Atlanta Falcons 2023 Preview and Predictions

(Photo Credit: Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Key Players Returning:

RB Tyler Allgeier, RB Cordarrelle Patterson, WR Drake London, TE Kyle Pitts, OC Drew Dalman, OG Chris Lindstrom, OT Jake Matthews, OT Kaleb McGary, DE Ta’Quon Graham, DE Grady Jarrett, DE Steven Means, LB Troy Anderson, LB Lorenzo Carter, LB Adetokunbo Ogundeji, LB Mykal Walker, CB Dee Alford, CB Cronell Armstrong, CB Darren Hall, CB AJ Terrell, SS Richie Grant, SS Jaylinn Hawkins, KR/PR Avery Williams, PK Younghoe Koo and PT Bradley Pinion.

Key Players Departing:

QB Marcus Mariota (Eagles), WR Olamide Zaccheaus (Eagles), DT Abdullah Anderson (Commanders), LB Rashaan Evans (UFA) and CB Isaiah Oliver (49ers).

Key Players Added:

WR Mack Hollins (Raiders), WR Scott Miller (Buccaneers), DE Calais Campbell (Ravens), NT David Onyemata (Saints), LB Kaden Elliss (Saints), LB Bud Dupree (Titans), CB Jeff Okudah (Lions), NB Mike Hughes (Lions) and FS Jessie Bates III (Bengals).

Draft Picks:

Round 1: 
Pick 008 – RB Bijan Robinson (Texas)
Round 2:  Pick 038 – OT Matthew Bergeron (Syracuse)
Round 3:  Pick 075 – EDGE Zach Harrison (Ohio State)
Round 4:  Pick 113 – CB Clark Phillips (Utah)
Round 7:  Pick 224 – FS DeMarco Hellams (Alabama)
Round 7:  Pick 225 – OG Jovaughn Gwyn (South Carolina)

2022 Results:

W01  SAINTS  L  26-27
W02  @ Rams  L  27-31
W03  @ Seahawks  W  27-23
W04  BROWNS  W  23-20
W05  @ Buccaneers  L  15-21
W06  49ERS  W  28-14
W07  @ Bengals  L  17-35
W08  PANTHERS  W | OT  37-34
W09  CHARGERS  L  17-20
W10  @ Panthers  L  15-25
W11  BEARS  W  27-24
W12  @ Commanders  L  13-19
W13  STEELERS  L  16-19
W15  @ Saints  L  16-21
W16  @ Ravens  L  9-17
W17  CARDINALS  W  20-19
W18  BUCCANEERS  W  30-17

Team Info:

2022:  7-10 (4th in NFC South)

Home:  6-3
Away:  1-7
South:  2-4
NFC:  6-6
AFC:  1-4

Head Coach:  Arthur Smith

Atlanta:  14-20
Career:  14-20
Playoffs:  0-0

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing: 
Desmond Ridder (73-115, 708 yards, 63.5%, 6.2 avg., 2 TD, 0 INT)
Rushing: 
Tyler Allgeier (210 car., 1035 yards, 4.9 avg., 3 TD)
Receiving: 
Drake London (72 rec., 866 yards, 12.0 avg., 4 TD)
Yards After Catch: 
Drake London (231)
TD’s Scored: 
Cordarrelle Patterson (9)
Sacks: 
Grady Jarrett (6)
Tackles: 
Richie Grant (123)
Interceptions: 
Richie Grant/Jaylinn Hawkins/Myjal Hawkins (2)
Pass Deflections: 
AJ Terrell (8)
Tackles For Loss: 
Grady Jarrett (12)
Forced Fumbles: 
Arnold Ebiketie (2)
Kick Returns: 
Cordarrelle Patterson (9 ret., 284 yards, 31.6 avg., 1 TD)
Punt Returns: 
None
Kicking: 
Younghoe Koo (32-37 fg/fga., 87%, 33-35 xp/xpa., 129 pts.)
Punting: 
Younghoe Koo (62 punts, 2845 yards, 45.9 avg., 23 in20)

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB:  9  Desmond Ridder
RB:  7  Bijan Robinson |R|
WR:  5  Drake London
WR:  18  Mack Hollins
WR:  16  Scott Miller
TE:  8  Kyle Pitts
LT:  70  Jake Matthews
LG:  65  Matthew Bergeron |R|
OC:  67  Drew Dalman
RG:  63  Chris Lindstrom
RT:  76  Kaleb McGary
KR:  84  Cordarrelle Patterson
PK:  7  Younghoe Koo

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  93  Calais Campbell
NT:  90  David Onyemata
DE:  97  Grady Jarrett
LB:  48  Bud Dupree
LB:  55  Kaden Elliss
LB:  33  Troy Andersen
LB:  00  Lorenzo Carter
CB:  24  AJ Terrell
CB:  1  Jeff Okudah
FS:  30  Jesse Bates III
SS:  27  Richie Grant
PR:  16  Scott Miller
PT:  13  Bradley Pinion

Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  C
Running Backs:  B
Wide Receivers:  C
Offensive Line:  B

Defense

Defensive Line:  B
Linebackers:  C
Secondary:  B

Special Teams

Kick Returners:  A
Punt Returners:  C
Kicking:  A
Punting:  A

Schedule:

09/10 
PANTHERS  |  Atlanta leads the series 35-21.  The Falcons are 12-8 since 2013 and their last series home loss (13-19) was in 2021.

09/17  PACKERS  |  Atlanta trails the series 16-19.  The Falcons lost (16-30) the last meeting between teams in 2020.

09/24  @ Lions  |  Atlanta trails the series 14-25.  The Falcons won (20-16) the last meeting between teams in 2021.

10/01  @ Jaguars  |  Atlanta leads the series 5-3.  The Falcons won (21-14) the last meeting between teams in 2021.

10/08  TEXANS  |  Atlanta trails the series 2-3.  The Falcons lost (32-53) the last meeting between teams in 2019.

10/15  COMMANDERS  |  Atlanta trails the series 10-17-1.  The Falcons are 3-2 since 2013 and their last series win (38-14) was in 2018.

10/22  @ Buccaneers  |  Atlanta trails the series 29-30.  The Falcons are 10-10 since 2013 and their last series road win (28-22) was in 2019.

10/29  @ Titans  |  Atlanta trails the series 7-8.  The Falcons last series loss (10-24) was in 2019.

11/05  VIKINGS  |  Atlanta trails the series 12-20.  The Falcons won (40-23) the last meeting between teams in 2020.

11/12  @ Cardinals  |  Atlanta trails the series 16-17.  The Falcons are -4-2 -since 2013 and their last series loss (33-34) was in 2019.

11/26  SAINTS  |  The series is tied 54-54.  The Falcons are 7-13 since 20-13 and their last series home win (20-17) was in 2017.

12/03  @ Jets  |  Atlanta leads the series 8-5.  The Falcons won (27-20) the last meeting between teams in 2021.

12/10  BUCCANEERS  |  The Falcons last series home loss (17-30) was in 2021.

12/16  @ Panthers  |  The Falcons last series road win (29-21) was in 2021.

12/24  COLTS  |  Atlanta trails the series 2-15.  The Falcons lost (24-27) the last meeting between teams in 2019.

12/31  @ Bears  |  Atlanta trails the series 14-15.  The Falcons are 2-2 since restarting the series in 2014 and their last series loss (26-30) was in 2020.

01/07  @ Saints  |  The Falcons last series road win (27-25) was in 2021.

Predictions:

Home: 4-4
Away: 1-8
South: 2-4
NFC: 4-8
AFC: 1-4

Overall: 5-12 (3rd in NFC South)

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 2023, the game will be listed under the 2022 season.