Here’s five good reasons the Falcons will make the playoffs, courtesy of NFL.com

Chances are you can think of more than five reasons why the Falcons will make the playoffs in 2018. You’d have to be pretty dour to think they no shot, even in a crowded NFC, given that this is arguably the most talented roster the team has ever fielded.

But that’s inside this fanbase, of course. To understand why analysts with no real ties to the team might be bullish on them, you need look no further than this column from Marc Sessler at NFL.com, who sums up the reasons to think this team is primed for the postseason.

Those five reasons? Unsurprisingly, they are:

1. Matt Ryan
2. Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman
3. Julio Jones and the receiving corps
4. The young, talented defense
5. Dan Quinn

If it feels like an obvious list, that’s because it is. But it’s certainly telling that Sessler is essentially mentioning the entire team, from the offense to the defense to the head ballcoach, because there are so few holes to speak of that it makes perfect sense. This is a huge about face from years past, when we would have focused on the offense and been like “uh, grit!” for the fourth and fifth selections. The only thing standing between the Falcons and a deep playoff run is the rest of the NFC, which happens to be as strong as it has ever been just as Atlanta appears to be peaking. Even so, they’ve got those five things going for them, and that’s enough to beat any team in the NFL on a good day.

I really can’t wait for football to come back, and this is a simple, effective reminder of why we should all be excited for the season ahead.