Atlanta Falcons weak spots will be put to the test early

Atlanta Falcons weak spots will be put to the test early against the Seahawks.

One could easily make the argument that the Atlanta Falcons have the toughest schedule to start the season. It’s a double-edged sword for the Falcons as they could easily go 0-3 and most fans would settle for 2-1.

But the beauty in the schedule is every game will test a weakness the Falcons had at some point last year or that’s been lingering for the past few seasons. Let’s take a quick look at the first three games.

Falcons vs. Seahawks Week 1

Russell Wilson has been a mainstay in the MVP conversation. He’s mobile, can throw downfield, and puts a lot of stress on your defense. Just how well will the Falcons be able to contain him? Well, it’s time to see what this pass rush game is all about. Atlanta has two defensive ends, whose biggest value is speed. We’ll quickly learn if Takk McKinley is about that life and see if Dante Fowler is serious about breaking Michael Strahan’s sack record.

Also, the Seahawks have an absolute monster at receiver in DK Metcalf. Talk about testing the secondary and their discipline, rest assured Seattle will be taking some deep shots early against this team.

Falcons at Cowboys Week 2

One name: Ezekiel Elliott. He is a premier back in this league and if there is an area where the Falcons fall short on defense, it’s size upfront. Quinn prides himself on speed and players being able to get from sideline to sideline. That can make for a tough time containing downhill, power running.

The last time Atlanta faced Dallas in 2018, Ezekiel Elliott ate them up for 122 yards rushing and 79 receiving. Stopping the power run game should be a point of emphasis headed into their week two tilt and we’ll see if Grady Jarrett and Co. are up to the task.

Falcons vs. Bears Week 3

Forget the drama surrounding the Bears offense and Mitch Trubisky. They still have Khalil Mack. One of the top two pass rushers in the National Football League. Mack has disrupted entire offensive game plans on his own and the Falcons should expect him to do the same this year.

They get a pass in not having to see Von Miller this year (unfortunately due to injury) or Jadeveon Clowney, as Seattle let him walk.

But Mack is a game-changer in both rushing the quarterback and the run game. The Falcons offensive line has as many questions as an interrogation room. And if we don’t learn anything about how much Alex Mack has left in the tank, or whether it’s time to move on from Jake Matthews or even how last year’s first-round picks will pan out, Falcons fans will learn this game.