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The Atlanta Falcons will undergo some major changes in 2022. Namely, Matt Ryan will not be the Falcons starting quarterback as he has been for the past 14 years. Atlanta shipped Ryan off to Indianapolis for a number of draft picks to help rebuild the franchise.
The Falcons managed to win seven games last year despite a 1-3 start. They won just three times over their final nine games and now they have to start a season without what is likely a Hall of Fame quarterback by the time he’s done. Do the Falcons have enough pieces to put together a better season than 2021?
Atlanta Falcons Regular Season Win Total Betting Lines
OVER 4.5 (-120)
UNDER 4.5 (+100)
Last Season
As mentioned, Atlanta started 1-3 last season but won three of its next four. Then, the Falcons became an NFL punching bag. In successive weeks, they lost to Dallas and New England by a combined score of 68-3. Then came the 3-6 finish.
There were some bright spots like TE Kyle Pitts who caught 68 passes for 1,026 yards in his rookie season. For the most part though, the Falcons 2021 season was a loss. That showed in the offseason when the team decided to trade Ryan.
Falcons Key Losses Heading Into 2022
There was no bigger loss than Ryan who threw for nearly 60,000 yards in 14 seasons in Atlanta. He won a league MVP in 2016 and took the Falcons to a Super Bowl. The Falcons also lost a lot of depth at various positions including running back where Mike Davis is now in Baltimore. WR Russell Gage moves over to Tampa Bay and LB Dante Fowler Jr., a former first-round draft pick, is now in Dallas.
2022 Atlanta Falcons Team Preview
It will be a different look for the Falcons this year. They picked up Marcus Mariota in the offseason and he’ll start at quarterback. Behind him will be third-round draft pick Desmond Ridder. They will have Pitts to throw to as well as rookie WR Drake London.
The defense has to improve by leaps and bounds. The pass rush produced a league-low of 18 sacks. Atlanta has to pressure the quarterback. Rookie LB Arnold Ebiketie was drafted because of his ability to rush the passer. If the Falcons don’t improve on defense, giving up 27 points a game like they did in 2021 is going to translate into another awful season.
2022 Atlanta Falcons Schedule
Atlanta will have Tampa Bay twice this season. New Orleans and Carolina might provide a win or two. The rest of the schedule is not favorable. The Falcons will play the NFC West, arguably the best division in the conference. Then, Atlanta crosses over to face the AFC North. That’s probably the most difficult division in the AFC besides the West.
Ten of the Falcons 17 opponents this season had a winning record last year. Two more opponents went 8-9 last year. The schedule gods were not very forgiving to Atlanta this season.
2022 Falcons Regular Season Win Total Prediction
With a schedule like that, it’s going to be difficult for Atlanta to win games. The Falcons lack an elite quarterback now and the defense is awful. The upgrades that were made on defense just will not be enough. There is absolutely no way the Falcons repeat last year and getting to five wins? Not this year.
PICK: ATLANTA FALCONS UNDER 4.5 (+100)
Read our 2022 Panthers win total prediction and 2022 49ers win total prediction.
