Should The Atlanta Falcons Be Taken Seriously As Contenders?

The Atlanta Falcons ended the 2023 season with a massively different set of problems than they face this season. Last year, they needed a quarterback and it was clear that Desmond Ridder wasn’t cutting it. This year, the team arguably has too many quarterbacks in Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr.

Of course, the roster is also looking sharp. Offensively, the team has Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts. All three of those players are set to improve this season and serve as the building blocks for the team’s offense. This doesn’t include the long list of other players that could explode at any moment, either.

That said, any team can have a quality roster. To get within a drag route of a Super Bowl, one needs to have a top quarterback. If a team can get a premier performance out of their passer, they can go far. However, getting that performance is easier said than done.

Why too much of a good thing will sink the Atlanta Falcons in 2024

First, it was already mentioned, but the Falcons adding Penix after picking up Kirk Cousins adds plenty of problems. It places an inordinate amount of pressure on Cousins. Had the Falcons drafted a rookie quarterback on the third day of the NFL Draft, Cousins would feel assured that he wasn’t getting replaced. Instead, by choosing Penix, Cousins will feel like he needs to impress every single week.

Meaning, he can’t just win the game. He needs to look good doing it. This creates a need to force passes, which are more likely to turn into interceptions. This phenomenon caused the downfall of Carson Wentz. The Eagles drafted Jalen Hurts in the second round and Wentz’s statistics dropped like a rock that season.

Two starting-caliber quarterbacks never stick on the same roster for long. For example, the Chargers infamously had Drew Brees and Philip Rivers on the same team, but Rivers ended up staying. Brees moved to join the Saints.

Unfortunately for the Falcons, they will have to learn the hard way that having two starters on the same quarterback roster is a recipe for failure. Also, throw in questions about Cousins’ health into the mix, and the recipe for a less-than-stellar season seems more than likely.

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