The Atlanta Falcons will be rebuilding in 2022 and will not be in contention for a playoff spot. Former Heisman Trophy quarterback Marcus Mariota will be under center for the Falcons. They will struggle in a rugged division featuring the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints. Atlanta will be evaluating a bevy of young players this season and is projected to finish in the NFC South cellar this year. We’d expect the Falcons to be underdogs when it comes to betting on NFL games for the bulk of their 2022-23 campaign.
Head coach Arthur Smith returns for his second season and will oversee a franchise that plans to develop a large group of young players over the next few years. The Falcons square off against the New Orleans Saints in the season-opening matchup before hitting the road to battle the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks.
The Falcons began the 2021 season with three setbacks in their first four games but rebounded to post a 6-7 record over their final 13 games to finish the year with a 7-10 record. However, Atlanta failed to qualify for the postseason for the fourth consecutive season.
Running back Cordarrelle Patterson enjoyed a breakout season last year and will form a potent rushing attack with Mariota. Tight end Kyle Pitts and rookie wide receiver Drake London will be Mariota's favorite targets when he puts the ball into the air.
Veteran defensive end Grady Jarrett and linebackers Lorenzo Carter, Adetokunbo Ogundeji, Arnold Ebiketie, and DeAngelo Malone will provide the Falcons with a much-needed pass rush this season. Cornerbacks A.J. Terrell and Casey Hayward Jr. are the main pieces of a promising secondary, including safeties Richie Grant and Jaylinn Hawkins.
The Falcons joined the NFL in 1965 as an expansion team and became the 15th NFL franchise. Atlanta's inaugural season was in 1966, and their first victory came on the road against the New York Giants in Yankee Stadium.
The Falcons had their first Monday Night Football game in Atlanta during the 1970 season, qualified for the playoffs for the first time in 1978, and won the Wild Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The home field of the Falcons is Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a $1.6 billion multi-purpose stadium with artificial turf that has a capacity of 71,000.
Atlanta's two most significant rivalries in recent years are the Saints and the Carolina Panthers. The Falcons lead the all-time series with New Orleans, 54-53, but the Saints have won eight of the past ten meetings. Atlanta leads the all-time series with Carolina, 34-20, and has won 10 of the past 13 meetings.
