The Atlanta Falcons are on a roll right now. Fresh off a dominating 28-14 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, the team that many had prematurely buried before the season kicked off is sitting at 3-3 and tied atop the NFC South standings.
Former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver, and current ESPN analyst, Harry Douglas joined the Morning Show on Tuesday to discuss Sunday's game. Harry discussed the team's blossoming identity that has been forming under second-year head coach Arthur Smith and the growing belief that this team could further exceed expectations with a playoff berth come January.
John Fricke asked Harry Douglas straight up, does he believe that the Atlanta Falcons are a potential contender for the playoffs in 2022?
"I don't think you can ignore it, I believe so," Douglas replied to Fricke. "I went on [ESPN's] Keyshawn, JWill, and Max yesterday and I told him at the end of the show, 'Hey, give the focus some love because they deserve it'."
The Atlanta Falcons are currently on the bubble in the NFC's playoff picture, slated directly behind last year's first overall Green Bay Packers (3-3) as the ninth-placed team overall.
So what changed so quickly for a team projected by some to win as few as two games this season?
Simply put, the team found its identity with a hard-nosed rushing attack and a physical brand of football that punishes its opponents on the ground. Behind a vastly improved offensive line, the Falcons are third in the NFL in both rushing yards (991) and touchdowns (eight), while second in attempts (202).
The defense, while still not where Dean Pees wants it to be, is playing an opportunistic and physical brand of football as well. Grady Jarrett is a menace on the interior of the defensive line and the linebackers have stepped up their game with elevated play from newcomer Rashaan Evans and rookie Troy Andersen.
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But ultimately, according to Harry Douglas, it all comes back to head coach Arthur Smith, "When you have all these pieces to the puzzle and then you have a head coach that understands the game of football from a standpoint in which he played, a standpoint in which he's smart as hell, and from a standpoint in which he's going to put his players in position to succeed. He exploits their strengths and not their weaknesses.
"Of course, I believe they're playoff team."