Why the Falcons Needed to Lose to Buffalo

By: David Schiele (@Deacon_Schiele)

I predicted the Falcons to lose their game against the Buffalo Bills back in April. Ask @ATLSportsNate, I really didn't see how Atlanta could stop a dual-threat quarterback, elite running back, and a pro-bowl tight end. Once I added in the predictable pains of having a new offensive coordinator, the choice to pick Buffalo to win was an easy one.

Don't get it twisted though, I WANTED the Falcons to prove me wrong and win this game. I just didn't realistically see it happening.

I was right. Final score: Bills 23, Falcons 17.

You may have read it...or maybe not, but I wrote a column stating the Falcons got the loss they needed. 

In sum, I said that Atlanta had a cocky attitude after a 10-second runoff gave them their win over the Lions. They carried that attitude throughout the week, instead of recognizing that there were uncharacteristic mistakes that needed to be corrected. This led to the Falcons committing the same mistakes against Buffalo.

Here's why I said the loss was needed:

*Begin scenario*

Imagine the Falcons beat the Bills, just as 99.99% of Falcons fans and "experts" predicted. That gives the Falcons a 4-0 record going into the early bye.

The cocky attitude would've continued and there wouldn't have been a sense of urgency to get better during the bye week.

Coming out the open date, the Falcons host the Miami Dolphins--the same team that just got blanked by the Saints. The Falcons should win that game, so let's put Atlanta at 5-0 and coasting into the Super Bowl rematch in week seven.

Now here's where it gets messy.

Yes, the Patriots just dropped a tough game against Carolina at home, but they're still the Patriots. I know the Falcons will be out for blood and seeking vengeance, but it's not far-fettched to predict a New England victory.

If New England does win that game, Atlanta is morally crushed. Not only did the Falcons fail to get revenge, but the Patriots just ruined their undefeated record. Super Bowl hangover activated. Season over.

*End scenario*

Of course, a loss at New England would still hurt, but not as much as it could because an unblemished record won't be on the line. Plus, Atlanta has a heightened sense of urgency to improve on certain things because they just lost. This means an improved Falcons team will host Miami and then travel to Gillette Stadium, opposed to a complacent Falcons team.

And for that, Buffalo, DBN Fanatics and I thank you.

Falcons vs Bills is the Perfect Trap Game

The 2-1 Buffalo Bills come down to Atlanta to face the undefeated Falcons in a showdown that could easily be an upset.

The Bills have allowed the fewest points in the NFL. They have yet to face a top tier opponent, though. That will change this Sunday.

The Falcons continue to show off their prolific offense this season under new Offensive Coordinator Steve Sarkisian. Despite a subpar performance in the red zone, the offense has not lost its juice. Expect Julio Jones to score his first touchdown of this season this game—we all know he is itching to.

As long as the offense can get into a rhythm, I think the Dirty Birds can easily pull this one off. If not, expect a showdown similar to week one with the Bears. Chicago had an underrated defense and the Bills certainly do as well. Matt Ryan will have to perform better than he did last week versus the Lions. Knowing his style of play, he should bounce back.

The running game for the Falcons looks better than ever. Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman look unstoppable. The Bills definitely have the potential to limit the damage they could do, but keep your fingers crossed, right? 

The Bills offense is not helpless. Don’t assume that. Tyrod Taylor is more than capable of putting points on the board. Taylor could easily have enough time to throw behind his solid o-line. LeSean “Shady” McCoy hasn’t lived up to expectations since last season. Hopefully, it stays that way. If it doesn’t, Atlanta’s front-seven will face the biggest challenge yet this season.

This will be a hard-fought game, but the Falcons will pull out the W. Dan Quinn will make sure his defense is on point, while Sarkisian will have corrected the miscues that the offense has shown in the beginning of the season. Don’t expect a blowout. Just to be safe, keep some Alka-Seltzer, Zantac, or Prilosec nearby.

Hunter Hamberlain: @Chips__Ahoy94

An Off-Season Outlook for the 2017 Atlanta Falcons

For three quarters, we watched the Falcons dominate the Patriots in Super Bowl 51. From the two touchdown passes by Matt Ryan, Devonta Freeman’s solid performance with 11 rushes, 75 yards and a touchdown, Grady Jarrett’s Super Bowl record 3 sacks and Robert Alford’s pick six. Atlanta built a 28-3 lead and the Falcons on the verge of winning their first Super Bowl in franchise history. Until the fourth quarter.

The momentum shifted when Donta Hightower causes a sack and fumble on third and 1 with 8:30 left in the fourth quarter. Tom Brady continued to torch an already gassed Falcons defense for a record (96) plays leading the Patriots to one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history. The gut wrenching loss left the Falcons and many NFL fans thinking… Will the Falcons rebound from the loss and take the leap to win a Lombardi? Many would ask, where do the Falcons go from here? Anytime a team loses the Super Bowl, there’s always talk of a possible “Super Bowl Hangover and will the Falcons ever play at this level again? Personally, I beg to differ! and I’ll explain why by analyzing the entire offseason for the Falcons.

The Falcons didn’t make a “big splash” during Free Agency in comparison to their acquisitions of Mohammed Sanu and Alex Mack last year. Instead, the front office focused on retaining their players and bringing in depth for the 2017 Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons re-signed Levine Toilolo, Courtney Upshaw, and Leroy Reynolds who were key components to the Super Bowl run last season.

Matt Schaub returned in the backup quarterback for Matt Ryan. In Free Agency, their biggest signing was Dontari Poe, a former All-Pro nose tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs. Defensive lineman Jack Crawford and Kick Return specialist Andre Roberts were other notable signings made by the Falcons.

Atlanta hopes Poe can return to his Pro Bowl level of play form to bolster the Defensive Line! Pairing him with Grady Jarrett looks very promising for a revamped Atlanta defense. Jack Crawford, a notable run-stopper should bring another aspect to the defensive line in different packages. Dan Quinn loves his ability to play on the end and inside. It will be interesting to see how the Falcons’ defense gel with Poe and Crawford and the secondary will get star corner back Desmond Truant  back from a pectoral injury which ended his season. 

Atlanta’s strategy for the 2017 NFL Draft continued to focus on adding depth and speed, and the Draft Class is loaded with potential. Entering the draft, Atlanta wanted to add a pass rusher to go along with reigning sack champion, Vic Beasley. The Falcons traded two picks to move up from 31^st to 26^th overall to draft Defensive End Takk McKinley from UCLA. McKinley, a very relentless and powerful pass rusher fits the mold of a Dan Quinn defense.

McKinley excelled at UCLA as a pass rusher in the 4-3 and 3-4 defensive schemes. His last year at UCLA, he finished with (18) tackles for loss, (10) sacks, and (5) pass break-ups. Experts were concerned that he wouldn’t debut his NFL career at the start of the Regular Season due to surgery for a shoulder injury, but he was cleared in Week 1 of Pre-Season and when he earned playing time, McKinley impressed the fans. Atlanta’s third round pick, linebacker Duke Riley from LSU, was probably the most underrated pick in the draft as well as my favorite of the class.

Duke Riley is a speedy linebacker and a very physical tackler. He has a good nose for the football and always seems to be in the mix of defensive turnovers. He didn’t start until his senior year. His physical play allowed him to rack up (93) tackles,(1.5 )sacks and an interception. He was also named MVP of the Tigers. Sean Harlow, an offensive guard from Oregon St., was brought in for offensive line depth as well especially after Guard Chris Chester retired and he’ll earn opportunities to compete for a starting positon at Right Guard with Ben Garland and Wes Schweitzer.

Defensive back Damonte Kazee from San Diego St., was drafted as a cornerback but then moved to free safety. He’s a very talented athlete and considered a “ball-hawk. Kazee left college with a school record (17) career interceptions. Atlanta’s other additions were Running back Brian Hill from Wyoming and Tight End Eric Saubert from Drake, who we’ll possibly see on offense in the future.

Atlanta’s biggest change was the loss of Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan. Shanahan was big reason why the Falcons offense put up historic numbers in 2016. He departed for the vacant Head Coach position with the San Francisco 49ers. The Falcons replaced Shanahan with Alabama’s Offensive Coordinator Steve Sarkisian. Sark earned the coordinator job when Lane Kiffin departed for Florida Atlantic University as the head coach. Sark was originally added to Alabama’s staff as a consultant.

With the loss of Kiffin, he called the plays for the 2016 National Championship Game against Clemson. Sark has quite the resume as an offensive play caller. He was the head coach at the University of Washington from 2009-2013 where he also coached Desmond Trufant and the coached USC in 2014-2015. At USC, the Trojans boasted one of the nation’s best offense in 2014.

USC averaged (457.6) yards and (160) Rushing Yards per game led by current Cleveland Browns backup quarterback Cody Kessler. Kessler posted the best season of his collegiate career throwing (39) Passing Touchdowns and (5). The biggest question is will Sark improve an offense that scored more than (540) points, resulting in one of the best offensive seasons in NFL History. With an offense returning 9 of their 11 starters from the Super Bowl roster, many expect the Falcons to duplicate their success.

The Falcons have the roster and potential to become the first Super Bowl loser to make consecutive trips since the 1993 Buffalo Bills. Atlanta upgraded their roster on  both sides of the football, in particular, defensively. 2016 NFL MVP, Matt Ryan, will look to follow a stellar campaign this season and he’s capable of duplicating the success on the field.

Ryan returns with the best running back tandem in the NFL with Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman, the offensive line is intact, Mohammed Sanu, Taylor Gabriel, Austin Hooper, and the best receiver in the NFL, Julio Jones is healthy and ready to have another dominant season. Sanu has proven to be the perfect complement for Jones and Taylor Gabriel was one of the breakout players in the NFL last season.

Dan Quinn has revamped the Falcons defense in just three seasons. Falcons fans could be in for a treat this season with a fast and physical defense! Many expect the Falcons to take a major leap as one of the rising defensive units in football. Atlanta can only go up from here, if they can stay healthy and duplicate their success, we could Rise Up in Minnesota with another opportunity to deliver the Vince Lombardi Trophy!

Tony Chapman: @Dat_Boy_Sang

2017 Atlanta Falcons Schedule Preview (Weeks 14-17)

            Week 14 vs. New Orleans Saints (Dec. 7 / 8:25 ET / NBC/NFLN)

The Falcons end their three-game home stretch at home against their new look division rival New Orleans Saints. The Saints have added a few key pieces during the off-season. After trading Brandin Cooks, New Orleans signed former Panther’s star Ted Ginn Jr. Safety Jairus Byrd is no longer with the team after signing a lucrative six-year, $56-million-dollar deal in 2014.

With over $28-million guaranteed the Saints felt it was time to move on and released Byrd with the lack of production he exhibited. They also signed future Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson who looks to be ready to lead a crowded backfield. It seems that Sean Payton and New Orleans are looking to make a small change and try to be a little more balanced to keep their below average defense off the field. 

This is a scary game for the Falcons despite playing at home, because they will be playing on four days rest. Thursday night games have been widely criticized by NFL players citing safety and the lack of recovery time. Luckily for the Falcons, they will be playing at home against an opponent that they are very familiar with. 

            

Week 15 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Dec. 18th / 8:30 ET / ESPN)

When the Falcons travel to Tampa to take on an up-and-coming Buccaneers squad they'll know what's at stake. There isn’t much separating the 2016 NFC South Champion Atlanta Falcons and the Tampa Bay Bucs; this was evident in last season’s series that ended with a split.

Tampa Bay will come in with a high-powered offense, accompanied by a very opportunistic secondary that was 2nd in the NFL last season in interceptions (17). The Bucs were a middle-of-the-road offensive team last season based primarily because of injuries at the running back position. If healthy, they have the potential to be one of the NFL’s best offenses.

One glaring concern for Atlanta is that Bucs QB’s threw for over 600 yards and 8 TD’s to just 1 INT last season. The Bucs were whipped on National TV the last time these teams played and will be looking to make a statement early and often.

            Week 16 @ New Orleans Saints (Dec. 24th / 1:00 ET / FOX)

            Atlanta and New Orleans will meet again just a little over two weeks apart from their first matchup of the season, but this time in New Orleans. The Falcons will have to limit big plays and get red zone stops. Drew Brees can throw for 400 yards if he wants, but if Atlanta forces the Saints' offense to settle for field goals they will come out on top.

The Falcons did a very good job of taking care of the ball in last season's matchup. They didn’t turn the ball over once, which is a staunch comparison to 2015 when Atlanta committed 5 turnovers in their week 17 game with New Orleans.

The Saints defense will have to improve this season to even have a chance against the Falcons, regardless of the venue. New Orleans gave up 28.4 points per game in 2016, good enough to put them as the 2nd worst scoring defense in the league. There’s only so much you can expect out of the Saints this season if they’re defense doesn’t step up. Nonetheless this is a heated rivalry and will be a grind.

Week 17 vs Carolina Panthers (Dec. 31st / 1:00 ET / FOX)

            Atlanta will end the season facing division foes in 5 of its last 6 matchups. Depending on who you ask, that can either be a good or bad thing. In my opinion, it’ll be a pivotal time in the season that will truly define this team. Divisional rivals either bring out the best in you or they highlight your weaknesses. This matchup will have the NFC’s representative from the past two Super Bowls as well as the NFL’s last two MVP’s. Expect this to be a very physical and nasty game in which you will have the Panthers fighting for a wild card position in the NFL playoffs.

If Carolina can get better offensive line play, I fully expect Cam Newton to bounce back and have a great year. I’ll go out on a limb to say Matt Ryan and Julio Jones will not be breaking their records that they posted against Carolina in 2016. What I took away from the final matchup between the two in 2016 was the adjustments that Carolina made to it’s secondary.

Although they would go on to lose 33-16 at home, it wasn’t a bad performance by Carolina’s defense. It had more to do with the spotty offensive line play and bad decision making that led to costly turnovers from Cam. With so much expected to be at stake in this regular season finale, this game will go down to the wire.

Michael Thomas: @ChosenOne_MT10

Take a Moment and Appreciate the Underrated Falcons Secondary

Up until the Dan Quinn era, the Falcons secondary has been subpar at best. That statement may not apply throughout all of franchise history, but at least in the past decade and a half.

But now? Atlanta has the most underrated secondary in the NFL. Maybe the secondary is underrated because their talent is relatively new, but still, this secondary is a squad of playmakers.

The talent of cornerbacks Brian Poole, Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford, as well as safeties Ricardo Allen and Keanu Neal should scare any receiving corps in the NFL. The drafting of corner Damontae Kazee makes them that more intimidating.

Brian Poole went undrafted in 2016 and only allowed 0.80 yards per cover snap, which was the lowest among rookie corners all last season.

Keanu Neal was the highest graded safety in 2016 by Pro Football Focus. He’s definitely earned the title of “enforcer” on Atlanta’s defense.

Desmond Trufant will certainly be eager to make plays this season. After missing the second half of the 2016 season due to an injury, you can imagine that Trufant will return to his top-ten cornerback self. Expect Trufant to have a phenomenal 2017 season. You watch.

Robert Alford certainly has the speed, intensity, and playmaking ability to contribute to this secondary core. If he could stick to his gut and not commit pass interference penalties, he could easily be a top cornerback as well. Alford seems to panic last minute in coverage. He almost always has his man beat and can easily come up with a deflection. Look for a big year out of Alford, who recorded one of the longest interception returns in Super Bowl history.

Ricardo Allen does not get near as much credit as he should. According to Pro Football Focus, Allen spent 710 snaps in coverage giving up just 0.18 receptions per snap.

My bold prediction: Damontae Kazee plays out of his mind and ends up becoming a starter. I love this guy, and he has looked great during training camp so far.

Long story short, the Falcons secondary deserves more credit. Maybe they do not get as much because of Atlanta’s secondary history. All I know is, this secondary is a force not to be reckoned with.

Hunter Hamberlain: @Chips_Ahoy94

2017 Atlanta Falcons Week 10-13 Preview

Week 10 Vs. Dallas Cowboys (Nov. 12/ 4:25 p.m. ET FOX)

Many feel that January's NFC Championship should've been played in Dallas between the Cowboys and Falcons. Wide receiver Dez Bryant even tweeted that his Cowboys would have beaten Atlanta had the game taken place. He'll finally have his chance to prove if that's true come mid-November. 

Barring any major injuries to star players, this should be an exciting late-afternoon matchup. The Cowboys possess the best offensive line in the NFL, but they'll face a stiff challenge with Atlanta's front-seven. Furthermore, Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliot will have returned from his 6-game suspension to give Dallas a powerful rushing attack.

Dallas' young secondary facing Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu, and Taylor Gabriel should concern Cowboys fans.

Week 11 @ Seattle Seahawks (Nov. 20/ 8:30 p.m. ET ESPN)

Falcons fans consider Atlanta's previous game in Seattle a "screw-job." The controversial no-call on Matt Ryan's deep pass to Julio Jones led to a 26-24 Seahawks victory. Three months later, Atlanta evened the score with a dominating 36-20 win in the playoffs. This Monday night collision will be the grudge match.

The offensive line serves as one of the few weaknesses on Seattle's roster. Defensive tackles Dontari Poe and Grady Jarrett have a chance to dominate the interior against inconsistent guards. Additonally, edge rushers Takk McKinley and Vic Beasley could each have multiple sacks on Russell Wilson.

Undoubtedly, Seattle's 12th man will play a huge factor in this game. Matt Ryan and co. will need to quiet the crowd and keep the pressure on an elite Seattle defense that just added defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson.

Expect a passionate ball game between two talented football teams.

Week 12 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Nov. 26/ 1:00 p.m. ET FOX)

The Falcons haven't beaten the Buccaneers at home since 2014. Defeating Tampa Bay in week 12 will be no easier, because the Falcons will be coming off of a short week while the Bucs will be emerging from a bye week. 

WR Mike Evans was a thorn in the Falcons' side last season, averaging over 124 receiving yards against the Dirty Birds in two games. The addition of DeSean Jackson only makes things harder for the Atlanta secondary. CBs Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford will have their hands full. 

On the flip side, during his tenure as Falcons Head Coach, Mike Smith's defensive scheme allowed opposing tight ends to roam free in the secondary. Now that he's the defensive coordinator in Tampa Bay, Matt Ryan has taken advantage of his former coach. Ryan connected with both Levine Toilolo and Austin Hooper for touchdowns in Atlanta's last game vs Tampa. Hooper showed tremendous improvement during training camp and the preseason so look for a big performance in this contest. 

Week 13 vs Minnesota Vikings (Dec. 3/ 1:00 p.m. ET FOX)

Don't let the Falcons blowing a 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl distract you from the fact that Minnesota blew a 5-0 start to the 2016 season. 

Jokes aside, the Vikings have the makings of the type of team capable of beating Atlanta even though they aren't better. Quarterback Sam Bradford is now comfortable with the offensive scheme and will have Latavius Murray and Dalvin Cook lining up behind him at running back. Also, Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen are better wide receivers than given credit for and they will aim to make a statement versus Trufant and Alford. 

On defense, Minnesota has an elite pass rusher in defensive end Everson Griffen. Defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson will add pressure from the interior. However, cornerback Xavier Rhodes is the player to watch, as he'll be tasked with defending Julio Jones.

David Schiele: @Deacon_Schiele

2017 Atlanta Falcons Week 6-9 Preview

Week 6 Vs. Miami Dolphins (Oct. 15/ 1:00 p.m. ET CBS)

The Miami Dolphins were forced (desperate enough) to bring Jay Cutler out of retirement in the early weeks of training camp after Ryan Tannehill went down with another knee injury. Cutler is 34 and struggled to stay on the field last season with the Bears as he played in only five games before taking a job with Fox Sports as an analyst in the offseason.

Despite the messy quarterback situation, Miami enters 2017 having finished 10-6 last season and earning their first playoff berth since 2008. With some momentum and some solid playmakers on offense, the Dolphins will be looking for a defensive identity with veterans such as DE Cameron Wake (35-years-old), DT Ndamukong Suh (30-years-old) and safety Reshad Jones (29-years-old) getting long in the tooth.

MLB Lawrence Timmons, along with rookies defensive end Charles Harris and linebacker Raekwon McMillan were added to help keep the Dolphins improve an aging defensive unit that ranked 29th in the NFL for total yards allowed last season.

Look for the Falcons to take advantage of a leaky Dolphins’ defense and allow their offensive horses to run wild.

Week 7 @ New England Patriots (Oct. 22/ 8:30 p.m. ET NBC)

The Patriots stole Super Bowl LI from the Falcons. This is a game where formations, statistics, injuries or venue mean little.

The Patriots went into the offseason and got even more talented by signing cornerback Stephon Gilmore and bringing in Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks. Additionally, perhaps the best tight end in football, Rob Gronkowski, returns from his season-ending back injury.

The Falcons will want to prove (mostly to themselves) that they can beat the Patriots. This will be a swing game for the 2017 season. If the Falcons are able to beat the Patriots, the demons of last Super Bowl’s eve will be vanquished until the playoffs.

Should the Falcons lose this nationally televised rematch, it could send the team on a downward spiral over the second half of the season. The Patriots want to put the Falcons in their place and prove that they are the class of the NFL.

Expect a highly emotional war of a football game.

Week 8 @New York Jets (Oct. 29/ 1:00 p.m. ET FOX)

The Jets are a mess.

They don’t have a clear quarterback, running game, nor any legitimate receivers.

The Falcons will be coming off an emotional ball game against the team that beat them in the Super Bowl and a physical game against the Dolphins in week 6.

This is what we call a “trap game deluxe.” The statistics and names on the respective rosters suggest this should be a rout in favor of the men in red and black. But, it’s the NFL and the Jets are at home.

New York does have a front seven, bringing the possibility that the Falcons could play their worst game of the season in week 8. Look for the Falcons to either narrowly escape or drop a huge setback mid-season.

Week 9 @ Carolina Panthers (Nov. 5/ 1:00 p.m. ET FOX)

The Panthers look to regain their 2015 form when they won the NFC South and made a Super Bowl appearance.

Beating a road weary Falcons team in their third straight road game can make the Panthers relevant again.

The Falcons will look to again attack the Panthers hole-filled secondary after torching the Josh Norman-less unit for 780 passing yards in two games last season.

The Panthers added little to the unit that was ranked 29th in total passing yards allowed in 2016, although they did resign Captain Munnerlyn back from the Vikings. Munnerlyn is the Panthers’ all-time leader in interceptions returned for touchdowns with five.

The Falcons need this game, as they try to gain control of the division race and make their push toward making the playoffs. Panthers could be in a wrong place, wrong time situation by the end of this day.

Jeremy Johnson: @Clark_Kent_75

2017 Atlanta Falcons Week 1-4 Preview

Week 1 @ Chicago Bears (Sep. 10/ 1:00 p.m. ET / FOX)

The Falcons head north to battle with the Chicago Bears who were less than impressive last season. They finished 2016 with only 3 wins, all coming at home. The Bears do not have much to be excited about. With the release of WR Alshon Jeffrey, and the cutting of QB Jay Cutler, the Bears seem to be going into rebuild mode. It will be interesting to see if first round draft pick Mitch Trubisky makes the start at quarterback, but I would not put money on it. Expect to see QB Mike Glennon under center for Chicago.

The one shining light coming from the Bears franchise is RB Jordan Howard. Dude can play. He did not get as much recognition last season, considering the other RB talent in the league, and the fact that the Bears went 3-13. Nonetheless, he had over 1,300 rushing yards to finish 2^nd in the NFL behind Ezekiel Elliott. The Falcons need to contain him. If they don’t, this might not be a blowout.

It is worth noting that the Falcons have not won at Soldier Field since ’83. They have also lost to the Bears in their last two meetings. Just something to worry about if you are a superstitious type.   

Week 2 vs. Green Bay Packers (Sep. 17/ 8:30 p.m. ET / FOX)

The Green Bay Packers come back to Atlanta in an attempt to redeem their horrid performance on January 22 that lead to a dominating Falcons’ victory for the NFC crown.

We should see a stronger opponent in the Packers this time around. First off, they are going to be ticked off; I mean I totally would be. Getting shut out in the first half of the NFC Championship is embarrassing.

Green Bay had a slew of injuries last season, much of them being in the secondary. With the addition of TE Martellus Bennett, the burden of playmaking will rest a little less heavy on QB Aaron Rodgers’ shoulders now.

Nevertheless, DQ and the Falcons have the Packers number. As long as the defensive line keeps #12 in the pocket, his playmaking abilities will be limited. Look for the game to be similar to the Week 8 matchup last season—a 33-32 win by Atlanta.

Week 3 @ Detroit Lions (Sep. 24/ 1:00 p.m. ET / FOX)

The Detroit Lions had a 9-7 record last season and made it to the postseason for the second time in 3 years. The Lions were a good team in 2016, but not a great team. QB Matthew Stafford is certainly a star, but the same cannot be said about the Detroit Lions as a whole.

The fact of the matter is, the Lions did not beat a playoff team last season. Go back and look. Furthermore, 5 of their 7 losses came from teams that all made the playoffs.

If the Lions cannot compete with playoff caliber teams, then the matchup against the Falcons will certainly be tough for them. They do not have a great run game, and their best receiver is Mega…. Golden Tate? Marvin Jones? One of those.

I am going to give them the benefit of the doubt and say the game will be close. After all, each of their losses last season were close games. Say what you want (I already have) but the Lions are certainly fighters. Look forward to a physical, and fun game to watch.

Week 4 vs. Buffalo Bills (Oct. 1/ 1:00 p.m. ET / FOX

Bills Mafia will be traveling to the newly constructed Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the first game of October. I would not set a high ceiling for the Bills because, like the Lions, Buffalo had trouble beating playoff teams last year. However, they did shut out the Patriots, which is certainly impressive.

QB Tyrod Taylor and RB LeSean McCoy are definitely players the Falcons’ defense needs to watch. McCoy can carve up defenses like it is nothing. If the Falcons aren’t careful, this game could mirror the 2016 game against the Eagles. Tyrod Taylor may not be an elite QB, but he is a scrappy, dual-threat player and can put up points if you let your guard down.  

Bottom line: if the Falcons come to play, they come out with a W. If they let their guard down…upset alert.

Hunter Hamberlin: @Chips_Ahoy94

Deion Jones and Keanu Neal Exceeded Expectations in 2016

The Falcons drafted safety Keanu Neal and linebacker Deion Jones in the first two rounds of the 2016 NFL Draft. There were many critics to this draft class, especially these first two picks. Overall, this draft class received a C+ ranking from SB Nation. As of now, that sounds ridiculous. Both Neal and Jones became starters last season…and for good reason too.

Keanu Neal finished his rookie season with 106 tackles and 8 passes defended. However, his 5 forced fumbles are his most impressive stat. Pro Football Focus has Keanu Neal with the second lowest passer rating allowed from the slot—elite Broncos cornerback Chris Harris ranks first.

Deion Jones racked up a combined 108 tackles last year, including 5 for loss. He forced 1 fumble in the 2016 regular season, and 1 during the Super Bowl. Most impressively, Jones picked off 3 passes, with two resulting in touchdowns. He also had an exciting pick in the NFC divisional round, killing any chance of a Seattle comeback.

Accoridng to Pro Football Focus, Deion Jones had the 2^nd-highest run stop percentage among rookie LBs, stopping 9% of run plays. Out of 9 rookie LBs in the NFL last season, he allowed the fewest yards /cov snap, allowing only 0.97 yards.

There was much negative criticism regarding the Falcons decision to draft Neal and Jones. Many people believed Head Coach Dan Quinn drafted these players too early, insisting that there were better players available. All those critics are quiet now, and it seems as if Dan Quinn has found the playmakers he needs to make the rest of his defense rise to any challenge. In Dan Quinn we trust.

Source: https://www.sbnation.com/a/2016-nfl-draft-grades/atlanta-falcons