With the season kicking off in a couple of days, it’s time to etch our predictions in the blog stones. Today, we’re taking a crack at season records for the Atlanta Falcons, team MVP, offensive and defensive player of the year, and explaining our rationale.
We welcome you to share your picks, too, if you’ve got ‘em burning a hole in your pocket.
Tre’Shon Diaz
Record: 9-8
MVP: Bijan Robinson
OPOY: Drake London
DPOY: Jessie Bates
Aaron Freeman
Record: 9-8
MVP: Michael Penix
OPOY: Drake London
DPOY: Jessie Bates
While Bijan Robinson is
the best player on the roster, I don’t think it’ll be as obvious by the end of this season due to concerns about the offensive line and run game given right tackle Kaleb McGary’s absence. Thus, I think the Falcons’ offensive success will be much more reliant on their passing attack, which will be effective thanks to Michael Penix and Drake London.
Defensively, Bates is their best player and his value should be on display with his ability to create turnovers thanks to the improvements made up front, making it easier for his aggressive style to flourish.
Cory Woodroof
Record: 7-10
MVP: Bijan Robinson
OPOY: Drake London
DPOY: Jessie Bates
Emotional hedging is a valuable tool when considering how to predict a Falcons record, particularly in a year such as this where outcomes are so varied. To be frank with you, I have no idea how the Falcons will do this year. It’s the most I’ve ever been perplexed by an Atlanta team’s floor and ceiling.
My heart wants to believe in the promise of Michael Penix Jr. and push the chips in on a double-digit win season, but we’ve all been let down so many times over the past several seasons that it becomes hard to buy all the stock. Seven wins is a tepid prediction, to be sure, one that wouldn’t indicate much improvement on either side of the ball. However, I’d rather personally be pleasantly surprised than woefully disappointed. I’ll say the team gets another seven-win season and enters 2026 with more than a bit of uncertainty and without a 2026 first-round NFL Draft pick. However, I’m being overly cautious. This could all work out.
Saivion Mixson
Record: 10-7
MVP: Bijan Robinson
OPOY: Michael Penix, Jr.
DPOY: Jessie Bates
Writeup
Forever the optimist, I can see the Falcons finally breaking the ceiling on 10 wins for the first time since 2017. For that to happen, especially with a defense that’s going to be a bit inconsistent, they may need to look to an old friend for guidance. Last year’s Rams team went into their early bye week, week 6, 1-4. Afterward, they finished 9-2, and head coach touted the early bye as a chance to “look at ourselves collectively” and “figure out the best ways to utilize our personnel.”
With this young roster, there are going to be some early ups and downs, and the early season’s schedule doesn’t give much margin for error. But, after their MNF appearance against the Buffalo Bills, Atlanta goes into a stretch of games that include the Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, and New York Jets from mid-October through the end of November. As I type this, I can feel the copium leave my fingers, but there is a possibility that this team rides the fire of an explosive offense and a fiery, opportunistic defense right into the playoffs. If not, there’s no doubt we’ll be seeing yet another new regime in Atlanta.
Dave Choate
Record: 10-7
Team MVP: Bijan Robinson
OPOY: Michael Penix
DPOY: Jessie Bates
The Falcons have weaknesses. They’re not as deep as I’d like at many positions, the loss of Kaleb McGary will strain the offense, and they’re going to be heavily reliant on young players trying to find their footing at the NFL level. That’s a recipe for quite a bit of variance.
But idiot that I am, I do believe this team is primed to make a leap. It took Kirk Cousins’ epic collapse, Jimmy Lake’s bewildering defensive decisions, and Younghoe Koo’s injury and fade to take the Falcons out of the playoff hunt a year ago, and while disaster is a dear friend for this Atlanta team, I think they’re better off than they were a year ago. The Bucs are quality but vulnerable themselves, the Panthers aren’t quite ready for prime time yet, and the Saints may be hilariously bad. This is the right moment, and the Falcons have the talent and frankly the obligation to finally push out of their streak of losing seasons.
Bijan will dominate even with McGary out and should be considered the team’s most valuable player, the linchpin that holds a talented offense together, while Penix will enjoy his breakout season and Bates will dispirit and dominate offenses. I don’t know how far they’ll go in the playoffs—my guess is not nearly as far as we’d like—but here comes a winning season. Please.
