Where do the Atlanta Falcons fall in NFC South in 2023?

1. Atlanta Falcons

What isn’t to love about the 2023 Atlanta Falcons? For the first time since early in Matt Ryan’s tenure as a starter the Falcons clearly have young talent, a running back, defensive building blocks, great draft picks, and immense cap space. The only reason to believe there is a low ceiling on this team is if you don’t believe Ridder is capable of playing at the level Mariota did this past season.

Mariota’s level of play with an off-season of development and free agency adds is more than enough to push Atlanta into a division title. The ease of their schedule and the lack of clear competition from the division makes Atlanta the odds-on favorite to win the division and host a playoff game next year.

Arthur Smith has an argument as the best coach in the division with Dennis Allen and Todd Bowles both struggling and the Carolina Panthers still deciding who will lead the team next season. Desmond Ridder doesn’t have to accomplish all that much in this offense considering the young weapons around him and the amount of talent Atlanta can now bring in throughout the off-season.  Barring an unforeseen blockbuster move from within the division Atlanta should be viewed as the team to beat in 2023 and has a great chance to win the NFC South.