3 Potential Trap Games for the Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons definitely have a favorable schedule in 2015.  With new HC Dan Quinn looking to bring tenacity to Atlanta’s toothless defense, the Falcons have a chance at winning 10+ games this fall.  But so much of that depends on the Falcons winning games against the teams they should beat.  If Atlanta wants to get back into the playoffs after a two-year absence, the team cannot afford to drop any games to inferior opponents.  The beautiful part of the NFL is that any team can win on any given Sunday.  Here are three potential trap games for the 2015 Atlanta Falcons.

Week 5 Vs. Washington Redskins

Since that debilitating ACL injury to Robert Griffin, III in the 2012 NFC Wild Card Game versus the Seattle Seahawks, Washington has fallen on hard times.  Trading up to get RG3 in 2012 has proven costly to the ‘Skins depth as so many precious draft picks went to the St. Louis Rams in that deal.  HC Jay Gruden looks to improve in Year Two after a lousy 3-13 campaign in 2014.

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Atlanta will host the Redskins on October 11th after a tough first four games of the season. The Dirty Birds will play Philadelphia, New York (NFC), Dallas, and Houston in the first quarter of the 2015 campaign.  If the Falcons ease off the gas and take their Week 5 opponent lightly, Atlanta could suffer a surprising home loss to the Redskins.  I like the Redskins offense when Griffin is healthy.  He’s got a great receiver corps in DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, and Santana Moss.  If Gruden’s team can move the chains against the Falcons, I could see this game potentially being decided in the final possession of a shootout.

Aug 23, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White (84) makes a move on Tennessee Titans strong safety Bernard Pollard (31) after a catch in the first quarter of their game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Week 7 At Tennessee Titans

Atlanta will have ten days between games in Weeks 6 and 7.  The Falcons will head to Nashville after playing arch rival New Orleans on Thursday Night Football.  While Tennessee could easily end up with the number one overall draft pick in 2016, the Titans do have their franchise QB in Heisman Trophy Winner Marcus Mariota.  It may take some time for the former Oregon Duck to learn how to play in a pro-style offense after thriving in the hurry-up spread offense of Mark Helfrich.  But I like Mariota’s football IQ and I think he will have figured some things out before the Falcons come to town in Week 7.

I get this feeling that Marcus Mariota will have a Teddy Bridgewater-type of rookie season for the Titans.  Bridgewater won the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year last winter, with one of his best games coming against the Falcons in Minneapolis.  Mariota’s ability as a dual-threat QB could be problematic for many NFL defenses.  Fortunately the Falcons will play the Titans in the preseason and that should help Dan Quinn’s staff prepare for facing Mariota in Week 7.  If Atlanta’s defense doesn’t improve like we think it will under Quinn, I really think Marcus Mariota could have a Teddy Bridgewater type of performance against the Falcons if he stays clean in the pocket and can evade tackles with his legs.

Week 13 At Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This is a divisional game against a rival.  But for some reason, I don’t think we’re taking Tampa seriously.  Jameis Winston could become the next Ben Roethlisberger for the Bucs.  He has two amazing receivers to work with in Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans.  Winston also has former Atlanta Falcons OC Dirk Koetter with him in Tampa.  I don’t know what is in store for the Buccaneers this fall, but an elite passing game seems like it’s on the horizon.  When it clicks for Winston, the NFC South will have the best starting quarterbacks of any division in the NFL.

Being that this game is late in the season and on the road for the Falcons, I could see the Bucs upsetting Atlanta in Week 13 if the Dirty Birds are looking ahead at Week 14’s matchup with the Carolina Panthers.  For a team that has been down on its luck for the better part of a decade, getting a player like Winston could catapult Tampa Bay back into relevancy in the not so distant future.  Let’s hope that he doesn’t have his breakout game on December 6th at home against the Falcons.