The full prediction of the 2024 NFL season is likely to demoralize Falcons fans

Sports Illustrated's Connor Orr is predicting every game of the NFL season for the fourth time and is likely to demoralize the Atlanta Falcons and their fans in their efforts to win the division in 2024. Orr's prediction means that the Falcons will not only be eliminated from the playoffs, but will also finish in third place in the NFC South behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints with a disappointing 8-9 record.

When you step back and think about it, there's a lot to believe in with this Falcons team. We have to believe that Drake London is good and Zac Robinson's scheme is ideal for him. We have to believe that Bijan Robinson will stay healthy at the game's most dangerous position. We have to believe in Kyle Pitts again, even though his length has proven to be a bit of a touchy subject. We have to believe that Kirk Cousins ​​will come back from his torn Achilles.

When there are so many question marks, I'm usually optimistic and believe half of them will work out. Let's say Cousins ​​and London are a good combination. Let's say Robinson gets 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards. Let's say Pitts has a Sam LaPorta-like season. Would that push them over the edge in a division with some tough, bear-powered defenses? I think Atlanta loses to the Eagles and Chiefs, respectively, in Weeks 2 and 3, and also to Denver and New Orleans in consecutive road games later in the season. That schedule is anything but intimidating, and their ability to prove me wrong in the later games, the winnable ones against the league's middle of the pack, will show whether the Falcons are the best I expect them to be (an 11-win division winner) or are battling for second place somewhere.

So… a few things.

First, the start of the season is not as bad as it looks. The first five weeks of the season are a gauntlet of losing games.

From the dominance of the Eagles and Chiefs to the division battles with the Bucs and Saints, coming out of this stretch with a 3-2 record is good for business. A 5-6 record heading into the bye week isn't exactly ideal, especially after the loss to Denver, but it's something you can live with knowing that easier days are ahead after the bye week.

However, a three-game losing streak against teams like Minnesota (starter: Sam Darnold), Las Vegas (starter: Garner Minshew) and New York (will Daniel Jones even last that long?) would be a terrible collapse at a critical time in the season.

The anger of those fans would be great if they had signed Justin Simmons and traded Matthew Judon to get the win. Oh, and paying Kirk Cousins ​​a guaranteed $100 million only to lose to Minshew, Darnold, Jones (or Lock), and rookie Bo Nix would not only be disappointing, but downright demoralizing.

All in all, this seems like an attempt by Orr to protect himself from the eventual Falconing that could occur in 2024. Atlanta's range of results is one of the highest in the league, but given that they haven't had everything together for most of the decade, you can't blame the man for being more cautious in his predictions.