Atlanta Falcons fans can't help but to begin to talk themselves into Tua Tagovailoa, as it appears the quarterback is the favorite to start in Week 1. While Tagovailoa comes with an undeniable injury risk, there is also the hope that the experienced starter can be the adult in the room and a stabilizing force the Falcons have been missing at the position ever since Matt Ryan walked out the door. It hasn't been long since Tagovailoa was this type of force, with the 2023 season offering the Miami Dolphins an elite level of production.
The quarterback passed for 4,624 yards and 29 touchdowns, looking the part of a top franchise quarterback. If the Falcons can find a way to unlock this version of the veteran starter, all of a sudden you have a capable offense that can make a run at a wide open NFC South. With that said, it is familiar logic that fans are wary of buying into based on recent struggles.
Kirk Cousins led to almost this exact same conversation and had a hot start with Atlanta before things went up in flames. While it was to a much lesser degree, even Marcus Mariota invited a tinge of optimism based on the hope he had developed as a backup after being a failed top draft selection with the Titans.
Falcons Fans Cautiously Hoping to Get the Best Version of Tua Tagovailoa
The obvious risk here is twofold: it is the hope that Tagovailoa is going to bring stability and the injury risk if he does. No matter how the first weeks of the season play out, the Falcons have invited a level of risk by putting together a quarterback room that has no shortage of injury risk as well as issues with consistency.
Tagovailoa was jettisoned from Miami for a reason, and it was deeper than the concussion concerns and inability to stay on the field. Key turnovers and a lack of consistently making the right decisions defined the last two seasons and are why Atlanta was able to add the veteran so easily. Still, there is no denying the past production and the hope that perhaps this time things will play out differently.
For Atlanta, there is little other choice but to hope that this season proves to be different. It has been nearly a decade since the Falcons enjoyed a winning season, and the only hope that this streak is coming to an end rests on the shoulders of an inconsistent Tagovailoa.
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