What’s really holding the Atlanta Falcons Back?

If you ask anyone that pays attention to football, they will say the Atlanta Falcons from top to bottom are one of the more talented teams in the NFL.

On offense, the Atlanta Falcons have a top 10 quarterback in Matt Ryan, a top 10 guy toting the rock in the backfield with Devonta Freeman and the best receiver in the NFL, Julio Jones. On defense, one of the best linebackers in the league in Deion Jones, Grady Jarrett plugging up the middle and all the athleticism and speed you want in Vic Beasley and Takkarist McKinley.

In all honesty, what could hold this team back from reaching the mountaintops of the NFL?

Injuries.

The last time the team was healthy, they had the almighty Patriots on the ropes in the Super Bowl LI.

Three days into training camp, J.J. Wilcox suffered a major injury when he tore his ACL which pretty much means his season is over before it started. Defensive Tackle Michael Bennett broke his ankle and is out indefinitely.

Key players like Keanu Neal, Devonta Freeman and Deion Jones all missed some significant time last season and this isn’t the only time the Falcons had such a rash of injuries to key personnel.

Julio Jones in his 8-year career has already missed a seasons worth of games due to various ailments and all fans are hoping for is nothing major happens (because let’s face it, football players are always in pain).

God forbid something happens to Matt Ryan (a fear we all had last year behind our offensive line who had injury issues of their own) because we don’t a viable back up that can do at least 50 percent of what Matt Ryan does for this team.

There is no doubt in my mind this Falcons team can compete with anybody…when fully healthy. If the cards are in their favor this season, the Falcons will be a force to be reckoned with. However, if they can’t stay healthy as a team, we are in for another slow abysmal season and jobs will be in jeopardy.