The 2021 NFL regular season is almost upon us and Atlanta Falcons fans are ready for it to get underway as the front office might have actually put the Falcons in a position to win. The swap of Qadree Ollison for explosive reserve Wayne Gallman is proof that Terry Fontenot is ready and willing to do whatever is needed in order to win. While Arthur Smith, Dave Ragone, and Dean Pees formulate their game plan for the Falcons Week 1 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, fans can take a broader look at the 2021 season. Here is an Atlanta Falcons regular season prediction for the 2021 season.
Atlanta Falcons Regular Season Record Prediction for the 2021 Season
Overall Prediction
(9-8), (3-3) in Division
In their current state, the Falcons will win nine of their 17 games and go .500 in their divisional games. One factor for this will be their strength of schedule not being very difficult.
This season Atlanta has three road games against teams with young or developing quarterbacks (at the New York Giants, Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers). These games will give the defense a better chance of performing well in hostile environments, which can spark the offense if times get rough.
They have only one instance of back-to-back home games, and one of them is not an actual home game. The Falcons will head to London to play against Zach Wilson and the New York Jets. The rest of their homes games are pocketed between two or three road games at a time, which will make it difficult for the Falcons to fully enjoy the advantage of playing at home. Though, games against the Eagles, the rebuilding New England Patriots, and woeful Detroit Lions highlight a subpar home schedule.
The NFC South
Within the division, they will split the six games against their familiar foes. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a tier above the rest in the NFC, not just the Falcons. Therefore, another sweep is expected from their two meetings as the Falcons reload their roster. The Carolina Panthers signed former Jets quarterback Sam Darnold in the off-season. His time in New York was known for terrible coaching and Darnold “seeing ghosts.” This season with Carolina is a second chance for him to make his mark in the NFL. With Darnold, there is no telling what his production can or will be. Prior experience tells Falcons fans that it is not a concern. The Panthers defense did make improvements throughout games but not enough to change the outcome of close contests. The Falcons have a good chance of sweeping Carolina.
The New Orleans Saints have been a thorn in the side of the Atlanta Falcons for years. The 2021 NFL season will be no different, but for a different reason. As recent history would suggest, the Saints have had a sizable advantage against the Falcons, with a 7-1 record in the last eight meetings of the two teams. But there was one key that held that team together, Drew Brees. However, it turns out that even without Brees, the Saints can find a way to win, as they swept Atlanta outright last year with Taysom Hill at quarterback. But this is a better Atlanta team, and the Saints have seemed a tad dysfunctional going into the season. New Orleans will now have Jameis Winston under center and the Falcons and Saints will split their two matchups.
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Potential Turning Point
There is a particular game that could make or break the Atlanta Falcons season. That game is the aforementioned November 7th game on the road against the New Orleans Saints. With early estimated wins against Philly, both New York teams, Carolina, and a shocker against Miami, the Falcons can roll into this game with a shocking 5-2 record. With 50/50 games like the one on the road against the Dallas Cowboys and at home against the Patriots, a win against the Saints would get the Falcons to four games over .500 and that would be massive. The importance of the game against the Saints is especially true given the Falcons final six games include matchups against two Super Bowl contenders in the Bucs and the Buffalo Bills and a team in the 49ers whose roster stacks up very well versus the Falcons.
All in all, a 9-8 record is a great way to end the first year in the Arthur Smith era. It is even better when considering the salary cap gymnastics that were necessary to put a team together this off-season. A 9-8 record is an indication that the Falcons are indeed taking off in the right direction.
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