Atlanta Falcons: New Favorites to Win NFC South?

The Atlanta Falcons have had two strong showings in their first two preseason games under new Head Coach Dan Quinn. Atlanta’s pass rush is beginning to come alive and the aerial attack led by QB Matt Ryan looks as efficient as ever. Following the season-ending ACL injury to Carolina Panthers WR Kelvin Benjamin, are the Atlanta Falcons now the perceived favorite to win the NFC South?

-= Julio Jones Appears in Madden Commercial =-

Last year was the weakest year for the NFC South in its 13-year existence, sending a sub-.500 team, the Carolina Panthers (7-8-1) to the playoffs as the Division Champion. Atlanta (6-10) actually had a shot a winning the division in Week 17 when the Dirty Birds hosted the Panthers at the Georgia Dome in a win-or-go-home contest. The Panthers embarrassed the Atlanta Falcons 30-3 in a laugher to repeat as Division Champs in 2014.

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Carolina expected to return to the NFC Playoffs for the third year in a row with star players like QB Cam Newton, LB Luke Kuechly, and WR Kelvin Benjamin on HC Ron Rivera‘s roster. However, a season-ending ACL tear suffered by Benjamin in the preseason severely hurts Carolina in the passing game. Newton had a strong connection with Benjamin last year and may have to rely on TE Greg Olsen more than ever to move the chains through the air.

Being that the Panthers won the South last year, they will have to play both the Green Bay Packers (even without WR Jordy Nelson who suffered from an ACL tear, too.) and the two-time reigning NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks on the road this fall. Though Carolina has proven that the team doesn’t need to have a strong showing in camp to have a successful season, our Atlanta Falcons are on the upswing and could dethrone the Panthers this fall.

The Atlanta Falcons draw the easiest schedule in the NFL this fall. Atlanta will have to play the NFC South, the NFC East, the AFC South, the Minnesota Vikings, and the San Francisco 49ers. The Dirty Birds will only play the minimum number of games against playoff teams from last year, 4: Carolina twice, NFC East Champ Dallas Cowboys, and AFC South Champ Indianapolis Colts.

-= Dan Quinn: Live (And Die) By The Ball =-

The favorable schedule would have broken this way regardless of whatever new coaching regime took over for former HC Mike Smith. In the first two preseason games, the Atlanta Falcons pass rush looks better than it has been in close to a decade. Opposing quarterbacks are restless in the pocket when the Dirty Birds swarm in the backfield. I’m not saying Grits Blitz II or the Dirty South Version of the Legion of Boom are residing in Atlanta this fall, but things are looking up for our Falcons.

As for if the Atlanta Falcons are now the favorites to win the NFC South over the Carolina Panthers following the ACL injury to Kelvin Benjamin (get well soon, man!), I’d like to believe so. Carolina will again have to win low-scoring games with their stout defense and ability to chew up clock on the ground with a solid running game. Attacking the field vertically through the passing game may take a step back as Cam Newton often overthrows his targets and is missing a favorite in Benjamin for the entire 2015 season.

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