NFL Win Totals Betting Preview: Atlanta Falcons
Can the Atlanta Falcons Improve in 2020?
Things did not get off to a good start for the 2019 Atlanta Falcons with a 1-7 record heading into the Week 9 bye. Those losses included a 21-point loss to Houston, a 27-point loss to the Rams and a 16-point loss to the Vikings. The season began to improve with a Week 10 upset win over the Saints and Atlanta went 6-2 in the second half of the season to finish 7-9.
No team attempted more passes than the Falcons 684 last year and they were third in the league in passing yards but 30th in rushing yards. The Falcons were also -5 in turnover margin with 15 interceptions and 10 fumbles lost according to scoresandstats.com. While Matt Ryan completed 66.2% of his passes for 4466 yards and 26 touchdowns, only one Falcons player ran for more than 350 yards on the season.
The defense was middle of the pack in most categories. They finished 15th in rushing yards allowed, 22nd in passing yards allowed and 23rd in points allowed. Desmond Trufant led the secondary with four interceptions while Vic Beasley tallied a team-high eight sacks.
Atlanta Falcons Offseason Summary
This has been a very busy offseason for GM Thomas Dimitroff trying to improve a seven-win team after owner Arthur Blank gave head coach Dan Quinn another shot. Dimitroff cut 2019 interception leader Trufant, OT Ty Sambrailo, sack leader Beasley, and rushing leader Devonta Freeman. Meanwhile 2019 tackle-leader LB De’Vondre Campbell (Cardinals) and TE Austin Hooper (Browns) walked during free agency.
Among the additions to the 2020 Falcons are former Rams DE Dante Fowler Jr. who got a three-year, $48 million deal and ex-Rams RB Todd Gurley who signed a one-year deal for $5 million. Fowler had a career-high 11.5 sacks in 2019 while also forcing two fumbles.
Dimitroff traded for Ravens TE Hayden Hurst and also signed Vikings WR Laquon Treadwell to a one-year deal. Meanwhile DL Tyeler Davison was given a three-year extension to his current Falcons deal after recording a career-high 55 tackles last season.
Atlanta made a splash in the draft on defense as they took Clemson DB A.J. Terrell with the 16th overall pick, hoping he can replace Trufant in the starting secondary. Round two saw DE Marlon Davidson who had 7.5 sacks with Auburn last season join the Falcons and team with Fowler. They later added LB Mykal Walker from Fresno State, S Jaylinn Hawkins from California and the only offensive selection was third-rounder Matt Hennessy, a center from Temple.
Atlanta Falcons 2020 Schedule
Week 1 Sunday September 13 v. Seattle
Week 2 Sunday September 20 at Dallas
Week 3 Sunday September 27 v. Chicago
Week 4 Monday October 4 at Green Bay
Week 5 Sunday October 11 v. Carolina
Week 6 Sunday October 18 at Minnesota
Week 7 Sunday October 25 v. Detroit
Week 8 Thursday October 29 at Carolina
Week 9 Sunday November 8 at Denver
Week 10 BYE
Week 11 Sunday November 22 at New Orleans
Week 12 Sunday November 29 v. Las Vegas
Week 13 Sunday December 6 v. New Orleans
Week 14 Sunday December 13 at LA Chargers
Week 15 Sunday December 20 v. Tampa Bay
Week 16 Sunday December 27 at Kansas City
Week 17Sunday January 3 at Tampa Bay
Verdict
With a win total of 7.5 the Falcons are tough to figure out in a playoff-or-bust season. The start and end to the Falcons schedule is not friendly. Trips to Dallas, Green Bay and Minnesota plus a home game with Seattle gives a tough five-game starting stretch. Atlanta comes out of the Week 10 Bye with two of three against the Saints and then close with a trip to Kansas City sandwiched by the two games against Tom Brady’s Buccaneers.
While the additions to the roster are nice the schedule is a tough one for the Falcons who will desperate to make the playoffs and save Quinn’s job. I don’t see them adding wins to last year’s total especially if they get off to another slow start.
Take the Under 7.5 Wins. Bet the UNDER 7.5 wins at our favorite pay per head bookie site www.RealBookies.com.
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