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By Anne Erickson
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Is it finally the year for the Atlanta Falcons? Maybe.
They didn't have a bad 2025. The team went 8-9 and landed at No. 3 in the NFC South. That record would have earned them a higher spot in other divisions.
But, that was with Kirk Cousins playing in 10 games during the season. The Falcons probably would have won more, too, if they had started him sooner.
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So, this year, it's Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa in a quarterback battle. Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report points out that there are some positives about this season's lineup.
"The Falcons showed real improvement defensively last year, and the best-case scenario in 2026 is for that improvement to continue," he says in the piece. "They need a pass rush that again ranks at or near the top of the league in sacks and a seamless replacement of the departed Kaden Elliss with Divine Deablo at linebacker. They also need a third cornerback to step up alongside A.J. Terrell and Mike Hughes. If they get those things, the Falcons could have the NFC South's best defense."
My Take: Could the Falcons Go All the Way?
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Will the Falcons go all the way this season? Probably not. But, they could be a lot better than they were last season.
Cousins is a special talent. Losing him at quarterback will hurt. Penix and Tagovailoa probably won't live up to Cousins' performance.
But the Falcons are coming off a better year, in general, and a lot of it had to do with the defense. Having a stronger defense will help this team excel in 2026, even if the offense still has growing pains, and it will.
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