(Photo Credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
QB Matt Ryan, WR Russell Gage, WR Calvin Ridley, TE Hayden Hurst, OG Chris Lindstrom, OT Jake Matthews, OT Kaleb McGary, DE Dante Fowler, DE Jacob Tuioti-Mariner, DE Steven Means, DT Tyeler Davison, DT Grady Jarrett, LB Deion Jones, LB Foyesade Oluokun, LB Mykal Walker, CB Isaiah Oliver, CB Kendall Sheffield, CB A.J. Terrell, PK Younghoe Koo, and P Sterling Hofrichter.
Key Players Departing:
WR Julio Jones (Titans), RB Todd Gurley (UFA), OC Alex Mack (49ers), OG James Carpenter (UFA), DE Takkarist McKinley (Browns), CB Darqueze Dennard (Cardinals), CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson (UFA), SS FS Ricardo Allen (Bengals), SS Keanu Neal (Cowboys), and KR/PR Brandon Powell (Bills).
Key Players Added:
RB Mike Davis (Panthers), S Duron Harmon (Lions), and S Erik Harris (Raiders).
Draft Picks:
Round 1: Pick 004 – TE Kyle Pitts (Florida)
Round 2: Pick 040 – SS Richie Grant (UCF)
Round 3: Pick 068 – OT Jalen Mayfield (Michigan)
Round 4: Pick 108 – CB Darren Hall (San Diego State)
Round 5: Pick 148 – DT Ta’Quon Graham (Texas)
Round 5: Pick 182 – DE Adetokunbo Ogundeji (Note Dame)
Round 5: Pick 183 – CB Avery Williams (Boise State)
Round 6: Pick 187 – WR Frank Darby (Arizona State)
2020 Results:
W01 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS L 25-38
W02 at Dallas Cowboys L 39-40
W03 CHICAGO BEARS L 26-30
W04 at Green Bay Packers L 16-30
W05 CAROLINA PANTHERS L 16-23
W06 at Minnesota Vikings W 40-23
W07 DETROIT LIONS L 22-23
W08 at Carolina Panthers W 25-17
W09 DENVER BRONCOS W 34-27
W11 at New Orleans Saints L 9-24
W12 LAS VEGAS RAIDERS W 43-6
W13 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS L 16-21
W14 at Los Angeles Chargers L 17-20
W15 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS L 27-31
W16 at Kansas City Chiefs L 14-17
W17 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 27-44
Team Info:
2020: 4-12 (4th in NFC South)
Home: 2-6
Away: 2-6
South: 1-5
NFC: 2-10
AFC: 2-2
Head Coach: Arthur Smith
Atlanta: 0-0
Career: 0-0
Playoffs: 0-0
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Matt Ryan (407-626, 4581 yards, 65.0%, 7.3 avg., 26 TD, 11 Int.)
Rushing: Matt Ryan (29 car., 92 yards, 3.2 avg., 2 TD)
Receiving: Calvin Ridley (90 rec., 1374 yards, 15.3 avg., 9 TD)
Yards After Catch: Calvin Ridley (369)
TD’s Scored: Calvin Ridley (9)
Sacks: Deion Jones (4.5)
Tackles: Foyesade Oluokun (117)
Interceptions: Deion Jones/Foyesade Oluokun (2)
Pass Deflections: A.J. Terrell (7)
Tackles For Loss: Deion Jones (11)
Forced Fumbles: Foyesade Oluokun (4)
Kick Returns: Chris Rowland (2 ret., 53 yards, 26.5 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: None
Kicking: Younghoe Koo (37-39 fg/fga., 95%, 33-36 xp/xpa., 144 pts.)
Punting: Sterling Hofrichter (56 punts, 2381 yards, 42.5 avg., 17 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 2 Matt Ryan
RB: 28 Matt Davis
TE: 8 Kyle Pitts |R|
WR: 14 Russell Gage
WR: 18 Calvin Ridley
TE: 81 Hayden Hurst
LT: 70 Jake Matthews
LG: 66 Willie Wright
OC: 61 Matt Hennessy
RG: 63 Chris Lindstrom
RT: 76 Kaleb McGary
KR: 35 Avery Williams |R|
PK: 7 Younghoe Koo
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 91 Jacob Tuioti-Mariner
DT: 96 Tyeler Davison
DT: 97 Grady Jarrett
DE: 56 Dante Fowler
LB: 45 Deion Jones
LB: 54 Foyesade Oluokun
NB: 24 A.J. Terrell
CB: 20 Kendall Sheffield
CB: 26 Isaiah Oliver
FS: 23 Erik Harris
SS: 32 Jaylinn Hawkins
PR: 35 Avery Williams |R|
PT: 4 Sterling Hofrichter
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: A
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kicking: A
Punting: B
Schedule:
09/12 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | Atlanta trails the series 15-20-1. The Falcons are 4-3 since 2011, and they won (24-20) the last meeting between teams in 2019.
09/19 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Atlanta leads the series 28-27. The Falcons are 11-9 since 2011, and their last series road win (28-22) was in 2019.
09/26 at New York Giants | Atlanta leads the series 13-12. The Falcons won (23-20) the last meeting between teams in 2018, and their last series loss (20-30) was in 2014.
10/03 WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM | Atlanta trails the series 10-15-1. The Falcons won (38-14) the last meeting between teams in 2018, and their last series loss (31-33) was in 2003.
10/10 vs. New York Jets | Atlanta leads the series 7-5. The Falcons won (25-20) the last meeting between teams in 2017.
10/24 at Miami Dolphins | Atlanta trails the series 4-9. The Falcons lost (17-20) the last meeting between teams in 2017.
10/31 CAROLINA PANTHERS | Atlanta leads the series 33-19. The Falcons are 13-7 since 2011, and their last series home win (40-20) was in 2019.
11/07 at New Orleans Saints | Atlanta leads the series 53-51. The Falcons are 7-13 since 2011, and their last series road win (26-9) was in 2019.
11/14 at Dallas Cowboys | Atlanta trails the series 11-18. The Falcons lost (39-40) last season’s meeting between teams, and their last series win (27-7) was in 2017.
11/18 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | Atlanta trails the series 6-9. The Falcons lost (7-23) the last meeting between teams in 2017.
11/28 at Jacksonville Jaguars | Atlanta leads the series 4-3. The Falcons won (24-12) the last meeting between teams in 2017.
12/05 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | The Falcons last series home win (34-29) was in 2018.
12/12 at Carolina Panthers | The Falcons last series road loss (17-20) was in 2017.
12/19 at San Francisco 49ers | Atlanta trails the series 32-47-1. The Falcons won (29-22) the last meeting between teams in 2019, and their last series loss (16-17) was in 2015.
12/26 DETROIT LIONS | Atlanta trails the series 13-25. The Falcons are 3-2 since 2011, and their last series win (30-26) was in 2016.
01/02 at Buffalo Bills | Atlanta leads the series 7-5. The Falcons lost (17-23) the last meeting between teams in 2017.
01/09 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | The Falcons last series home win (20-17) was in 2017.
Predictions:
Home: 4-4
Away: 1-8
DIV: 1-5
NFC: 4-8
AFC: 1-4
Overall: 5-12 (4th in NFC South)
UFA: Unrestricted Free Agent
Series Histories: Histories are from the inception of the first Super Bowl season through present day. Meetings prior to 1966 are not included. Playoff wins are included in the year the season took place. For example, if a team won a wildcard game in January of 2016, the game will be listed under the 2015 season.
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