Falcons Fans Brace for Impact: 3 NFC South Moves They Don’t Want to See
As the NFL trade deadline approaches, rumors swirl around potential moves that could shift the balance of power in the NFC South. For Atlanta Falcons fans, a few key trades would be a nightmare scenario. Here are three moves that could leave Falcons supporters fuming.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Land Trey Hendrickson
If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers manage to acquire pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, it could drastically improve their defense and make the Falcons' offensive line a prime target. Hendrickson has been one of the league's top sack artists, and adding him to the Bucs’ defense would put even more pressure on
“A guy like Trey changes the game for any defense,” said Tyler Lockett, the Falcons' star wide receiver. “When you know you’ve got a guy who can disrupt everything up front, it forces you to play faster, more erratically. If Tampa gets him, that just makes every NFC South matchup more intense for us.”
2. Carolina Panthers Trade for Jaylen Waddle
The Carolina Panthers, who are looking to build around rookie quarterback Bryce Young, would have a game-changing weapon if they landed Jaylen Waddle
“Waddle’s one of those guys that can flip a game on its head in one play,” said Deion Jones, the Falcons linebacker. “If Carolina picks him up, we’d have to adjust our whole approach against them. That would make every meeting with them a lot tougher.”
For Falcons fans, the prospect of Waddle lining up in the NFC South again after dominating Miami would be hard to stomach.
3. New Orleans Saints Acquire Anthony Richardson
The New Orleans Saints adding
“You don’t want to see a guy like that in your division,” said Grady Jarrett, the Falcons defensive tackle. “Richardson’s the kind of guy who can make a difference with one play — running or throwing. If the Saints land him, they’re going to be a lot more dangerous. It would make our job a whole lot harder.”
Richardson could be the type of player to take New Orleans from a competitive team to a true contender in the NFC South, making any matchup against the Saints a high-stakes challenge for the Falcons.
Why These Moves Would Infuriate Falcons Fans
Each of these moves strengthens another NFC South team, which is the last thing Falcons fans want to see. With the division already being one of the most competitive in the NFL, any of these trades could tip the scales in favor of their rivals. It’s a reminder that the Falcons must stay active in improving their own roster, or risk falling behind.
“We have to keep building, no matter what other teams are doing,” said Kyle Pitts, the Falcons’ star tight end. “But if any of these trades happen, we can’t let it get to us. We’ve got to focus on what we can control and continue to compete.”
With these potential trades looming, the Falcons will need to keep their focus sharp and make smart moves of their own to stay ahead in the NFC South.
Dan Campbell’s brutally honest assessment of Lions should scare rest of NFL
The Detroit Lions have been one of the best teams in the NFL this season. Even after losing both of their coordinators this offseason, Detroit seemingly hasn't lost a step. They come out of their bye week with a 5-2 record, scoring key wins against some of the top contenders in the process.
If the Lions are to be believed, they still aren't playing to their full potential. Head coach Dan Campbell believes that Detroit still has another gear this season. The Lions HC said that they could stand to be better at playing complementary football over the course of the season.
“I really believe we haven't played our best ball yet collectively in all three phases,” Campbell said, per Eric Woodyard of ESPN. “And that's really what we're trying to get to here is how can we sharpen ourselves. We know it's going to take every phase. Every game's different, and one unit may have to pick up the slack, but we need to start playing complete ball across the board. And just keep improving — like with all these teams that we're in the race with right now. So, that's where we're at.”
The Lions have highlighted four key areas for improvement during their bye week. That includes their third-down efficiency on both sides of the ball. Detroit is ranked 22nd in third-down conversion rate this season with just 37.7%, far below their 47% rate last season. On the other side, they're allowing a similar third-down conversion rate on defense, which is higher than their 32.5% rate last year.
The two other areas that the Lions focused on during the bye week are their red zone defense and Jameson Williams' involvement on offense. While Detroit's defense has been generally solid this season, it's allowing a whopping 63.6% of its opponents' red zone trips to end in a touchdown. On the other hand, Williams has had an up-and-down season thanks in large part to his fluctuating target rate. Detroit's offense is at its best when the threat of Jamo downfield opens up the rest of the offense. Finding ways to get him in space is going to be crucial for this team moving forward.
The Lions open the second half of their season with a matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at home. Will Detroit apply what they've installed during the bye week in their next games?
