The Atlanta Falcons are riding high on the hope that they can make a sizable playoff run as we approach the end of the season. Atlanta currently resides at one game up overt the aged and weathered New Orleans Saints. Should being the number one team in the NFC South provide this rising team with much confidence? After all, half of the entire NFL is currently ties or surpasses the Falcons record but sometimes luck does play a factor after all.
Former GM ridicules Falcons confidence
Atlanta certainly does look poised to win the NFC south but most people think they will bow out quickly from the playoffs after almost certainly playing the Dallas Cowboys at this point. Randy Mueller with the Athletic, who was also an NFL General Manager at one point, had no hesitation in providing a realistic accounting for Atlanta’s prospects heading into 2024.
The Falcons have to be loving life, sitting in first place in a very talent-poor NFC South. What I fear for them is they wake up Dec. 6 on third base thinking that they hit a triple. Far from it.
What I mean is, they have experienced what winning feels like, but let’s not confuse a 13-8 win over the dumpster-fire Jets with being good. It’s been a rocky road — inconsistent QB play, very choppy use of personnel — to get to 6-6. They’ve benefited from playing in the least consistent division in football, which is still up for grabs even as bad as the Bucs and Saints have looked at times.
The Falcons might have to trade for a QB this offseason, because even if they make the playoffs, I don’t think the answer is on their roster, and picking in the middle of the first round in April won’t get them what they need, either. Bears quarterback Justin Fields, who is from the Atlanta area, could be a good fit for Arthur Smith’s offense, which is heavy on RPOs and play-action passes.
Overall though, I see the Falcons in a favorable position versus other NFC South teams for both the short term and, if they can tighten up their talent-acquiring process, the long term. They have to increase team speed on the perimeter on offense and add a legit edge rusher this next offseason, but I like this team going forward.
Mueller has a tremendous amount of merit in his assessment of Atlanta. While the defense does appear to have a lot of playmakers, the offense simply has not been able to click. Atlanta’s front office must be furious because of all of the first-round talent playmakers they have brought in, the team still cannot find a groove on offense following the departure of Superstar Quarterback Matt Ryan several years ago.
To summarize Mueller’s statement, the Falcons may win the division but they still have a mediocre team when you get down to brass tacks. The offense is still missing the most important piece and until you fill that massive void or bring in a tolerable offensive coordinator, Atlanta will remain in football purgatory.
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