Atlanta Falcons: What to Expect Post Bye Week

The Atlanta Falcons are 3-4 heading into the second half of the season, with hopes of turning their season around and making a playoff push.

There are a couple of things that people, myself included, want to see out of the Atlanta Falcons as they take on the Washington Redskins, in their first game out of the bye.

Everyone knows that the Atlanta Falcons’ defense is abysmal.  It is ranked one of the worst in the league in several different categories.  However, there has been some hope with the defense, considering the fact that they have played better than they have all season, in the last two games.

In both of those games, the defense has played exceptionally better, despite the fact that they went against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New York Giants.  They played so well that they didn’t even look like the same defensive unit they were in those four losses.

That being said, the defense has to look better, play better, and be consistent, which may be a tall order for an inexperienced defense, where multiple starters are injured.

Though, I  believe in them.  The two games before the bye week provided me with hope and I know it provided hope to many others as well.

So, as much as I expect the defense to improve from what they were doing, and they have don’t get me wrong, they need to take a bigger step forward if this is going to be a legitimate push for the playoffs.

If it isn’t going to be a push for the playoffs, then why wouldn’t you want to lose out.  Just hear me out before that makes you lose your mind.  If we lose out, say we go 4-12 on the season, we could potentially get a top-five draft pick, or at least a top-ten draft pick.  Then, we return next season with everyone healthy and a top-ten draft pick.

That may be a recipe for success.  The only recipe for success, at that.  Additionally, the Falcons could, not only make a playoff push, but also make a legitimate Super Bowl push, especially with the way Matt Ryan has been tossing the football this season. It seems enticing if you ask me.

One other thing that all Atlanta fans should expect out of the break is the offense to implement Julio Jones more in the red zone.  I know, I know, I should just move on from that.  It may not bother Julio, but it bothers me that he doesn’t get many targets in the red zone.

The Falcons have arguably the best receiver in football and you don’t even throw the ball his way at times?  He isn’t even on the field sometimes when they are in the red zone.  Granted, I know that he is being double and triple-covered, especially down in the red zone.

Sometimes, he is just there to be a decoy too, so I get that it is tough to get him the ball down there.

However, there has got to be a way to get him the ball more near the end zone.  He is an elite receiver and his job is to catch footballs and score touchdowns.  He may not seem unhappy about it, but I have a feeling deep down that he is.  Get Julio the ball, and the Falcons will prevail.  It is that simple.