Atlanta Falcons: The team will improve in 2021 but not by much

There is a lot of hope and belief from those inside Flowery Branch that the Atlanta Falcons could win this year and make the playoffs.

While Atlanta Falcons fans are highly skeptical given what has transpired over the last several years, there is some optimism given the coaching and front office changes. However, what is realistic for the franchise in 2021?

Fans across every sports league in the world enter the season hopeful that this is the year their team could turn it around and make a fool of every expert that proclaims their team won’t be good. The Falcons were that team in 2016 when they found themselves in the Super Bowl.

They won’t be that team this year.

Atlanta Falcons will be improved in 2021

While the Atlanta Falcons certainly will not find themselves in the NFC Championship game this season, they certainly will improve upon their four-win season from 2020. Coaching alone should see them improve a game or two.

But the question becomes, what is realistic for the 2021 Atlanta Falcons?

Facing the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Giants, and Jets as well as the three usual NFC South teams doesn’t scare a lot of people.

However, in the first year of a new offense, the Atlanta Falcons and quarterback Matt Ryan have struggled often. They will improve upon their four wins from a year ago but that doesn’t mean they are going to compete for a playoff spot.

Looking around this roster, there are reasons to be worried, specifically when you talk about the running backs, offensive line, and defensive line. There are some individually talented pieces like Chris Lindstrom and Grady Jarrett but they aren’t great units.

As good as Mike Davis was in 2020, he is a career backup running back who is going to be the starting running heading into camp back for the first time since essentially, he was in college. That is nerve-wracking.

We will look back on the 2021 Atlanta Falcons and see they were a 7-win team that will pick somewhere between 12-18 in the 2022 NFL draft. An improvement from 2020 but they won’t be the surprise team of 2021.