Bold predictions for 2022: Falcons have pair of 1,000-yd receivers?
First bold prediction: Falcons QB Marcus Mariota turns in career-high numbers, wins NFL Comeback Player of the Year
This is a two-part bold prediction for a player the Falcons need to step up in a big way if they want to have a shot at the playoffs.
Starting with the first part where Marcus Mariota sets career-highs in major statistics for quarterbacks.
This prediction will be that Mariota breaks his season-highs in passing yards, completion percentage, touchdown passes, yards per completion, QBR, games started, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns.
Let’s take a quick look at what his career highs are in each of those stats:
- Passing yds: 3,426 in 2016
- Completion %: 68.9% in 2018
- Passing TDs: 26 in 2016
- Y/C: 12.7 in 2019 (Doesn’t count 2020 due to snap count)
- QBR: 95.6 in 2016
- Games started: 15 in 2016 & 2017
- Rushing yds: 357 in 2018
- Rushing TDs: 5 in 2017
Every single one of those stats is achievable, but it won’t be easy in his first year with the Falcons.
The two most difficult will be the completion percentage and yards per completion as those are high marks for him. Consider that Matt Ryan in his career with Atlanta only had two seasons with a completion percentage exceeding 68.9%. and two seasons with more than 12.7 yards per completion.
If he can manage to be efficient and take advantage of play action, then he certainly can get it done. After all, he has had numerous games in his career with ridiculously high completion percentages and yards per completion.
The second part of the prediction is that he will hear his name called during the NFL Honors in February.
He has not had a season with more than six starts in four years now, so if he has a big year then he will be a top candidate to take home Comeback Player of the Year.