2017 NFL win/loss projections for all 32 teams
By John Buhler
Atlanta Falcons
Even with the soul-crushing loss that came with the Super Bowl LI defeat, the Atlanta Falcons return one of the best rosters in the NFL in 2017. Much of last year’s NFC Championship team will be back in Flowery Branch ready to avenge their horrendous collapse down in Houston in February.
While Atlanta did lose two of its coordinators back in February, the Falcons did a fine job of replacing Kyle Shanahan and Richard Smith with Steve Sarkisian and Marquand Manuel, respectively. Falcons head coach Dan Quinn knew that Shanahan was going to become a head coach eventually. Sarkisian comes from the same Pete Carroll coaching tree as Quinn, so the fit is obvious. Promoting Manuel internally from defensive backs coach was smart. He could become a head coach one day in his own right.
It’s pulling teeth to find holes in the Falcons’ high-octane offense. Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Devonta Freeman and Alex Mack are perennial Pro Bowl talents. The offensive line should be top-10 again in 2017. Assuming Sarkisian and Ryan keep things simple in play calling, Atlanta should be top-five in overall offense next fall. The Falcons offense will regress slightly to the mean, but their mean is still very high.
Defensively is where Atlanta will take great strides this fall. Quinn made a bold choice to start four rookies on a defense that went to the Super Bowl. It seems to have been the right call, as linebacker Deion Jones and strong safety Keanu Neal might become stars this fall. Atlanta will lean on its secondary out of the gate, but maintaining a pass rush behind Vic Beasley, rookie Takkarist McKinley and hopefully Dwight Freeney will be key to Atlanta’s overall health on defense.
Overall, this is the most complete roster in the NFC South and Atlanta should be able to navigate its first-place schedule to repeat as division champions. The Falcons will likely drop just a few games this year, on the road in Foxborough and in Seattle, as well as a pair of division games. Atlanta is one of the top-four teams in the NFC and one of six or seven clubs that can honestly win Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis.
Projected Record: 12-4, NFC South Champion (No. 2 seed)