What did the Atlanta Falcons do to the football gods to deserve the schedule bestowed upon them entering the 2020-21 regular season? This is a team that went 7-9 SU a season ago. After granting season win total odds bettors that hit the over with a pair of ticket cashes in two of the prior three seasons, Dan Quinn and his staff once again succumbed to linemakers after failing to surpass their 9.5-game win total. Be that as it may, the front office and coaching staff were granted a reprieve due to closing the season out strong in winning six of their final eight games both SU and ATS. Even so, oddsmakers at online sportsbooks expect this franchise to more or less remain stuck in the mud with this year’s win total clocking in at 7.5-games for a second straight season. If you’re into that sort of thing, the Falcons boast what’s considered to be the toughest strength of schedule of any team when utilizing stats compiled from last season.
Atlanta Falcons Win Total Odds at BookMaker.eu
Falcons Over 7.5 Wins -114
Falcons Under 7.5 Wins -106
It was another season marred by injuries for the Falcons in 2019-20. The team got out to a wretched 1-7 SU start to immediately put themselves behind the proverbial 8-ball and never have a legit shot of competing for a postseason berth. Even so, the needle is pointed upwards to the fact that it closed the regular season out so strong. After dropping its first four road games at Minnesota, Indianapolis, Houston and Arizona by an average of over 10 points per game, the Falcons went on to defeat New Orleans, Carolina, San Francisco and Tampa Bay by an average of 14 points per game. Unfortunately, it cost itself a trip to the postseason by only managing a split their final eight home games against the Bucs, Saints, Panthers and Jaguars.
While it wasn’t great, Matt Ryan still went on to log a rock solid campaign in throwing for nearly 4,500 yards and a 26:14 TD/INT ratio. Ryan has alternated fantastic seasons with better than average ones dating back to the 2016-17 season. These are his QB ratings during that stretch: 117.1, 91.4, 108.1 and 92.1. Even at age 35, Ryan is still one of the best shot callers in the business, and he’ll once again be in line for a potential blowup fantasy campaign with No. 11 and No. 18 back at his disposal. Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley are arguably one of the best wide receiver duos in the league. Though the latter is yet to surpass the 1,000 yard receiving mark or surpass 10 receiving TD, his day is soon to come. Should it be in 2020-21, the Falcons will possess one of the best aerial attacks in the league; it ranked No. 3 last season.
The Achilles Heel of this franchise dating back to the second half collapse against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI has been the defense. The unit once again ranked out below average a season ago. It allowed over 355 yards per game (No. 20) to go along with nearly 25 points per game (No. 23). With the offense averaging a tick under 24 PPG, it came as no surprise to see the team log a second straight sub .500 record. Upper management hopes to have rectified its inability to defend the pass or get pressure on opposing quarterbacks with the selections of both Clemson’s CB A.J. Terrell and Auburn’s DT Marlon Davidson in the 2020 NFL Draft. How quickly those youngsters adapt to the speed of the NFL will go a long way in this wounded and ineffective unit turning it around. There’s no rest for the wary with three of their first four games slated to come against Russell Wilson, Dak Prescott and Aaron Rodgers. Nick Foles might not be a walk in the park either!
Atlanta Falcons Schedule
Week 1: Seahawks at Falcons, Sunday, September 13, 1 p.m. ET
Week 2: Falcons at Cowboys, Sunday, September 20, 1 p.m. ET
Week 3: Bears at Falcons, Sunday, September 27, 1 p.m. ET
Week 4: Falcons at Packers, Sunday, October 5, 8:15 p.m. ET
Week 5: Panthers at Falcons, Sunday, October 11, 1 p.m. ET
Week 6: Falcons at Vikings, Sunday, October 18, 1 p.m. ET
Week 7: Lions at Falcons, Sunday, October 25, 1 p.m. ET
Week 8: Falcons at Panthers, Thursday, October 29, 8:20 p.m. ET
Week 9: Broncos at Falcons, Sunday, November 8, 1 p.m. ET
Week 10: Bye Week
Week 11: Falcons at Saints, Sunday, November 22, 1 p.m. ET
Week 12: Raiders at Falcons, Sunday, November 29, 1 p.m. ET
Week 13: Saints at Falcons, Sunday, December 6, 1 p.m. ET
Week 14: Falcons at Chargers, Sunday, December 13, 4:25 p.m. ET
Week 15: Buccaneers at Falcons, Sunday, December 20, 1 p.m. ET
Week 16: Falcons at Chiefs, Sunday, December 27, 1 p.m. ET
Week 17: Falcons at Buccaneers, Sunday, December 29, 1 p.m. ET
Atlanta Falcons Schedule Analysis
The NFC South is going to be one of the toughest divisions in the league to navigate with Brees still calling the shots in the bayou and Brady now making his home in Tampa Bay. On top of that, the Falcons get the NFC North and AFC West out of divisional play to go along with games against Seattle and Dallas right out of the chute. While I like the additions of Todd Gurley in the backfield and Hayden Hurst at tight end to replace the departed Austin Hooper, offense hasn’t been the problem for the Falcons under the Quinn regime. Until the defense shows me it’s turned things around; and even more importantly, solved the riddle that’s been the injury bug, I have no reason to believe this franchise has it in them to surpass their season win total odds and compete with New Orleans and Tampa Bay for division supremacy.
NFL Betting Odds: Under 7.5 -106
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