Atlanta Falcons: 2021 has the potential to be record setting

New Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot has said several times publicly that he believes this team can win in 2021. While fans would disagree given the last three seasons, it isn’t out of the question.

We all know the issues that this Atlanta Falcons team has, specifically along the offensive and defensive lines and it got worse on day two of camp as Kaleb McGary joined Matt Gono on the PUP list.

But what if the roster, constructed as is, was able to put it together and find a way to win under the new coaching staff? Both Arthur Smith and Dean Pees have a history of winning and while the current Atlanta Falcons roster isn’t stacked with elite talent, there are certainly plenty of pieces currently in place.

Biggest turnarounds in Atlanta Falcons history

If the 2021 version of the Atlanta Falcons were to end the three-year playoff drought, it would more than likely be because the team had one of the biggest one-season turnarounds in franchise history.

Since their inception, the Falcons have had five instances where they improved by at least five games from the prior year.

• 1980: +6 from 1979
• 1990: +5 from 1989
• 1998: +7 from 1997 (made the Super Bowl)
• 2004: +6 from 2003
• 2008: +7 from 2007

In all five of those instances, the Atlanta Falcons made the playoffs.

While all early indications are the Falcons will have an easier schedule than in 2020, that assumption is simply based on where teams finished in 2020.

If those assumptions are true, there is reason to believe that the Falcons could potentially increase their win total anywhere from six to eight games compared to last season.

If that were to happen, not only would Fontenot and Smith be hailed as heroes, the season would be one of the greatest turnarounds in franchise history but 2021 would go down as one of the greatest chapters in franchise history.