Written by Sam DeCoste
I don't think anybody saw a run to the Super Bowl coming for the 2016 Atlanta Falcons. But their season outlook for 2017 is especially hard to predict considering the magnitude of their loss in Super Bowl LI to New England.
It seemed that Atlanta was destined to win their first Super Bowl, and send shockwaves all over the NFL, as they looked superior over the Patriots for three quarters. But Tom Brady led the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history at their expense, and now it is time for Atlanta to respond to adversity. How will they do it?
On paper, Atlanta has the best offense in the league. With backs like Devontae Freeman and Tevin Coleman in the backfield, with wideouts Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu, and Taylor Gabriel on the perimeter, and with the offensive line led by Alex Mack, reigning league MVP, Matt Ryan, has plenty of weapons in his arsenal to have another great season. But it's not that easy.
It was Kyle Shanahan's offense. Shanahan may have been the greatest offensive coordinator in recent history, but now he is the head coach in San Francisco. The Falcons will miss him.
Now the Falcons bring in Steve Sarkisian, former offensive coordinator for the Alabama Crimson Tide. With this hire come many questions. Will he be an effective coordinator at the pro level? Will he be able to utilize the weapons at his disposal effectively to dominate defenses again? Can he do half of what Shannahan managed to do in his tenure? We won't know until games are played.
It seemed that Atlanta was destined to win their first Super Bowl, and send shockwaves all over the NFL, as they looked superior over the Patriots for three quarters. But Tom Brady led the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history at their expense, and now it is time for Atlanta to respond to adversity. How will they do it?
On paper, Atlanta has the best offense in the league. With backs like Devontae Freeman and Tevin Coleman in the backfield, with wideouts Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu, and Taylor Gabriel on the perimeter, and with the offensive line led by Alex Mack, reigning league MVP, Matt Ryan, has plenty of weapons in his arsenal to have another great season. But it's not that easy.
It was Kyle Shanahan's offense. Shanahan may have been the greatest offensive coordinator in recent history, but now he is the head coach in San Francisco. The Falcons will miss him.
Now the Falcons bring in Steve Sarkisian, former offensive coordinator for the Alabama Crimson Tide. With this hire come many questions. Will he be an effective coordinator at the pro level? Will he be able to utilize the weapons at his disposal effectively to dominate defenses again? Can he do half of what Shannahan managed to do in his tenure? We won't know until games are played.
It's very possible that 2016 was a fluke for the Falcons. 2015 was clearly a fluke for Carolina. The Panthers went 15-1 in 2015, and they appeared to be a team on the rise. But following a Super Bowl 50 loss to the Denver Broncos, the Panthers lost 10 games the next season, finishing 6-10. Could it happen to Atlanta?
Atlanta is destined for one of two fates. One possible fate for the Falcons is utter, internal destruction. The loss in the Super Bowl sets the franchise back for years. The squandered opportunity at a championship deflates the entire organization, and destroys the potential for superstars like Devontae Freeman, Julio Jones, Vic Beasley, Deion Jones, and Keanu Neal. How could a team possibly come back and succeed after their heartbreaking February? A Super Bowl season from 2016 turns into a 6, maybe 7 win season, and the Falcons go from the promise land to the couch.
Or, Atlanta could respond with resilience and come back better than ever before. Matt Ryan wins the MVP again. Julio Jones catches passes for over 1,800 yards, and destroys defensive game plans all season long. The defense plays significantly better in 2017. Vic Beasley leads the league in sacks again, and the unit as a whole leads the league in takeaway differential. Instead of the number two seed, Atlanta paves the path to Super Bowl LII through their new dome. And this time, the Falcons finish the job.
I would love to see the Falcons be good again. Last year was great for Atlanta. But they have to have successful seasons like last year consistently to establish themselves as a contender in the league. And in perhaps the toughest division in the entire NFL, Atlanta will have to earn their way back to the playoffs.
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