2017 Miami Dolphins season preview: Week 6 at Atlanta Falcons

The Miami Dolphins have the fun of playing both the NFC Champions and the Super Bowl Champions this year. While the New England Patriots do not come up on the schedule until later in the year (twice), the Atlanta Falcons, the defending NFC Champs, show up on the schedule in Week 6.

The Dolphins will be coming off their first true home game in a month after a Week 5 game against the Tennessee Titans before they head up to Georgia for a visit to the Falcons. As we have done with all of the Dolphins’ opponents thus far on the schedule, we asked for a closer look at the Falcons from the bloggers who cover them, in this case the guys over at The Falcoholic.

Notable free agent additions

DT Dontari Poe, WR Andre Roberts, FB Derrick Coleman, DE Jack Crawford

Notable free agent departures

FB Patrick DiMarco, DT Tyson Jackson

Trades

None

Draft picks expected to contribute as rookies

DE Takkarist McKinley, LB Duke Riley, FS/CB Damontae Kazee

Biggest offseason addition

Poe. He’s signed for just one year, but he’s slimming down and has the talent to be the missing piece for the Falcons’ so-so run defense, plus a situationally useful pass rusher. For a team with very few glaring holes on defense, Poe is a huge addition, especially given the team’s real questions at defensive tackle aside from Grady Jarrett.

Biggest storyline heading into training camp

Can the Falcons rebound from the most crushing Super Bowl loss of all-time? Everyone wants to know if the team has the mental toughness or can-do attitude or whatever you call it to return to relevance and contention in 2017. There’s a rich history of teams falling short the year after a Super Bowl berth, especially when they lose, so Atlanta will have to do more than talk about staying focused (which they’ve done) and show they’re as good or better than they were a year ago.

Under-the-radar storyline heading into training camp

Is the defense ready to break out? The Falcons battered Tom Brady for almost three full quarters in the Super Bowl and quietly played very well down the stretch last year. We know the offense will be good, but can the defense take a step forward on the strength of additions like Poe and their current young core? We’ll see some very early glimpses in training camp.

Notable injuries heading into training camp

Everyone should be healthy, but Desmond Trufant, Adrian Clayborn, Derrick Shelby, Alex Mack, Julio Jones, and Taylor Gabriel are all coming off injuries and will need to prove their health.

Miami Dolphins 2017 season schedule:

Week 1
vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Setpember 10, 1pm

Week 2
at Los Angeles Chargers
September 17, 4:05pm

Week 3
at New York Jets
September 24, 1pm

Week 4
vs. New Orleans Saints (London)
October 1, 9:30am

Week 5
vs. Tennessee Titans
October 8, 1pm

Week 6
at Atlanta Falcons
October 15, 1pm

Week 7
vs. New York Jets
October 22, 1pm

Week 8
at Baltimore Ravens
October 26, 8:25pm (TNF)

Week 9
vs. Oakland Raiders
November 5, 8:30pm (SNF)

Week 10
at Carolina Panthers
November 13, 8:30pm (MNF)

Week 11
BYE

Week 12
at New England Patriots
November 26, 1pm

Week 13
vs. Denver Broncos
December 3, 1pm

Week 14
vs. New England Patriots
December 11, 8:30pm (MNF)

Week 15
at Buffalo Bills
December 17, 1pm

Week 16
at Kansas City Chiefs
December 24, 1pm

Week 17
vs. Buffalo Bills
December 31, 1pm