3 Players the Atlanta Falcons missed in the 2022 season

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Nov 28, 2022; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Ryan (2) walks off the field following the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Matt Ryan

Matt Ryan struggled in Indy and Atlanta clearly won the trade gaining a draft pick and escaping the contract a year earlier. However, there is no denying how much Ryan’s ability as a passer and his leadership were missed in Atlanta. It is hard to believe with Matt Ryan under center instead of Mariota the Falcons don’t win the NFC South with an improved rushing attack and a great young receiver who was underutilized due to Mariota’s inabilities.

Ryan lacks the elite scrambling ability Mariota brought to the table but the veteran’s ability to complete basic passes would have offset the loss and greatly improved the offense. Ryan is the third straight quarterback to be one and done in Indy and clearly wasn’t the same player.

Even if it is simply age Atlanta would have been better off with that version of Ryan than Mariota. In a system, he was familiar with and continuing his career with the team that drafted him Ryan’s numbers would have been far better and Atlanta could have been a more serious playoff contender.

Instead, the Falcons opted for long-term gain over short-term pain and parted ways with Ryan. A move that while seemed to be the right decision hurt Atlanta in the immediate, and puts the pressure on Desmond Ridder or the Atlanta front office to find a long-term answer.

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