The Atlanta Falcons avoided the dreaded Super Bowl hangover in 2017 by winning 10 games. Here’s the MVP who helped them get back on track.
What a crazy season it’s been for the Atlanta Falcons, who are heading back to the NFC Playoffs thanks to an impressive 10-6 record. There were numerous points throughout the season that fans thought the Dirty Birds were destined to miss the postseason, but these guys stuck together and finished strong.
When we start talking about the team’s who make the NFL Playoffs, there are usually a handful of guys who could potentially be the team’s MVP. Needless to say, that’s exactly the case for the Falcons in 2017.
I’m sure you opened this article expecting to see Julio Jones’ name, but even with how important he is to this franchise, he wasn’t Atlanta’s MVP this season. No doubt, he had an incredible season, but he has to share some of the spotlight sometime, right?
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If you’re looking for one player who this Falcons team could not go without and someone who got even better from 2016, look no further than Atlanta’s middle-linebacker, Deion Jones.
Not only was he one of the handful of defenders who started all 16 games for the Dirty Birds, but he led the team in interceptions, tackles and assists on tackles, according to Pro Football Reference. Not to mention, if there was one player who consistently made the biggest tackle each weekend, it was the former LSU stud.
If there’s one thing that Falcons fans desperately asked for in 2017, it was consistency. Whether it was Atlanta’s offense missing big plays downfield or Steve Sarkisian getting too cute with play-calls during games; fans and coaches alike needed someone to give them a great performance for all 16 games.
If you haven’t caught my drift already, that player was Deion Jones.
Next: 2018 NFL Playoffs: Picks, predictions for Wild Card Round
Moving onto the NFC Playoffs, the Falcons need Jones to continue playing at an elite level. There are many people who believe the Dirty Birds can make it back to the Super Bowl if their offense can get hot, but I still believe the biggest X-factor for Atlanta is Jones and his ability to make impact plays.
What say you Falcons fans? Who was your 2017 team MVP for the Dirty Birds?