Atlanta Falcons: Set to Face Improved Division
By Kit Anderson
The Atlanta Falcons may have gotten better this off-season after their surprise Super Bowl appearance but they are not the only team to get better within their own division. Both the Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will look to take a step forward this season.
The Atlanta Falcons despite their disappointing Super Bowl loss remained focused in the off-season adding talent on both sides of the ball though the most improvement came on defense. Adding both in free-agency and the draft the Falcons made their defensive core much stronger and more talented headed into the season.
While that may point towards another division title in the NFC North it is important to remember that the Falcons were not the only team to get better this off-season. Both the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers added a lot of talent that could threaten the Falcons this season.
The New Orleans Saints are always a threat to the Falcons as well as long as Drew Brees is the starting quarterback. Though with diminished talent this season it is doubtful they are much of a threat to the division.
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Cam Newton came off of a year much like Matt Ryan did this past season with a young team that made it to the Super Bowl and lost after their quarterback’s MVP season that is where the similarities between Newton and Ryan end however.
The Panthers added a very interesting weapon this off-season when they drafted Christian McCaffrey. The speedy gadget player is going to cause problems for the Falcons on defense paired with an offense that can already be hard to guard.
Not only that but Cam Newton is set to bounce back this season, he may not be the MVP player to be many thought him to be every season but he is better than he has shown in the last year. The Panthers defense should show marginal improvement as well.
Tampa Bay may be the biggest threat to the Falcons in there division. Jameis Winston is growing into one of the better quarterbacks in the league and has lots of new weapons at his disposal this season including DeSean Jackson.
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A young defense will be better this season as well much like the Falcons and could very well threaten in the Falcons for the division in 2017.