Ranking the Falcons 2022 regular season games from easiest to hardest
10) Weeks 1 &15: vs. New Orleans Saints
If the Falcons can pull off a win at home against the Saints to kick off the season, then they and their fans will be riding high for at least 14 weeks. The fact that their two matchups with the Saints are so far apart is kind of crazy.
People think the Saints have a good chance to make the postseason but why do they think that? Who knows. They have a suspect quarterback coming off a significant injury while they also lost their head coach who ran the offense for 15 years. They replaced him with a coach who has eight wins in 36 career games as a head coach. That is horrendous. The team has holes and is overrated, we will leave it there.
9) Week 4: vs. Cleveland Browns
The Browns are a confusing team, to say the least. Deshaun Watson should be serving his six-game suspension during his team’s trip to his hometown, which is good news for the Falcons. The Falcons do not want him to come in a torch them, that would be embarrassing.
Without Watson the Browns have to find a quarterback to give them a chance, right now that seems like Jacoby Brissett.
The place you worry about the Falcons when they take on this team is on both of the lines. The Browns have good offensive and defensive lines.
Anyways, with Watson, the Browns likely rank a little bit higher on this list, but their offense presumably takes a huge hit without him.
8) Week 13: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Browns’ division rival might have a slightly better roster than them when they do not have their top quarterback.
The big thing about the Steelers is whether or not Kenny Pickett can lead a serviceable offense. He has weapons in Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, George Pickens, and Pat Freiermuth, while also being able to hand the ball to Najee Harris, who they will be relying on throughout the year.
The big issue for the Falcons in this game will be blocking T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward. It is not fun to think about especially knowing how we could have easily had Watt on our team.
The Falcons can win this game though as long as Marcus Mariota is able to scramble away from these star defensive linemen.
7) Week 17: vs. Arizona Cardinals
The difference between the Steelers and Cardinals is that the Cardinals have an established quarterback who could run right through the Falcons’ defense.
This is also a very pass-heavy team, which might play into the Falcons’ favor since they have two great cornerbacks.
Cardinals are a confusing team because they made the playoffs last season but they have hardly been talked about this offseason as a team that can potentially make the postseason. They might be better than people are expecting.