5 Falcons players the Vikings should worry about in Week 6

Matt Ryan – QB

Matty Ryan isn’t the superstar quarterback that he used to be and definitely has a turd of a game here and there. He is getting up there in age and is approaching the downside of his career. Despite all of that, he’s still one of the 15 best quarterbacks in the NFL, with an impressive arsenal of weapons at his disposal.

Ryan gets to throw to targets like Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, Hayden Hurst, and the underrated Russel Gage. He also can hand off or throw to Todd Gurley, and looking at that list makes one wonder how this team can be without a win through five games of the season.

While Ryan is still very good and has a ton of weapons, the Vikings have done well against him in the past. The reason they’ve found success is because they’ve been able to get pressure on him. Ryan isn’t the most mobile of quarterbacks and will make mistakes when he feels the heat of a good pass rush. He is prone to fumbles and turnovers if he gets rushed. The Vikings will have to bring pressure on Ryan every time he drops back. If he gets uncomfortable in the pocket, he will make some costly turnovers.

If the Vikings pass rush is as anemic as it was in the first couple of games, Ryan will sit comfortably in the pocket and use his weapons to pick apart the young Vikings’ corners and will rack up the passing yards and touchdowns.