2013 NFL Preview: Atlanta Falcons

Super Bowl Expectations in the Dirty South

It’s Super Bowl or bust for the Falcons in 2013. (Credit Opertinicy)

It’s Super Bowl or bust for the Atlanta Falcons in 2013, and the Dirty Birds welcome the challenge.

The 2013 NFL season marks the 15th anniversary of the Falcons’ last appearance in the Super Bowl, and the team is fully stocked for a run through the NFC playoffs. To get there, however, Matt Ryan and company must navigate the treacherous NFC South, which includes the revitalized New Orleans Saints, beefed-up Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and hungry Carolina Panthers.

After an ignominious exit in last season’s NFC Championship game that saw the Falcons blow a sizable lead to the San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta still has a sour taste in its mouth. Tony Gonzalez forestalled his retirement for one more season in an attempt to reach the promised land. Steven Jackson and Osi Umenyiora joined the franchise in the offseason, and the team looks loaded and ready. The question is – did the Falcons miss their window last year?

Atlanta Falcons: 2012 NFL ranks

Team record: 13-3 (1st in NFC South)

Total offensive rank: 8th (6th pass, 29th rush)

Total defensive rank: 24th (23rd pass, 21st rush)

2013 Atlanta Falcons: offensive preview

The Falcons re-signed Matt Ryan to a long-term extension this offseason, ensuring Matty Ice will remain in Atlanta for the foreseeable future. Ryan still has a tremendous group of skill players to work with, including the talented WR tandem of Julio Jones and Roddy White, as well as the ageless Tony Gonzalez at TE.

Michael Turner is gone at running back, and in his place is former St. Louis Rams standout Steven Jackson. Jackson, long considered a great player on a mediocre team, now gets the chance to showcase his skills on a greater offense. S-Jax will be called upon to do something Atlanta couldn’t last year; punch the ball in effectively from inside the 10-yard line. Jackson will be spelled by the versatile Jacquizz Rodgers and Jason Snelling in the backfield.

2013 Atlanta Falcons: defensive preview

The Falcons offense spotted their defense a 17-point lead in the NFC Championship game last season – a lead which the defense could not hold. Simply put, if Atlanta’s base 4-3 defensive unit does not improve on its 2012 performance, the Falcons will likely suffer the same fate in 2013.

As a result, the Falcons spent 6 of their 8 2013 NFL Draft picks on defense. Their first 2 picks were a pair of cornerbacks, Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford. Trufant is currently slated to start opposite Asante Samuel. The front seven remains generally intact; John Abraham was not re-signed over the 2013 NFL free agency period and was replaced by former New York Giants DE Osi Umenyiora.

2013 Atlanta Falcons: schedule, and navigating the NFC South

The Atlanta Falcons open the season on the road in New Orleans before returning home to host the Rams. From there, it’s 3 straight games against the AFC East (at Miami, home vs. New England and the New York Jets), before their Week 6 bye.

The Falcons’ out-of-division schedule features some tough sledding: the aforementioned Patriots, as well as the Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins. Luckily for the Falcons, 3 of those 5 games are at home.

It will be critical for Atlanta to maintain a winning record vs. the NFC South, as the rest of the division has seemingly improved over the offseason. An 11-5 record should be enough to get the Falcons to the 2013 NFL playoffs, which is the least of their goals. From there, we will see if the Atlanta Falcons celebrate the 15th anniversary of their last Super Bowl appearance with another one – and this time, perhaps a victory.

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