(RB Bijan Robinson – Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
RB Tyler Allgeier, RB Bijan Robinson, WR Drake London, TE Kyle Pitts, OC Drew Dalman, OG Matthew Bergeron, OG Chris Lindstrom, OT Jake Matthews, OT Kaleb McGary, DE Zach Harrison, DE Grady Jarrett, NT David Onyemata, LB Lorenzo Carter, LB Arnold Ebiketie, LB Kaden Elliss, LB Nate Landman, CB Clark Phillips III, CB AJ Terrell, NB/PR Dee Alford, NB/KR Mike Hughes, FS Jessie Bates III, SS Richie Grant, SS DeMarco Hellams, PK Younghoe Koo and PT Bradley Pinion.
Key Players Departing:
QB Desmond Ridder (Cardinals), RB/KR Cordarrelle Patterson (Steelers), TE Jonnu Smith (Dolphins), DT Calais Campbell (UFA), LB Bud Dupree (UFA), and CB Jeff Okudah (Texans).
Key Players Added:
QB Kirk Cousins (Vikings), WR/RS Ray-Ray McCloud (49ers), WR Darnell Mooney (Bears), and WR Rondale Moore (Cardinals).
(QB Michael Penix – USA Today Sports)
Draft Picks:
Round 1: Pick 008 – QB Michael Penix (Washington)
Round 2: Pick 035 – DT Ruke Orhorhoro (Clemson)
Round 3: Pick 074 – EDGE Bralen Trice (Washington)
Round 4: Pick 109 – DT Brandon Dorius (Oregon)
Round 5: Pick 143 – LB JD Bertrand (Notre Dame)
Round 6: Pick 186 – RB Jase McClellan (Alabama)
Round 6: Pick 187 – WR Casey Washington (Illinois)
Round 6: Pick 197 – DT Zion Logue (Georgia)
2023 Results:
W01 PANTHERS W 24-10
W02 PACKERS W 25-24
W03 @ Lions L 6-20
W04 JAGUARS L 7-23
W05 TEXANS W 21-19
W06 COMMANDERS L 16-24
W07 @ Buccaneers W 16-13
W08 @ Titans L 23-28
W09 VIKINGS L 28-30
W10 @ Cardinals L 23-25
Bye Week
W12 SAINTS W 24-15
W13 @ Jets W 13-8
W14 BUCCANEERS L 25-29
W15 @ Panthers L 7-9
W16 COLTS W 29-10
W17 @ Bears L 17-37
W18 @ Saints L 17-48
Team Info:
2023: 7-10 (3rd in NFC South)
Home: 5-3
Away: 2-7
South: 3-3
NFC: 4-8
AFC: 3-2
Head Coach: Raheem Morris
Atlanta: 4-7
Career: 21-38
Playoffs: 0-0
(WR Drake London – AP Photo)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Taylor Heinicke (74-136, 890 yards, 64.2%, 7.3 avg., 5 TD, 4 INT)
Rushing: Bijan Robinson (214 car., 976 yards, 4.6 avg., 4 TD)
Receiving: Drake London (68 rec., 905 yards, 13.1 avg., 2 TD)
Yards After Catch: Bijan Robinson (519)
TD’s Scored: Bijan Robinson (8)
Sacks: Arnold Ebiketie (6)
Tackles: Jessie Bates III (132)
Interceptions: Jessie Bates III (6)
Pass Deflections: Jessie Bates III/AJ Terrell (11)
Tackles For Loss: Kaden Elliss (11)
Forced Fumbles: Jessie Bates III/Nate Landman (3)
Kick Returns: Dee Alford (2 ret., 13 yards, 6.5 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Dee Alford (20 ret., 160 yards, 8.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Younghoe Koo (32-37 fg/fga., 87%, 27-28 xp/xpa., 123 pts.)
Punting: Bradley Pinion (75 punts, 3523 yards, 47.0 avg., 27 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 18 Kirk Cousins
RB: 7 Bijan Robinson
WR: 5 Drake London
WR: 1 Darnell Mooney
WR: 9 Rondale Moore
TE: 8 Kyle Pitts
LT: 70 Jake Matthews
LG: 65 Matthew Bergeron
OC: 67 Drew Dalman
RG: 63 Chris Lindstrom
RT: 76 Kaleb McGary
KR: 26 Avery Williams
PK: 7 Younghoe Koo
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 96 Zach Harrison
NT: 90 David Onyemata
DE: 97 Grady Jarrett
LB: 17 Arnold Ebiketie
LB: 55 Kaden Elliss
LB: 44 Troy Andersen
LB: 0 Lorenzo Carter
CB: 22 Clark Phillips Jr.
CB: 24 AJ Terrell
FS: 3 Jesse Bates III
SS: 23 DeMarco Hellams
PR: 26 Avery Williams
PT: 13 Bradley Pinion
(FS Jesse Bates III – Icon Sportswire)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: A
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: B
Kicking: A
Punting: A
Schedule:
09/08 STEELERS | Atlanta trails the series 2-15-1. The Falcons are 0-3 since 2014, and they lost (16-19) the last meeting between teams in 2022.
09/16 @ Eagles | Atlanta trails the series 15-21-1. The Falcons are 2-4 since restarting the series in 2015, and they lost (6-32) the last meeting between teams in 2021.
09/22 CHIEFS | Atlanta trails the series 3-7. The Falcons lost (14-17) the last meeting between teams in 2020, and their last series win (40-24) dates back to 2012.
09/29 SAINTS | The series is tied 55-55. The Falcons are 8-12 since 2014, and their last series home win (27-25) was in 2021.
10/03 BUCCANEERS | Atlanta trails the series 30-31. The Falcons are 10-10 since 2014, and their last series home loss (15-21) was in 2022.
10/13 @ Panthers | Atlanta leads the series 36-22. The Falcons are 13-7 since 2014, and their last series road win (29-21) was in 2021.
10/20 SEAHAWKS | Atlanta trails the series 9-12. The Falcons won (27-23) the last meeting between teams in 2022, and their last series loss (25-38) was in 2020.
10/27 @ Buccaneers | The Falcons last series road loss (15-21) was in 2022.
11/03 COWBOYS | Atlanta trails the series 11-19. The Falcons are 2-3 since restarting the series in 2021, and they lost (3-43) the last meeting between teams in 2021.
11/10 @ Saints | The Falcons last series road win (27-25) was in 2021.
11/17 @ Broncos | Atlanta trails the series 7-9. The Falcons won (34-27) the last meeting between teams in 2020, and their last series loss (20-24) was in 2020.
12/01 CHARGERS | Atlanta leads the series 8-4. The Falcons lost (17-20) the last meeting between teams in 2022, and their last series win (27-3) dates back to 2012.
12/08 @ Vikings | Atlanta trails the series 12-21. The Falcons are 1-5 since 2014, and their last series win (40-23) was in 2020.
12/16 @ Raiders | Atlanta leads the series 8-7. The Raiders won (43-6) the last meeting between teams in 2020, and their last series loss (14-41) dates back to 2000.
12/22 GIANTS | Atlanta leads the series 14-12. The Falcons are 3-1 since 2014, and they won (17-14) the last meeting between teams in 2021.
12/29 @ Commanders | Atlanta trails the series 10-18-1. The Falcons are 2-3 since restarting the series in 2015, and their last series win (38-14) was in 2018.
01/05 PANTHERS | The Falcons last series home win (29-21) was in 2021.
Predictions:
Home: 4-5
Road: 2-6
DIV: 2-4
NFC: 5-7
AFC: 1-4
Overall: 6-11 (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 2024, the game will be listed under the 2023 season.
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