Atlanta Falcons 2012-2013 NFL Futures Lines & Predictions
Once again the Falcons made the playoffs last season, but flamed out in the playoffs. Matt Ryan leads a great pass offense and the rushing offense is solid, but the defense may be an issue again this season in Atlanta.
2012 Atlanta Falcons Team Preview /Predictions
2011 Record: 10-6
ATS Record: 7-8-1
2012 Falcons Futures
Super Bowl Odds: 25-1
Conference Odds: 12-1
NFC South Odds: +140
2012-2013 NFL Regular Season Wins: 9.5 wins
Falcons Preview
Ryan had a great campaign last season throwing for a career high in yards and he has one of the most explosive WR’s in the game in Julio Jones and Roddy White, who has 215 catches in the last 2 seasons. Jones had some injuries last season and with White no spring chicken Jones has to step up this season. On top of that White led all WR’s last season in drops (15).
Ryan still has the ageless Tony Gonzalez at TE and the Falcons’ pass offense may be on of the best in the league this upcoming season.
Michael Turner had 1,340 rushing yards last season, but struggled down the stretch with only 1 game in his last 7 averaging more than 3.6 yards per carry. Jacquizz Rodgers has to help him out and these guys are the only legit rushers for the Falcons. The offensive line is a good one and they drafted OT Peter Konz in the 2nd round and he was a projected first round pick.
The Falcons’ defense got a big shot in the off-season when Atlanta landed free agent Asante Samuel and he will be counted on to anchor a pass defense that only ranked 20th in the league last season. William Moore is a solid SS, but he has missed 18 games in his 3 years in the league.
While Samuel was a big free name addition this season last season’s addition in Ray Edwards was a bust. He only had 3.5 sacks last season and he has to put more pressure on the QB this season, especially if the secondary struggles again. John Abraham had 9.5 sacks last season, but he is 34 and can he repeat that performance?
Overall, the Falcons’ run defense was pretty solid last season ranking 8th in the league. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The one big loss for Atlanta was Curtis Lofton, who led the team in tackles last season and he left in free agency. He will be missed and to throw salt in the wound he signed with NFC South rival New Orleans.
As a Falcons’ starter Matt Ryan is 26-5 in the Georgia Dome, but he needs to get it done in the playoffs, which he has not been able to do.
Besides the Saints and the Giants the Falcons do not have a tough home schedule, but they have a tough away schedule, obviously, facing the Saints in the Big Easy as well as the Chiefs, Chargers, Redskins, Eagles, and Lions.
Since the Falcons gave up so much a little over a year ago to get Jones they did not have a first round pick and they used their 2nd and 3rd round picks to upgrade their offensive line.
Atlanta has the pass offense and Turner is a solid back, but there are still questions for the Falcons. Can Samuel and Edwards play up to potential and help the defense? Can the Falcons’ pass defense keep legit opposing legit QB’s from shredding them? And the big question is can Ryan finally lead the Falcons to any post-season success?
2012 Falcons Predictions:
Place they’ll finish in NFC South 2nd
Place they’ll finish in NFC Conference: 6th
Over/Under Wins Prediction: Over
