Blogging Dirty
FanSided

NFC Championship or bust for the Atlanta Falcons in 2020

By Ross Terrell

HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 06: Thomas Dimitroff General Manager and Head coach Dan Quinn of the Atlanta Falcons speak on the field prior to the game against the at NRG Stadium on October 06, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 06: Thomas Dimitroff General Manager and Head coach Dan Quinn of the Atlanta Falcons speak on the field prior to the game against the at NRG Stadium on October 06, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

It’s no secret that the second half of the Atlanta Falcons 2019-20 season saved Dan Quinn’s job as head coach. After a 1-7 start, the Falcons went 6-2 to close things out.

But what should Atlanta Falcons fans realistically expect moving into next season?

When Arthur Blank made the decision to retain essentially all of the staff from this year, he was banking on one thing: that late-season momentum from last year will carry over. Though, that doesn’t always happen.

Each season is a new challenge, players move, new schemes are developed, free agents walk and teams start their chase of the most recent champion: in this case, the Kansas City Chiefs.

One thing that is for sure, is its playoffs or bust for Dan Quinn’s future at the helm. The Falcons cannot, with the likes and age of Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, and even Alex Mack, afford to miss the playoffs yet again. The championship window for this team is probably smaller now than it’s been since Matt Ryan was drafted.

The schedule won’t make next season easier either as the Falcons are set to take on the AFC West and NFC North. But the team’s regress. The Packers excelled in one-possession games, you can’t expect those same results this year.

Atlanta Falcons
A division championship should be the floor for what Quinn needs to accomplish in his prove it or lose it year. The Panthers have an entirely new regime coming in, the Bucs have a quarterback issue, and the Saints are more vulnerable now than in past seasons when they moved like a well-oiled machine. /

Two tough playoff losses truly wear on a team and aging Drew Brees should help Atlanta out. The Falcons will need at least 10 wins to get the division crown, a plus-three improvement from last year, but should aim for more if it means not having a road playoff game.

But Quinn needs to deliver more than that, short of an NFC Championship appearance next year, he will have failed this team and fan base. Both him and Thomas Dimitroff should know that, and if they don’t, this franchise is in deeper trouble than we want to believe.

Next. Falcons should trade Takk McKinley. dark

It’s not just playoffs or bust, it should be NFC Championship or nothing.

Home/Atlanta Falcons News