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It's now been nine years since the last time the Atlanta Falcons made the NFL Playoffs. Getting back there at the end of the 2026 season won't be easy, but compared to most divisions the Falcons have a relatively easy road ahead.
Last year Atlanta finished in a three-way tie at the top of the NFC South with the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, finishing the season with an 8-9 record thanks to a four-game win streak to close out their schedule.
Looking ahead, it's reasonable to assume that this year's division winner won't be that much further ahead. According to CBS Sports, the NFC South champ won't even win 10 games.
It' good to mention Atlanta's talent, which is greater than their three division rivals by a good deal, at least on offense. If the Falcons can get a solid year at quarterback from Michael Penix or Tua Tagovailoa you could make a case that they have the strongest roster in the division (it is admittedly a low bar).
The real x-factor that will decide wether the Falcons finish this year better compared to last is new head coach Kevin Stefanski, and how much more he can wring out of that talent than his predecessor Raheem Morris.
Stefanski is a two-time NFL Coach of the Year from his time with the Cleveland Browns, where he never had a reliable starting quarterback after Baker Mayfield was shown the door. The situation in Atlanta is better in that they have at least two options with high upside as opposed to five QBs with a limited ceiling. It's not difficult to imagine Stefanski bringing this team to a level we haven't seen in nearly a decade.
The Falcons still need to upgrade their interior defensive line rotation and their linebacker corps, but if they can find solutions to those two problems before or during the season they could be the kind of team nobody wants to face in the playoffs.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons, Panthers, Bucs, Saints all projected for under 10 wins
Continue reading...
Last year Atlanta finished in a three-way tie at the top of the NFC South with the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, finishing the season with an 8-9 record thanks to a four-game win streak to close out their schedule.
Looking ahead, it's reasonable to assume that this year's division winner won't be that much further ahead. According to CBS Sports, the NFC South champ won't even win 10 games.
It' good to mention Atlanta's talent, which is greater than their three division rivals by a good deal, at least on offense. If the Falcons can get a solid year at quarterback from Michael Penix or Tua Tagovailoa you could make a case that they have the strongest roster in the division (it is admittedly a low bar).
The real x-factor that will decide wether the Falcons finish this year better compared to last is new head coach Kevin Stefanski, and how much more he can wring out of that talent than his predecessor Raheem Morris.
Stefanski is a two-time NFL Coach of the Year from his time with the Cleveland Browns, where he never had a reliable starting quarterback after Baker Mayfield was shown the door. The situation in Atlanta is better in that they have at least two options with high upside as opposed to five QBs with a limited ceiling. It's not difficult to imagine Stefanski bringing this team to a level we haven't seen in nearly a decade.
The Falcons still need to upgrade their interior defensive line rotation and their linebacker corps, but if they can find solutions to those two problems before or during the season they could be the kind of team nobody wants to face in the playoffs.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons, Panthers, Bucs, Saints all projected for under 10 wins
Continue reading...
