Preseason will set the tone for the Atlanta Falcons
By Ross Terrell
The Atlanta Falcons actually have something to gain this preseason. From owner Arthur Blank all the way to the fan base, it is time to show us things are different in 2019.
It’s an extended tryout for some players. The preseason helps coaches if there is an especially tight position battle or for depth purposes. For the Atlanta Falcons, they should be keeping an eye on the backup running back and in the secondary.
However, it is more than that. We all know about good ole Mo. or momentum as some people say. When a team gets hot at the right time, that’s usually the difference between an extended run or early exit in the playoffs.
The year the Falcons last went to the Super Bowl, they won five of their last six games. And their one loss was by one point on a pick-two.
But that year, they also went 3-1 in the preseason. The team set the bar in August. That winning was going to be a priority and anything else wouldn’t be acceptable. As Dan Quinn loves to say, it’s all about competing. He wants to see players compete.
We’ve seen what slow starts can do to teams in the game and
The Falcons have gone 0-8 over the last two years in the games that don’t have meaning. They missed the playoffs and finished with a losing record in one of those years, and the other they lost in the divisional playoffs.
The past two times the Falcons split their preseason games, they’ve had uneven regular season performances, missing the playoffs both times.
There may not be scientific correlation but the Atlanta Falcons are at their best when they enter a season with some momentum. Be it small and meaningless, it sets the tone for this team.
They’ve made it clear that health is a priority in shutting down Julio Jones and sitting Matt Ryan and other stars ahead of the most pointless game in the NFL season, the Hall of Fame game. But by week three, when the starters get the most action, this team needs to be clicking against the Redskins.
It’s not always about how finish, if you don’t get off to a good start.