2012 Record: 13-3
2012 Rankings
Total Offense: 8
Passing Offense: 6
Rushing Offense: 29
Scoring Offense: 7
Total Defense: 24
Passing Defense: 23
Rushing Defense: 21
Scoring Defense: 5
Offense
The Falcons signed QB Matt Ryan to a monster contract this offseason, solidifying the core of their offensive group. The Falcons have the best receiving tandem in the league in Roddy White and Julio Jones with future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez remaining a threat. The Falcons parted ways with RB Michael Turner but made a splash in free agency by adding Steven Jackson. With Jackson and Gonzalez, the Falcons have two veteran players that are in their last years looking for a run to glory. This could be the perfect mix of youth and experience to lead the Falcons to the Super Bowl.
Defense
The Falcons defense is still a bit of a question mark. Last season they had a bend-but-don't-break mentality, giving up a lot of yards but not a lot of points. The Falcons were near the bottom of the league in sacks and lost John Abraham (who accounted for over a third of their sacks) in free agency. To compensate, they brought in Osi Umenyiora and Kory Biermann to bookend the defensive front. At the back end, Thomas DeCoud and William Moore form one of the better safety tandems in the league, but there are a lot of question marks down the middle of the defense from the interior defensive line to the linebacking unit.
Intangibles
The Falcons had a bad habit of running out to big leads last season and going soft on defense and letting their opponents back into games. The veteran presence of Gonzalez and Jackson and their desire to win one before they retire should drive this team.
Prediction
This is a team loaded with offensive talent, but there are big question marks on the defensive side of the ball. They are due for some regression from their 13-3 mark last season, but they are still good enough to win the division. 11-5
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