Fansided

With health, Falcons have roster to be force in NFC

By Jeff Benedict

LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 04: Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) after scoring a third quarter touchdown during a NFL game between the Washington Redskins and the Atlanta Falcons on November 04, 2018, at Fedex Field, in Landover, Maryland.The Falcons defeated the Redskins 38-14.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 04: Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) after scoring a third quarter touchdown during a NFL game between the Washington Redskins and the Atlanta Falcons on November 04, 2018, at Fedex Field, in Landover, Maryland.The Falcons defeated the Redskins 38-14.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

After being decimated by injuries a year ago, the Atlanta Falcons could be one of the bounceback teams of 2019 behind a terrific roster.

Best-case scenario

A huge bounce back year for the birds. This is one of the most loaded rosters in the NFL and is capable of getting through the schedule at 12-4.

The Falcons are going to need all hands on deck with one of the five most difficult schedules in the league, but one that they can win the NFC South with and one that will have them prepared to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl in Miami.

Matt Ryan will have another MVP season while running back Devonta Freeman will return from injury to be one of the best all-around backs in the NFL.

Worst-case scenario

A season that replicates the 2018 results and sees the Falcons miss the playoffs for the second consecutive year during the prime years of Julio Jones and Ryan.

The Falcons lose twice to both the Saints and Panthers while splitting with the Bucs in the division. Given the difficulty of the schedule, the Falcons could start out 0-5 before welcoming in the Arizona Cardinals for the first time to Mercedes Benz Stadium.

Matt Schaub takes over at starter by game nine as the offensive line was unable to keep Matt Ryan from getting hit a league high 12 times a game and Freeman loses another season to injury and contemplates retirement.

Confidence level (Low, medium or high)

High.

Dan Quinn did a great job this offseason surrounding himself with former head coaches that will be able to take some of the in game burden off his shoulders which will allow him to concentrate on a young defense full of talent.

The last time Quinn ran the Falcons defense was the second half of 2016. During that eight game run into the playoffs, the Falcons defense went from bottom third to top third in the league and played some of the best football a Falcons defense ever has.

Bringing back Dirk Koetter was the best move of all. A guy that has familiarity with Ryan, Jones and Freeman and will put together game plans that will utilize the strengths of all 11 guys on offense.

With the return of Deion Jones, Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen on defense, this Falcons team is going to be the team to beat in the NFC.

X-Factor

The X-Factor for that Atlanta Falcons in 2019 is going to be Austin Hooper. Given the health of Devonte Freeman, the emergence of Calvin Ridley, the work horse mentality of Mohamed Sanu and the dominate ability of Julio Jones, Austin Hooper is the guy that ensures they all get favorable matchups.

If Hooper can continue to improve as a blocker in the run game and become a complete tight end the offense will take another gigantic leap forward. As Hooper becomes a bigger weapon for Matt Ryan, he will force defenses to have to cover Jones, Ridley, Sanu and Freeman one on one the passing game which is a nightmare for any team.

Austin Hooper is emerging as one of the premier tight ends in the NFL and he will have a large part in Dirk Koetter’s offense returning this franchise to the Super Bowl.

Turning point

There is not one game on the Falcons schedule that represents a “turning point.” They have one of the five hardest schedules in the NFL. They face a 2018 playoff team in seven of the 16 weeks.

The turning point of the schedule is going to be late October when the Falcons face the Rams and Seahawks in back to back weeks heading into their bye week.

That will be the first two games of a three game stretch of facing teams from the 2018 playoffs. They will face a playoff team in six of their first nine games. That is absolute insanity for a team coming off a 7-9 season.

If the Falcons are able to get through that nine game stretch and be 6-2 heading into their bye week, that will set them up for a 12-4 season and provide a little wiggle room as they head towards the playoffs as the NFC’s top seed.

Best moment in team history

The Atlanta Falcons greatest moment took place in the 1998 NFC Championship game. The Falcons were 14-2 and had to go up to Minnesota to face a 15-1 Vikings team that was loaded with talent. The Falcons were a heavy underdog in this game on the road and at one point trailed 20-7 in the second quarter.

As we all know the Falcons outscore the Vikings 23-7 from that point forward and Morten Andersen would kick the field goal that would send the Falcons to their first over Super Bowl.

That NFL title game win would be the catalyst to a rollercoaster 10 years for the Falcons that saw the team lose the Super Bowl, draft Michael Vick, lose Vick and then draft Matt Ryan who has become the greatest player in franchise history.