The Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions will square off on Friday night at Ford Field in the preseason opener for both teams. Coming off a 7-10 campaign before undergoing big changes in the offseason, the Falcons are expected to be rebuilding this year. Detroit only went 3-13-1 last season, but is hoping to take a step forward in 2022 with an improving young roster.
These teams met in Week 16 of the regular season last year, with the Falcons winning 20-16 at home.
For the first time since 2007, the Falcons will open a season with a quarterback other than Matt Ryan as the former MVP was dealt to the Indianapolis Colts during the offseason. While the Falcons managed a respectable enough 7-9 record last season, many of those wins came against bad teams by narrow margins, and second-year head coach Arthur Smith will now lead a rebuild that could take significant time.
With Ryan gone, Marcus Mariota is the favorite to take over the starting role for now after attempting just two passes as a member of the Las Vegas Raiders last season, although he did run the ball 13 times for 87 yards and a score. Indications are the Falcons will play their starters around one quarter on Friday via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. That's still going to leave plenty of snaps for the Falcons to get a long look at rookie Desmond Ridder under center after he led Cincinnati to the College Football Playoff last season, while third stringer Feleipe Franks will also get a healthy amount of playing time on Friday as he attempts to move into a hybrid quarterback-tight end role.
Atlanta went 0-3 in the 2021 preseason in Smith's first year at the helm, losing each game by at least nine points. There wasn't a lot of urgency for the offense, which tallied just 30 total points across the three games, but things could change in 2022 as the Falcons try to break multiple new quarterbacks in.
Smith, who led some strong units as the offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans, will hope for improvement from a bottom five offense that averaged only 18.4 points and 303.8 yards per game in 2021. The defense wasn't any better, ranking third-worst with 27 points per game allowed as opponents racked up 364.4 yards per contest.
Kyle Pitts lived up to the hype as a rookie, reeling in 68 catches for 1026 yards and one touchdown. Cordarrelle Patterson emerged as an all-around weapon with 153 carries for 618 yards, 52 catches for 548 yards, and 11 total touchdowns. A.J. Terrell emerged as one of the NFL's best corners with 192 tackles, three interceptions, six pass breakups and a forced fumble.
The Falcons are thin on the defensive line, as Eddie Goldman unexpectedly retired before the start of camp while Vincent Taylor suffered a ruptured Achillies. Linebacker Deion Jones is on the PUP list with a shoulder problem. Receiver Bryan Edwards (shoulder) is limited in practice and it's unclear if he will play Friday.