Three Unanswered Questions for the Atlanta Falcons Going Into the 2025 Season

You know the names; they are among the most vibrant and exceptional defensive units in history. The Steel Curtain, Doomsday Defense, Orange Crush, and of course, in 1977, we had the "Grits Blitz." What made that season unforgettable was the Falcons defense allowing a mere 9.2 points per game. I've often felt that our city has been overlooked when it comes to defensive honors throughout history. Just as the '77 squad gets overshadowed among the greats, the same can be said for individual defensive stalwarts. I've consistently believed that if Jessie Tuggle had played in Chicago during the '80s alongside future Hall of Famers Dan Hampton, Richard Dent, and Steve McMichael, Tuggle's bust would be in Canton, Ohio today.

It was, of course, the defense that complemented the Falcons' two franchise Super Bowl runs during the '98 and '16 seasons. Once again, it will be the defense that determines how far they will go in 2025. The three pressing questions that need to be addressed on that side of the ball are as follows.

1) Which unit will show up in the opener against Baker Mayfield? 

In two matchups last season, Mayfield completed over 75% of his passes and threw six touchdowns.

2) How impactful can Leonard Floyd actually be? 

Last year, his 8 1/2 sacks were impressive for a 49ers unit that struggled for much of the season. It took less than 24 hours for the Falcons to sign Floyd to a one-year, 10-million-dollar contract. Can he provide that kind of veteran leadership and production this season?

3) Which of the rookies will step up? 

It's an exciting influx of disruptors, but how steep will the learning curve be? Jalon Walker, James Pearce Jr., Billy Bowman Jr., and Xavier Watts are set to see plenty of action. The question will be how quickly they can adjust to a new system being implemented by defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.