3 vital keys for an Atlanta Falcons victory in week one of 2022

Jan 9, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Tre'Quan Smith (10) runs against Atlanta Falcons safety Duron Harmon (21) after a catch during the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Tre'Quan Smith (10) runs against Atlanta Falcons safety Duron Harmon (21) after a catch during the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Atlanta Falcons
Dec 6, 2020; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive end Steven Means (55) sacks New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill (7) during the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

The third key for the Atlanta Falcons is for the defense to leave it all on the field

If you are the Atlanta Falcons, and more specifically Dean Pees, you need to play a boom-or-bust style defense.

What is worse than losing? Losing via death by a thousand cuts. Last season, this defense did not give up many big plays but they were still among the worst in the league, teams just chipped away at them, and this year that needs to change.

Send six, send seven, send however many you need to get heavy pressure on a boom-or-bust quarterback in Jameis Winston. If you pressure him, he can unravel, he has proven to be a player that will throw the ball away at a consistent rate, so force the issue.

You have two elite outside cornerbacks in A.J. Terrell and Casey Hayward, trust them, they can cover the best in the league and the Saints also have injuries at wide receiver.

The giant question for this defense is obviously their pass rush, so just send more than they can block, if you get beat, you get beat, but at least you didn’t allow them to bully you around. It just makes sense for Dean Pees to consistently send the house.

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