The Atlanta Falcons have a big test coming on Sunday. The test, however, is amongst themselves and not their opponent in the Tennessee Titans. The Falcons are out to prove that they are a true division leader and have the right players at the right positions needed to make noise come playoff time. The Titans come into this matchup battered and bruised after trading away their top safety in Kevin Byard and rumors swirling around several of their other stars being up for grabs before Tuesday’s trade deadline.
The Falcons need to win this game in convincing fashion to stave off the many doubters that continue to question Coach Arthur Smith’s commitment to Desmond Ridder as the team’s signal caller. If Ridder can have a bounce-back performance it will go a long way to silencing a lot of that criticism and allow fans to feel much more comfortable about their chances of winning a division title.
There are not many teams remaining on the Falcons’ schedule that should provide a true test. All of the divisional opponents are having down seasons and the non-conference teams are a mixed bag at best. A playoff berth could hinge in a battle against the Saints at the end of the season when the teams meet twice to put a bow on the 2023 campaign.
