Atlanta Falcons: Previewing and Predicting Atlanta’s Remaining Games
By Kit Anderson
The Atlanta Falcons have a relatively modest schedule remaining this season after their bye. How will the rest of the season play out, and will they make the playoffs?
The Atlanta Falcons are 6-4 and looking to make it back to the playoffs this season for the first time since their heart breaking loss to the 49er’s in the playoffs during the 49er’s NFC championship run and Super Bowl appearance. Despite having a bad defense, the offensive unit has enough talent to carry the team and win at least four more games to carry the Falcons to a 10-6 record and a playoff appearance. Here are the remaining games and our predictions as to the outcome.
Week 12 Atlanta Falcons vs. Arizona Cardinals- The Falcons will finally have a chance to get fully healthy taking their bye week deep into the season. Matt Ryan has been outspoken that the team will be ready to make a run at the playoffs and turn their season around.
Carson Palmer and the Cardinals are a high powered offense at times and look to be a well below average teams at others. Against a bad Falcon’s defense the offense will show up and Matt Ryan will again be forced to put on an MVP performance to help his team pull this one out. Final score prediction Falcons pull this one out 38-35.
Week 13 Atlanta Falcons vs. Kansas City Chiefs- This game will be one that both teams will be ready to play. The Chiefs are under rated on both sides of the ball and will give the Falcons all they can handle at home.
The Chiefs are going to be favored in this game and for good reason considering their defensive line and the big plays that the secondary can make the Falcons are not going to be able to stop the Cheif’s running game and the Chiefs will control the clock. Chiefs pull this one out 21-17 with a late Matt Ryan pick sealing it.
Week 14 Atlanta Falcons @Los Angeles Rams- It is hard to predict this one considering the recent news that Jared Goff is taking over the Rams backfield this season. Will he play like Dak Prescott and Carson Wentz or will he struggle to adjust to NFL defenses?
Regardless, Matt Ryan is going to exploit several holes in an overrated Ram’s defense and give the Falcons momentum as they head into the final three weeks of the season. Falcon’s offense and Julio Jones in particular explode in this game and give the Falcons a 28-13 win in Los Angles.
Week 15 Atlanta Falcons vs. San Francisco 49er’s- There are very few games in the NFL that should be easy wins unless you are playing the 49er’s or the Browns. The Falcons are a much better team then the 49er’s and should easily beat a team whose sideshow distraction of a quarterback is more talked about then what happens on the field, for good reason.
The Falcons offense runs away with this one before the end of the first half and establishes a strong consistent running game. Final score prediction Falcons- 31 San Francisco-14
Week 16 Atlanta Falcons @Carolina Panthers- The dislike between these two teams is apparent and not the rivalry of respect that Drew Brees and Matt Ryan have seen in seasons past. The Falcons knocked the Panthers down and ruined their chances of a perfect season last year and knocked them down again early again this season. That has not been forgotten or forgiven regardless of what the Panthers may say.
The Panthers will not miss the opportunity to try to play the spoiler for the Atlanta Falcons. This game is going to be a physical and come down to which offense holds the ball last. With that in mind I have to go with the home team here final score Panthers-31 Falcons-28.
Week 17 Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints- The Saints and Falcons games have long been one of the most underrated rivalry games in the NFC and will close out the season for the Saints and be the final regular season game for the Falcons.
Again this game is going to be a close one between two of the best offenses in football and will come down to which of these teams will have the ball last. The Falcons will be at home and trying to gain momentum headed into the playoffs because of that they will pull this one out final score Falcons-42 Saints-31
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The Falcons will sit at 10-6 on the season and head into the wildcard round of the playoff with a good chance to advance against a group of unimpressive NFC wildcard teams. The problem for the Falcons will be can they beat the Cowboys or the Seahawks if the season plays out as expected? No questioning, this Falcons offense is good and will take them their first division title and legitimate playoff berth for the first time in a long while.