Falcons have a QB problem & does Miami snag the Super Bowl ?

In Atlanta, the question of a starting quarterback was simply ignored, with Bijan Robinson coming in instead. Meanwhile in Miami: anticipation for Tua Tagovailoa and ambitions for the Super Bowl.

Atlanta Falcons

Strengths

The Falcons’ defense, in particular, has improved tremendously. S Jessie Bates, DT David Onyemata , LB Kaden Elliss, DT Calais Campbell, EDGE Bud Dupree and CB Jeff Okudah – important commitments, for the new season but also for the future of the franchise. On top of that, the Falcons have a very doable schedule ahead of them (initially, it’s mostly against rookie quarterbacks). It’s quite possible that Arthur Smith even wins the NFC South with his team. The head coach has access to a wealth of offensive talent aside from QB Desmond Ridder. We are excited about first-round pick Bijan Robinson, who will take the running game to another level.

Weaknesses

Desmond Ridder. For the Falcons, the biggest area of need is at the most important position of all. Ridder’s stats aren’t necessarily convincing, including ranking 42nd in yards per attempt. He hardly takes any risks and seems very robotic in his style of play. Especially the downfield passes caused big problems last season. Even though Atlanta throws the most, the team finished last in the league in passes over 15 yards. Kyle Pitts was the most affected, catching only 3 of 19 passes downfield, the lowest total in the NFL. You won’t find any absolute top stars in Atlanta, because the front office has concentrated on keeping key players. But that doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

Motto of the season: The Falcons have one of the youngest and most talented rosters in the NFL, but without a competitive quarterback, that won’t do much good.

Miami Dolphins

Strengths

The Dolphins were already a contender for the title in 2022/23, and this season at the latest, the Florida franchise MUST be on your radar. If Tua Tagovailoa (finally) stays fit, the Dolphins will be that much more dangerous both in the air and on the ground. He should also make sure to take a massive load off the defense. The trio of Hill, Waddle and Mostert should be able to make up for the departure of tight end Mike Gesicki without further problems. The defense saw arguably the biggest upgrade with the addition of cornerback Jalen Ramsey, while defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is also new. Fangio is considered one of the NFL’s craftiest playcallers, can draw on decades of experience and finds Miami a deep roster loaded with talent.

Weaknesses

The opponent’s tunrover rate needs to be increased, which is where Ramsey would need to help. No matter how strong their own offense may be, opponents must be prevented from scoring or it will be difficult to win the title this season as well. Expectations have been raised by the return of Tagovailoa and the signing of Ramsey, but will everyone be able to handle the pressure? Anything less than the Super Bowl would be a bitter disappointment for Miami.

Motto of the season: It’s now or never – if Miami’s most important players stay fit, anything really is possible.