2013 NFL Preview: Atlanta Falcons
By Loot, NFL Handicapper, Lootmeister.com
Again, the Falcons go into the 2013 season with high hopes--a byproduct of having a 36-12 record over the past 3 seasons. The story with Atlanta is in their inability to carry that form through the postseason, where they have just one playoff win to show for their last 3 years worth of effort. As with anything, there are a few different ways of looking at it.
To their credit, not everyone can get to the big game. It’s only been 3 seasons since they became contenders, not a decade. In their first 2 playoff runs in 2010 and 2011, they lost in the playoffs to the eventual Super Bowl champion so you have to extend them a little leniency based on that. Last year, they almost lost to the Seahawks after building a 4th quarter 20-point lead at home. Then they lost to the 49ers, 28-24. If that one went their way, which it easily could have, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
Head coach Mike Smith is unquestionably a fine leader. After all, it’s not like Atlanta was known as a perennial playoff threat prior to Smith’s arrival. Before Smith came around, Atlanta had won 5 playoff games since 1978. Sometimes, it hard for a team unaccustomed to success to break through into the big time. With all that said, Smith needs to have a bit of a different mindset. To take a team to glory, a coach can’t have a “let’s hope the roof doesn’t collapse” approach in a playoff game. Smith could just up his killer instinct an iota or two.
In 2010-11, there was the 27-point blowout at home to Green Bay to end their season. Then they put up an ugly 2 points against the Giants the following year. It makes the whole regular season ring empty. What’s the good in putting up a pair of 13-win seasons and insuring home-field advantage if you’re just gonna blow it anyway? Again, we are talking about a team that came a play or two from going to last year’s Super Bowl.
There is cause for optimism. All credit is due to Michael Turner for a fine career in Atlanta, but the pep was gone last year. They now have former Rams stalwart Steven Jackson, who should have some success. He’s no spring chicken and he has entertained thoughts of retirement. But after having such good seasons for a losing team in St. Louis, it’s hard to not picture him as being re-energized with a team that is a consistent winner.
Matt Ryan should continue providing stellar play at quarterback. Atlanta fans can’t like, however, the departure of a few key pieces of the O-line. Losing Todd McClure, a center who has started for the past dozen years, might not go well, nor will losing a good right tackle in Tyson Clabo. A lot will be riding on some unproven commodities at the tackle and center positions.
Atlanta is feeling optimistic and they should. TE Tony Gonzalez postponed retirement for another shot. After a long career of minimal postseason glory, it’s obvious he senses something is due to go well in Atlanta. And the front office didn’t go crazy in an effort to retool, suggesting they are confident in their ability to do some special things this season. Despite their rotten playoff run of late, they know they were only a good defensive play away from getting to the big game last year. There was no reason to go into panic mode.
Matt Ryan might be able to step his game up a notch, as well. Not so much from a statistical standpoint, as he did throw for 4719 yards last season, but more in the area of intangibles. Some may feel he has hit his ceiling in terms of potential, but 2013 should see a “Matty Ice” who has a little more of a razor’s edge--a tiny bit more anger with an axe to grind. Tony Gonzalez was 70 yards away from Atlanta having three 1000-yard receivers last season. Ryan isn’t exactly the safety-first game manager he was when he first started. Look for his increasingly-aggressive playing style to take another step forward in 2013.
Barring anything bizarre, Atlanta is going to be right there again. They’re going to win a bunch of games in the regular season and will enter the postseason with a sense of urgency and hunger that will be tough to match. If Atlanta can secure home-field throughout the playoffs with another big regular season, they are a top candidate coming out of the NFC at 14/1 to win Super Bowl XLVIII.
