Atlanta Falcons: Three 1st Half Litmus Test Games

The 2015 Atlanta Falcons are a bit of an unknown heading into 2015. Will this team improve on defense enough under first-year Head Coach Dan Quinn to get back into the playoffs after a two-year absence? Or will the team continue to struggle getting after the opposing quarterback and fail to establish a solid run game en route to another losing record?

Generally within the first half of the season, head coaches will know what exactly their team’s identity is that season. And if they do not, they are likely let go at the end of the year. Here are in my opinion three litmus test games for the Atlanta Falcons coming in the first half of the 2015 NFL season.

Week 2: September 20th @ New York Giants

Oct 5, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) catches a pass over New York Giants strong safety Antrel Rolle (26) during the game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

We as fans tend to put too much stock into the first game of the season. Part of me thought that Atlanta was getting back into the playoffs after the overtime thriller over the New Orleans Saints in Week 1 last year. Boy, was I wrong on that one. The Week 2 clobbering at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals was a more accurate prediction for how Atlanta’s 2014 season would go.

The reason I’m drawn to this away game with the New York Giants is that both teams could really go in either direction in 2015. Atlanta and New York both had underwhelming years last fall and wish to get back into relevancy on the heels of their impressive passing games. New York defeated the Atlanta Falcons 30-20 at MetLife Stadium last season in Week 5. Though the score didn’t reflect it, I felt that Atlanta’s Week 5 loss was one of the team’s uglier defeats in 2014.

Being that this is a matchup between two middle of the pack NFC teams that aren’t bitter rivals or are playing on primetime television, this game will likely get overlooked by most NFL fans that aren’t emotionally or fantasy invested. But Atlanta can’t afford to lose this game in Week 2, especially if the Falcons drop their home opener on Monday Night Football Week 1 against Chip Kelly’s Philadelphia Eagles.

Week 4: October 4th Vs. Houston Texans

This Week 4 matchup with the Houston Texans offers a great deal of intrigue for me as this could be a quality win for the Atlanta Falcons early in the season. When the Falcons were at their best for the last decade or so, the Dirty Birds rarely lost games at home in a deafening Georgia Dome. Houston should contend for a playoff berth in the AFC this year after narrowly missing out of a spot last year. Playing Houston tough could be a real confidence booster for the Atlanta Falcons regardless of outcome.

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The Texans will blitz Matt Ryan religiously and should the Falcons young offensive line hold their own against JJ Watt and company, it could go a long way in preserving the health of our Pro Bowl QB. Atlanta’s defense could learn a lot about itself in this game as QB Brian Hoyer tends to play within himself and finds ways to win without lighting up the stats sheet. Knocking Hoyer around with a decent pass rush and slowing down RB Arian Foster could help Atlanta earn a solid Week 4 victory at home over a promising Houston Texans team.

Week 8: November 1st Vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Nov 9, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) drops back to throw the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Atlanta Falcons defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-17. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Should Atlanta beat Tampa Bay at home? Yes, especially given that Tampa is coming off a 2-14 season and an absolute obliteration to the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome in Week 3 of last year: 56-14. But what if QB Jameis Winston is really the next Ben Roethlisberger and commands an NFL offense right away as a rookie?

Tampa has two outstanding receivers in Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans and many talented defensive players including DT Gerald McCoy and LB Lavonte David. Their HC Lovie Smith took the Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl and new OC Dirk Koetter was calling plays for the Falcons last year.

It may not happen this season but Tampa Bay seems well on their way to playing good football in the coming years. Not that this is a trap game, but Atlanta should not take a divisional opponent lightly no matter how poorly the Bucs were last year. The Falcons just can’t show up in Week 8 and expect to win because Tampa Bay is starving for relevancy and would love to clip our wings in early November.

There are many other very important games on the schedule, but I feel that these three first half games will be the perfect litmus test for the 2015 Atlanta Falcons. How Atlanta performs in these three games will likely indicate how this fall goes for the Dirty Birds.

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