Atlanta Falcons have to show up and show out against the Vikings

The Atlanta Falcons start their 2019 season with a matchup against the Minnesota Vikings and this will be anything but a cakewalk.

The Atlanta Falcons expect to have one of the most potent offenses in the NFL for 2019. However, the Minnesota Vikings bring back defense and that was one of the league’s best in 2018. The Vikings defense was ranked fourth in yardage allowed per game and ninth in scoring defense.

That defense will be quite a test for the newly rebuilt Falcons offensive line. In a game like this, it is pivotal and that they hold up or else it’s gonna be a long day for Matt Ryan.

The running game will also need to step it up and provide that level of unpredictability to open up things for the ever-dangerous Atlanta Falcons passing attack. Devonta Freeman must show up from the start to make like easier for Ryan and Company.

Calvin Ridley, Austin Hooper, and Mohamed Sanu need to be ready because all eyes will be on Julio Jones. If that trio can punish the defense, that will make life a bit easier for Julio.

The Atlanta Falcons defense seems healthy again and they will need to stay that way for the whole season. The run game up the middle should be handled by Grady Jarrett but defensive ends Vic Beasley and Takk McKinley must generate an effective and relentless pass rush to help out the secondary.

Adam Thielen and Stefan Diggs are two of the most dangerous receivers in the NFL and if Kirk Cousins has time in that pocket to deliver the ball to either one of those two, it will definitely be a long day.

It’s ok for Falcons fans to be wary about this match up but this is the type of test the Falcons need to see where they stand and how much they’ve improved. If things go as planned, I expect the Falcons to come on top, but if the protection for Matt Ryan isn’t there and the defense can’t put pressure on Cousins and slow down Dalvin Cook, expect for this to be a long first day at work for the dirty birds.