The Atlanta Falcons open their preseason Friday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium against Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos, and the early buzz around this team is already less than flattering.
For a fan base that hasn’t seen the playoffs in nine years, the latest preseason power rankings only add to the unease. In Nick Shook’s new NFL.com rankings, Atlanta checks in as the worst team in the NFC South and 25th overall in the league.
Shook didn’t exactly hide his hesitation. “This ranking illustrates my trepidation regarding Atlanta.
It's a team that has the talent to land higher than this, but also has already lost Jalon Walker to a season-ending injury and still doesn't have much clarity regarding its outlook under center. Michael Penix Jr. is still returning from his latest ACL repair, Tua Tagovailoa began camp with back issues, and the situation became so dire that Atlanta raced to the open market to bring in Cooper Rush in late July.
I like that the Falcons have options at QB, but I don't like the fact that neither option seems very viable at this stage...”
That’s a harsh read, but not an unreasonable one, especially with Walker’s season-ending injury hanging over Jeff Ulbrich’s defense.
There was at least a little bit of encouraging news this week on the quarterback front. Tagovailoa and Penix have both stood out to coaches and observers over the past few days of training camp, which marks the first positive attention both have received at the same time since Tagovailoa was signed back in March.
Even so, Penix still has not been cleared for 11-on-11 work, which leaves Tagovailoa in the lead by default for now. Atlanta’s outlook could change quickly if one of them starts to separate from the other. If not, that 25th-place ranking may not be far off the mark this season.
In Other News...
Falcons Rookie Hype Is Facing An Early Camp Reality Check
The first two weeks of Falcons training camp have offered a useful reminder that early buzz is only part of the story. Rookie receiver Zachariah Branch has flashed enough to keep attention on him, but his reps have not matched the excitement, and Atlanta has leaned more on veteran Olamide Zaccheus as it works through the slot picture. For a team trying to sort out its passing-game mix, that kind of pecking order can say plenty before the preseason even starts.
Zaccheus has been making the most of his opportunity in practice, while Branch is still fighting for a clearer lane into the offense. The wrinkle for both is schematic as much as personnel-driven, since the Falcons are expected to lean on looks that do not feature many three-receiver sets. That leaves Branch facing an early camp reality that is less about hype and more about earning the snaps that will decide how quickly he fits into the rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Preseason Debut Raised Two Early Concerns Fans Cant Ignore
The Falcons opened the preseason with a 27-7 loss to the Broncos, and the result came with a pair of familiar August concerns attached to it. Atlanta did get a first look at Tua Tagovailoa in game action, and the offense had a few moments of rhythm, with veteran receiver Chris Blair finishing as the teams leading receiver with 37 yards.
What stood out more, though, was how often Denver kept the Falcons from looking comfortable at the line of scrimmage. Atlantas pass rush had a hard time making life difficult for Jarrett Stidham, leaving the defense searching for answers after a night that offered more questions than encouraging signs. [Read more 🡒]
3 Falcons Enter Camp With Their Roster Spot On The Line
Training camp and the preseason tend to sharpen every little roster decision, and for the Falcons, that scrutiny has already landed on three players whose paths to the final roster are anything but secure. Jack Strand is in the mix at quarterback, while JD Bertrand and Bralen Trice are trying to show enough in live action to convince the coaching staff they belong when the roster starts coming into focus.
Preseason games are where those questions get answered, or at least clarified, and Atlanta will be watching all three closely as it sorts out who can help now and who might be the odd man out. Bertrand needs cleaner defensive play to keep himself from falling behind, Trice has to continue proving his value, and Strand is fighting for space at a position where every snap matters. [Read more 🡒]