Falcons: Is the Defense Good Enough?

The Atlanta Falcons started off very poorly in 2019 as they went 1-7 through their initial eight games. They managed to finish strong by going 5-3 through the back half of their slate. However, it was a classic case of ‘too little, too late’ as far making the playoffs were concerned.

There are some factors that could elevate the Falcons’ offense further beyond the Matt Ryan-Julio Jones connection. Calvin Ridley appears ready to take the next step as a player and Todd Gurley will aim to undergo a bounce-back season. If both were to occur, Atlanta could have a truly dynamic overall unit.

The main factor for the Falcons will be their ability to achieve success on defense. They finished the season strong on this front after Raheem Morris took over more of a prominent role, who is now the defensive coordinator. From Week 10-17, Atlanta allowed just nine touchdowns and recorded 10 interceptions (h/t Doug Farrar)

Using the 2020 NFL Draft to select A.J. Terrell and signing Dante Fowler Jr. and Dequez Dennard should help overcome the losses of Desmond Trufant and Vic Beasley. Overall, there’s an outlook for the Falcons to surprise on defense, but how effective will they be?