Fansided

5 darkhorses to make a run at the Super Bowl after NFL free agency

By John Buhler

Nov 26, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) rolls out to pass against the Carolina Panthers during the first quarter of an NFL game on Thanksgiving at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) rolls out to pass against the Carolina Panthers during the first quarter of an NFL game on Thanksgiving at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 20, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) slaps hands with head coach Dan Quinn (R) after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) slaps hands with head coach Dan Quinn (R) after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /

44. . NFC. South. Atlanta Falcons. 4. player

The Atlanta Falcons were to some degree a dark horse contender last year. The 2015 Falcons got off to a fantastic 5-0 start under first-year head coach Dan Quinn, but couldn’t keep up the pace for the entire season, falling to 8-8 in Quinn’s first year in Atlanta.

While the 2016 season schedule is particularly brutal for the Falcons (AFC West, NFC West, NFC South, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles), this 2016 team may potentially have more balance than the 2012 team that went 13-3 en route to the franchise’s third-ever trip to the NFC Championship.

With another year of Quinn as head coach, Richard Smith running the 4-3 Under base defense, and Kyle Shanahan implementing the zone blocking scheme and West Coast offense, Atlanta may play 2016 with more poise than they displayed in 2015.

Atlanta only played two bad games in 2015 (@Carolina, vs. Minnesota), but were a disjointed bunch during the middle part of the season due to a lack of continuity between players and coaches. The talent was there, but the team experienced massive growing pains in Quinn’s first year in Atlanta.

Now that all parties involved with the Falcons know what to expect entering next season, Atlanta has a chance to put it all together in 2016. The Falcons made two key upgrades to their team in free agency in signing center Alex Mack and wide receiver Mohamed Sanu.

If Atlanta can put together a solid 2016 NFL Draft and get through the preseason unscathed, the Falcons could have the mental fortitude to make some noise in the 2016 NFC Playoffs, possibly getting to their second Super Bowl in franchise history.

The NFC South is usually a very tough division, so even with Carolina being elite, Tampa Bay being on the rise, and arch-rival New Orleans always being a thorn in the Falcons’ side, Atlanta at the very least will be battle-tested come playoff time, assuming the Falcons qualify.

Next: 3. Dallas Cowboys

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