28-3. We all have that image seared into our brains. That night and those memories are forever linked to Atlanta sports history. But it does not have to define it.
The Atlanta Falcons’ selection of Kyle Pitts fourth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft means one thing: the organization still has faith that this team can win.
Matt Ryan and Julio Jones will be tasked with leading the charge to incorporate Pitts into new Head Coach Arthur Smith’s offensive game plan. He will instantly become a vital piece to the puzzle in getting this team back to the playoffs and he must become just that if they are to have any shot at returning to another Super Bowl. The consequences of not doing so will be steep as the clock winds down on those two Hall-of-Farmer’s careers and the shadow they have cast on the organization over the last decade-plus.
Kyle Pitts is not just a talented football player, he now becomes a symbol of hope and optimism. His selection means that the team is going for it all one more time and that should make every Falcons fan excited. Should they have gone with Justin Fields or Mac Jones, that move would have symbolized the end of an era and the dawn of a new age of Atlanta football. Maybe that was the right move, but only time will tell. Those clamoring for the restart button must now clench their fists and wait for the Ryan-Jones era to come to an end.
Optimism is a powerful drug, but unfortunately the scars of 28-3 are equally potent. But one thing remains true at this moment: Arthur Smith, Terry Fontenot and Arthur Blank believe in this team, and so should we.
