The Atlanta Falcons are a day away from the start of the season.
The Atlanta Falcons are ready for the start of the season, traveling this week up north to face the Pittsburgh Steelers and try to get a Week 1 victory which would be just their third since 2017.
Once again, the Falcons are a team beginning a new era going into this season, and they are doing it under a new head coach in Kevin Stefanski. After a long summer for Stefanski and the new regime which saw positional battles, injuries, and a litany of other issues, it's finally go time and the games have arrived whether they are ready or not.
Headed into the season, here are the three biggest questions fans are still asking as they search for reasons this team could accomplish some big things.
How long do Falcons let it ride with Tua Tagovailoa?
Ultimately, the health and lack of readiness from Michael Penix Jr. made a dramatic quarterback battle and decision really not very dramatic at all. Atlanta had to go with Tagovailoa, but the amount of time they took to announce it indicated that Penix was given every chance to claim it if he was ready and that he is their preferred option.
Unless Tagovailoa plays well and the team is on fire out of the gate, Penix is going to get his chance, it just comes down to when. The Week 4 game at New Orleans on Monday Night Football coming off a mini bye since they play on Thursday the week prior seems like the most logical point, but it's anyone's guess.
Can Bijan Robinson carry the offense once again?
Robinson is going to have to have his best season yet in order for this offense to flourish, and while there is not reason to think he cannot, it was a huge workload for the all world tailback last season. Stefanski will ask a ton of him once again, but can Robinson hold up?
The answer to this question could define what this team is capable of in terms of a scoring output, and ultimately, how many games it can win as well.
Can defense replicate success of last season?
Last year, Atlanta's bread and butter was pass rush, and this was led by first round rookies Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. all season long. With Walker out for the season and Pearce out for at least the first eight games, it's going to be a whole lot tougher of a task.
Perhaps this can be a coverage first team with A.J. Terrell now linking up with his brother in the secondary not to mention the dynamic safety duo for the Falcons, but they will still need to generate a pass rush. How much they can do that without Walker and Pearce could define this defense.
