Will the Atlanta Falcons make the 2020 NFL playoffs? Below, we look at the BetMGM betting odds and make our pick. We also predict their exact win total for the upcoming season.
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Tuesday, May 19 at 10:30 a.m. ET.
Will the Atlanta Falcons make the 2020 NFL playoffs?
Yes: +225 | No: -286
The Falcons will bring back one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL in 2020, led by QB Matt Ryan and WR Julio Jones. Unfortunately, it’s not their offense that has been a problem. In 2019, the Falcons ranked fifth in yards per game, but 20th in yards allowed. Even worse, they finished 23rd in points allowed last season, giving up nearly 25 points per game.
For the Falcons to make the playoffs in 2020, the defense will need to improve dramatically. While they did make a few small changes, including signing DE Dante Fowler Jr. in free agency and drafting CB A.J. Terrell with the No. 16 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, their defense still has a long way to go to contain with the top offenses in the competitive NFC South.
And there lies another problem for the Falcons. The NFC South appears to be stronger than ever. The Saints won 13 games last season despite QB Drew Brees missing a good chunk of time. Their roster might be the best in the league and it only got better this offseason. Tampa Bay made the biggest splash in free agency, signing QB Tom Brady to a two-year deal.
Given how talented the rest of the teams are in the division, the best the Falcons are looking at is a wild-card spot. With the NFC being highly competitive, that doesn’t feel likely, either. Look for Atlanta to be a better team in 2020, but don’t count on them making the playoffs.
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How many games will the Atlanta Falcons win in 2020? Bands
0-4 Wins: +1400
5-8 Wins: -223
9-12 Wins: +185
13-16 Wins: +12500
The safe bet here is to pick the Falcons to win between 5-8 games (-223) as they are still one of the more talented offenses in the NFL; however, the best value bet might be to pick the Falcons to win between 0-4 games (+1400).
While that does seem somewhat unlikely, they have a brutal start to the season as they will face the Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers early on. The schedule gets easier in the middle, but Atlanta finishes the season with two games against the Buccaneers with a trip to Kansas City sandwiched in between.
If this Atlanta team struggles on offense at all, it could be a really rough season for the Falcons. Expect them to win between 6-8 games, but prepare for a pretty low floor given how old their offense is.
How many games will the Atlanta Falcons win in 2020? Exact number
According to BetMGM, the most likely outcome for the Falcons in 2020 is 8 wins (+280), but it isn’t the best value bet currently on the board. The Falcons winning 6 games (+400) seems like the right play given the odds and their schedule. It’s likely they are competitive in nearly every game this season, but don’t expect them to win many close games as their defense is still far too young.
If you believe there is a chance the bottom could fall out as mentioned above, exactly 4 wins (+1600) is an intriguing bet. With Ryan in his mid-30s and Jones (31) now in his 30s as well, the wheels could come off at any moment should one of these players miss time. The Falcons rely so heavily on those two players to carry them that even the slightest injury could spell massive trouble.
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