourteen - BYE 

Week Fifteen - at New Orleans 

Week Sixteen - at Baltimore 

Week Seventeen - vs. Arizona 

Week Eighteen - vs. Tampa Bay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NFL 2022 Season Preview - ARIZONA CARDINALS

ARIZONA CARDINALS                                                    

2021 Record - 11-6-0

Head Coach - Kliff Kingsbury

New Additions - Marquise Brown (WR), Stephen Anderson (TE), Jeff Gladney (DB), Will Hernandez (OL), Nick Vigil (LB)

 

Offensive Rank in 2021 - 8th (374 YPG); Scoring - 11th (26.4 PPG) 

Defensive Rank in 2021 - 11th (329 YPG); Scoring - 11th (21.5 PPG)

The Arizona Cardinals made the NFL playoffs last year and were crushed by the eventual Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams, 34-11 in the Wild Card round. The offense is led by quarterback Kyler Murray, who passed for 3,787 yards with 24 touchdowns and ten interceptions last season. He also scored five rushing touchdowns and had 423 yards on the ground. Wide receiver Marquise Brown (91 receptions, 1,008 yards and six TD) comes over from Baltimore in 2022 and will team with DeAndre Hopkins (42, 572, eight TD) and veteran A.J. Green (54, 848, three TD) as the main targets in the passing attack. Tight End Zach Ertz (56, 574, three TD) will be joined by the Cardinals top draft pick Trey McBride (Colorado State) to help the passing game. The running game has James Conner (752 rushing yards and 15 TD) leading the way. 

On defense, the Cardinals feature Markus Golden (eleven QB sacks) at linebacker along with veteran J.J. Watt, who has battled numerous injuries in recent years. Byron Murphy, Jr. (four interceptions) and Budda Baker (three picks) lead the secondary, which helped a solid pass defense in 2021, ranking seventh in the NFL. Replacing free agents Chandler Jones, Jordan Hicks and Jordan Phillips will not be easy for what was a solid defense last season.

Outlook for 2022 season - A lot will depend on Murray and the offense as the fourth year QB signed a huge contract extension recently that should keep him in the desert city for many years to come. Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury could be on the hot seat if this time flounders after a strong 2021 regular season, which ended with the team losing four of their final five games and then the playoff debacle. 

Not having top notch WR Hopkins for the first six games (PED suspension) doesn't help, but if the Cardinals can can get off to another big start (10-2 last season) it would make life easier in what is possibly the best division in pro football. The Rams and San Francisco 49ers played in the NFC title game last year and the Cards will be hard pressed to win the division. It's time to put the off-season drama (Murray contract talks and losing notable defensive stalwarts to free agency) behind and get busy in 2022 to advance further in the playoffs, provided this team is good enough to make it there again.

 

TEAM SCHEDULE 

Week One - vs. Kansas City 

Week Two - at Las Vegas 

Week Three - vs. L.A. Rams 

Week Four - at Carolina

Week Five - vs. Philadelphia 

Week Six - at Seattle 

Week Seven - vs. New Orleans 

Week Eight - at Minnesota 

Week Nine - vs. Seattle 

Week Ten - at L.A. Rams 

Week Eleven - vs. San Francisco (in Mexico City, Mexico)

Week Twelve - vs. L.A. Chargers  

Week Thirteen - BYE 

Week Fourteen - vs. New England 

Week Fifteen - at Denver 

Week Sixteen - vs. Tampa Bay 

Week Seventeen - at Atlanta 

Week Eighteen - at San Francisco 

 

January 6th Committee Tells Us What We Already Knew

 THIS . . . 

 

Happy Birthday America

 And so it continues . . . 

Right here in an affluent north suburb (Highland Park) of Chicago at a  4th of July parade and celebration. 

But the United States Supreme Court is just fine with this based on one of their many insane recent decisions. 

 

Land Of The Free?

Here in the United States of America, people must stay alert of what's happening at both the state and federal levels of government. Especially keep an eye on what the U.S. Supreme Court will be up to in the wake of their insane decisions in recent weeks. 

My grandfathers fought in World War II and I will be damned if we're going to let Nazis, fascists and the rest of those scumbags take this country over. 

Hell No! 

Stay "woke" my fellow Americans. 

Happy 4th of July!

Sunday Fun Day