ATLANTA FALCONS
2025 Record - 8-9-0
Head Coach - Kevin Stefanski
2025 Offensive Rank - 333 YPG (14th); Rushing - 126 YPG (8th), Passing - 207 YPG (19th) SCORING - 20.8 PPG (24th)
2025 Defensive Rank - 327 YPG (15th); Rushing - 127 YPG (24th), Passing - 200 YPG (13th) SCORING - 23.6 PPG (19th)
Key Player Additions - Christian Harris (LB), Tua Tagovailoa (QB), Austin Hooper (TE), Avieon Terrell (DB), Jahan Dotson (WR), Da'Shawn Hand (DL), Jawaan Taylor (OL)
Key Player Losses - Kaden Elliss (LB), Kirk Cousins (QB), Leonard Floyd (DL), Darnell Mooney (WR), Tyler Allgeier (RB), Dee Alford (DB), David Onyemata (DL), Elijah Wilkinson (OL)
OFFENSE - With Tua Tagovailoa now with the team, the Falcons have choices between quarterbacks as a new season looms. Tagovailoa was with the Miami Dolphins for six seasons and last season he passed for 2,660 yards with 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. The Falcons went with Michael Penix, Jr. as Kirk Cousins is no longer with the team and Penix had 1,982 passing yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions last season in only nine games due to knee injuries that required surgery. In addition, veteran Cooper Rush was signed and is in training camp. As for the running game, Bijan Robinson had a big year, going for 1,478 yards (5.1 YPC) and scored seven touchdowns in addition to catching 79 passes for 820 yards and four touchdowns. The wide receivers are Drake London (68 receptions, 919 yards, seven TD), Jahan Dotson (18, 262, one TD with Philadelphia) and rookie Zachariah Branch (Georgia) as well as tight end Kyle Pitts, Jr., who had a team high 88 receptions for 928 yards and five scores. Journeyman tight end Austin Hooper, who spent his first four seasons with the Falcons, returns after making 21 receptions for 263 yards and two touchdowns with New England last year.
DEFENSE - James Pearce, Jr. (10 1/2 QB sacks), Cameron Thomas, Brandon Dorius (8 1/2 sacks) and Maason Smith man the front four while the linebackers are led by Jalon Walker and Christian Harris. In the secondary, safety Jessie Bates III (three interceptions and 98 tackles) teams with Xavier Watts (five INT and 92 tackles) and cornerbacks A.J. Terrell, Jr., rookie Avieon Terrell (Clemson) and Natrone Brooks for a unit that helped the Falcons to a plus-5 in the turnover category with 16 interceptions.
2026 SEASON OUTLOOK - The Falcons have a new head coach this season as Kevin Stefanski takes over after six years as the top man with the Cleveland Browns. He will inherit a squad that was in the mix for the NFC playoffs a year ago while playing in a division that saw Carolina finish on top in the NFC South with a losing record. The battle for starting quarterback will get much attention and Penix has the inside track starting out as he has been there already. The Falcons are in good shape running the football as long as Robinson stays healthy and the offensive line does a decent job protecting the quarterback (only 26 sacks allowed in 2025) and opening holes for the ball carriers. The primary targets in the passing game are Pitts and London and some of the new faces will be involved for the quarterback to throw to this year.
The defense was adequate a year ago, but needs to show improvement against the run as they finished 24th in the NFL in that area. On the other hand, they can get after enemy quarterbacks, getting 57 sacks last year, which was second in the league. The defensive backs get after it as well, but there is a tendency for them to get burned by big plays as they take risks with the aggressive, ball hawking style they play. This team should be in the mix in the division race again, where all four teams can win it this season. So do not be surprised if the Falcons host a playoff game in January by making it to the playoffs for the first time in nine years.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - at Pittsburgh
Week Two - vs. Carolina
Week Three - at Green Bay
Week Four - at New Orleans
Week Five - vs. Baltimore
Week Six - vs. Chicago
Week Seven - vs. San Francisco
Week Eight - at Tampa Bay
Week Nine - at Cincinnati (Madrid, Spain)
Week Ten - vs. Kansas City
Week Eleven - BYE
Week Twelve - at Minnesota
Week Thirteen - vs. Detroit
Week Fourteen - at Cleveland
Week Fifteen - at Washington
Week Sixteen - vs. Tampa Bay
Week Seventeen - vs. New Orleans
Week Eighteen - at Carolina
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