Last Season Recap
The Atlanta Falcons started the last NFL betting season strong – as a matter of fact, it was the best start since 2012. However, after winning the first five games they went on to lose eight of the remaining eleven. That was certainly a disappointment for Falcons fans who bet on NFL. In the end, Atlanta actually managed to improve their record from the previous season (they went from 6-10 to 8-8) with a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Week 15, but they still failed to make the playoffs once again.
What’s New
The 2016 NFL betting season will be the Atlanta Falcons’ 51st in the National Football League and the second under the guidance of head coach Dan Quinn. It will also mark the team’s last season playing at the Georgia Dome; starting on 2017 they will play their home games at the new Mercedes Benz Stadium. In the 2016 NFL draft, the Falcons selected safety Keanu Neal as the 17th pick in the first round. Additionally, they selected outside linebacker Deion Jones, tight end Austin Hooper, outside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, offensive guard Wes Schweitzer, and wide receiver Devin Fuller. Among the most prominent transactions the Falcons have made ahead of the upcoming season is the five-year, $45 million deal – including $28.5 million in guaranteed money – with Alex Mack, making him the best paid center in the league going into the new season. What will he do with all that dough? I guess that’s just The Secret World of Alex Mack.
What to Expect
Rather than expect, Atlanta Falcons fans who enjoy NFL betting hope that the 2016 season will see a return to form for Matt ‘Matty Ice’ Ryan. The 31 year old QB had one of the worst years of his career with 21 touchdown passes, 16 interceptions, and 12 fumbles, five of which he lost. Many people who bet on NFL attributed this underperformance to offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan’s new offensive scheme. Ryan has the 4th highest salary cap number for 2016 at $23.5 million, so hopefully Atlanta will get some ROI coming its way.
Fans can also expect the Falcons to add a rugby twist to their tackles. Former head coach of the English national rugby union team just spent three days with the Falcons to help teach the players how to minimize the risk of concussions as well as preventing opponents from gaining extra yards.
The aforementioned Keanu Neal has already impressed his new employers with his maturity. Quinn expects the former Gator to become a dynamic, hard-hitting safety. However, he will have stiff competition for the spot in Kemal Ishmael and Charles Godfrey. Neal played in all 12 games as a true freshman in 2013, and recorded five tackles. As a sophomore in 2014, he played in 10 games with eight starts and registered 45 tackles and three interceptions. As a junior he started 11 out of 12 games, and had 96 tackles, one interception and two sacks.
Odds to Win Super Bowl LI: +6050
