We’re just over a week away from the Falcons season opener against the New Orleans Saints with the matchup fitting into a theme shaping up throughout Atlanta’s schedule. Dennis Allen is now in charge in the Big Easy with Sean Payton’s absence and the health of Jamies Winston bringing somewhat of an unknown quotient to the rival Saints.
While the Falcons aren’t expected to win a plethora of games in 2022, matchups with the Deshaun Watson-less Browns, the Baker Mayfield-led Panthers as well other teams with question marks at the quarterback position in the 49ers, Commanders and Steelers offer some intrigue throughout the slate. In addition to Allen, the Falcons will also take on first-year head coaches in Tampa and Chicago.
With plenty of unknowns littered throughout the schedule, Dylan Matthews, host of 92.9 The Game’s Hometown Take, offered his opinion that anywhere between 4-6 wins with this difficult schedule would represent a “productive” season in his book.
“If this team, with this schedule, finds a way to rack up between 4-6 wins, I think we’re doing something right. Even if your wins are the Carolina Panthers, the Chicago Bears, the Washington Commanders, the Pittsburgh Steelers, maybe you split against the ‘Aints,’ you beat some quality football teams. And, if you get another one against the Seahawks…The Seahawks game is truly the only “gimmie” game the Falcons have,” Matthews said.
Atlanta has plenty of 'unknowns' of its own as someone other than Matt Ryan is under center for the first time in 14 years along with questions in the trenches on both sides of the ball. It's up to newcomers like Marcus Mariota at quarterback and draft picks like DE Arnold Ebiketie to help answer those questions in Atlanta with the help of a laundry list of new faces on the roster.
The Falcons managed to win 7 games in Arthur Smith’s first season at the helm, but Matthews said the team can still take a step forward despite winning fewer games in 2022 due to the difficult nature of the schedule.