Arizona Cardinals Opponent Preview: Atlanta Falcons

This sunday, the Arizona Cardinals will head to Atlanta to play the Falcons. This should be a game where the Cards should be able to get back on their feet after they played awfully offensively against the Seahawks. Here is some big things that the Falcons got for them.

White and Jones

Ok the team hasn’t been great in the offensively side, but White and Jones are still balling out this season. Jones has become elite and White is a great complementary receiver for Julio. They usually don’t drop the ball and they are consistently great. When their quarterback has time, they can really do damage to defenses.

Terrible O-line

Matt Ryan has no protection most of the time and if he does, it’s a short amount of time. The line really has no talent minus Jake Matthews and they can’t block anyone. They started off decent but when Baker went down, the line collapsed. The Arizona Cardinals got 6 sacks on the Seahawks last week, just imagine what they’re going to do to the Falcons come this Sunday.

Terrible Defense

This team is dead last in total defense giving up over 400 yards per game. The defense has really no talent and the scheme for that team isn’t working. The pass rush isn’t getting home giving their opponents plenty of time in the pocket to break the secondary coverage. Now there is some talent on this team (Desmond Trufant) but he isn’t enough to stop the Arizona Cardinals when they come to town.

Mike Smith

These last two years have been awful for Smith, who has gone 8-19 these two years. He struggled with clock management against the Browns last week and has really struggled to turn this team around. I believe Atlanta Falcons need another year to get better under Smith but will he get that time is the question?

Matt Ryan

The Falcons took a huge leap of faith when they gave a huge contract extension worth over 100 million for 5 years last year. He hasn’t won games, but he’s still going out there and balling, putting up 3000 yards this season, as well as 19 touchdowns to only 9 picks. The Falcons do lose games but they are not because of Ryan, he constantly has no time to find anyone, his defense is trash, and when he does come close, some bad luck hits him (whether it’s a pick or a bad penalty). He is the reason the Falcons aren’t like the Raiders this year.

For the Falcons to even hope for a win this Sunday, they have to play out of their minds to pull of the upset. The o-line has to play stout in protecting Matt Ryan and the running game (which hasn’t existed) needs to come around. While this has the making of a trap game, I doubt the Arizona Cardinals after losing to Seattle will lose to the Falcons.