NFL: Atlanta Falcons will be in the playoffs in 2014 if…

But: If the Falcons don’t do a better job of protecting Ryan this season, it could be another long year for Smith’s club. Due to that aforementioned imbalance on offense along with some shaky line play, the two-time Pro Bowl signal-caller attempted a career-high 651 passes and was sacked a career-high 44 times in 2013.

While Ryan threw a respectable 26 touchdown passes, he also served up a personal-high 17 interceptions and failed to increase his single-season scoring pass total for the first time in his brief career. Injuries to both Jones, who missed 11 games in 2013, as well as White, were also huge factors as well. The usually explosive duo was limited to a combined 104 catches and five scores. Meanwhile, Harry Douglas led the team with 85 receptions for 1,067 yards but only caught a pair of touchdown passes.