Five Reasons The Atlanta Falcons Make The Playoffs In 2015
By John Buhler
Oct 5, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Antone Smith (35) scores a touchdown past New York Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (21) in the 3rd quarter at MetLife Stadium. New York Giants defeat the Atlanta Falcons 30-20. Mandatory Credit: Jim O
It’s been a rough last two years for the Atlanta Falcons. Okay, rough might be putting it kindly as the team averaged a measly five wins in Mike Smith’s final two seasons as head coach. But the Falcons are beginning a new era in 2015 under the guidance of first year head coach Dan Quinn. Falcons owner Arthur Blank hopes that Quinn can bring much needed improvement to the defensive side of the ball as Atlanta finished dead last in pass defense a year ago. The team should be better in 2015 and I think that the Atlanta Falcons will make the NFC Playoffs. Here are five reasons why.
Easiest Strength of Schedule
Atlanta draws the by far the easiest schedule of any team in 2015. The Falcons will only play three teams that made the playoffs in 2014: the Indianapolis Colts, the Dallas Cowboys, and the division rival Carolina Panthers twice. For those accounting at home, that’s the smallest amount playoff teams a anyone can face in a year. That’s what happens when you finish third in a terrible division and play middling NFC East and the awful AFC South.
Outside of the NFC South, the toughest game the Atlanta Falcons will have to play on the road is in Dallas. The Cowboys weren’t even all that impress at Jerryworld last year as they were more dominant on the road. I attribute that to having the NFL’s best offensive line and league’s leading rusher. Physical running games travel well. Now why is DeMarco Murray in rival Philadelphia? That’s the only move Chip Kelly has made this offseason that didn’t leave me head scratching.
I do think that the Giants, Vikings, and Texans will all be tough. But Atlanta should handle Washington, San Francisco, Tennessee, and Jacksonville fairly easily. Not to mention the Falcons went 5-1 in divisional play last year. That probably won’t happen again given the history of the NFC South’s competitiveness. But the Atlanta Falcons could not have drawn an easier schedule in 2015.
Next: Second and Third Reasons Why Falcons Make the Playoffs in 2015