Are the Atlanta Falcons really tone setters in the NFC South?

The Atlanta Falcons aren’t looking around. They aren’t looking to either side, and they certainly aren’t looking back. You can be sure Dan Quinn and his merry band of coaches aren’t worried about what other teams are doing. The emphasis at Flowery Branch right now is moving this team forward.

The Falcons flourished in 2016, but they still need to move forward. They almost won the Super Bowl, suffering a devastating, historical loss. But they still need to move forward. Meanwhile, with all their successes, it’s natural for other teams to look to duplicate their on the field product, especially on offense. In comes the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Jeff Schultz, who believes the NFC South in particular is doing just that.

The Falcons, for much of the franchise’s existence, have been in search of the right blueprint for success. Now that they’ve found it, it appears division rivals are mimicking them. The theory seems to be: “If we can’t stop the Falcons, let’s try to outscore them.”

Go read Schultz’s article now, if you haven’t already. He does a nice job breaking down the various additions NFC South team’s have made since last season ended. But he also makes an astute observation about the state of the division. The Falcons are suddenly that cool kid that figured out New Balances aren’t just for middle-aged dads with bald heads. (No offense, Dave.) We are the cool kids.

Your thoughts, if you please.