5 predictions to bank on for the Atlanta Falcons in 2020
By John Buhler
Record Prediction: 9-7
If Atlanta wants to get back into the postseason, the offense featuring 11 former first-round picks needs to lead the way. Fortunately for the Falcons, Matt Ryan tends to play very well in the second year of an offense. 2020 will be the second year offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter is back in Flowery Branch after his stint as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach.
While we will see strong defensive effort throughout the year, there are too many young and experienced pieces for the Falcons to really be a great team on that side of the ball. They might pick up steam late in the year like they did a season ago, but this is more likely to be a top-half unit than a top-10 one. Look for the offense to be top-six and help this team vie for the playoffs.
Atlanta goes 4-2 in NFC South play with home wins vs. all its rivals, plus a sweep of the Carolina Panthers. The Falcons go 2-2 vs. the AFC West and the NFC North, winning all four of their home games, but dropping all four of their road games. As for the two other games, while they beat the Dallas Cowboys on the road, their only home loss this season will be to the Seattle Seahawks.
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Overall, Atlanta has a tremendous home record of 7-1, but a pitiful road record of 2-6. This will not be good enough to win the NFC South for the first time since 2016. However, it could be good enough for second or third place in the division. Depending on how the rest of the middle of the pack of the NFC shakes out, you’re possibly looking at a No. 6 or No. 7 seed in the playoff picture.