College football is over, but Atlanta sports (and football in general) are definitely not on pause.
In this episode, we build on last week’s “State of Atlanta Sports” and dig into everything that’s changed in just seven days: the Falcons’ new identity taking shape, the Hawks thriving in the post‑Trae era, college hoops turning into a February free‑for‑all, a full Patriots–Seahawks Super Bowl preview, and a quick look ahead to Braves season.
We start with the Atlanta Falcons, where Kevin Stefanski has gone from buzzword hire to blueprint guy. We talk about the vision he’s laying out: detailed, tough, and physical football built around a real run game, under‑center play‑action, and a team that doesn’t beat itself. From Tommy Rees calling plays to Bill Callahan building a bully up front, we break down what that means for the offense and the kind of quarterback that actually fits this system. Then we throw the big question to you: are you team “B‑minus QB with an A‑minus roster,” or “A‑level QB with a C‑plus roster” in this new Falcons era?
Then we move to the Atlanta Hawks, where Jalen Johnson has officially taken the leap from “interesting young piece” to All‑Star centerpiece. We talk about his near triple‑double production and why the leap is about more than just numbers. From CJ McCollum’s veteran steadiness to Corey Kispert’s spacing, Dyson Daniels’ glue‑guy work, Nickeil Alexander‑Walker’s energy, Luke Kennard’s shooting, Zaccharie Risacher’s length, and Onyeka Okongwu’s toughness, we give flowers to the supporting cast that’s making this new‑look Hawks group actually function.
Next up is college basketball, with the calendar flipped to February and the rankings getting weird. We hit the top tier—Arizona, Michigan, UConn and the usual power‑conference heavyweights like Duke, Illinois, Gonzaga, Kansas, and Purdue—and talk about what makes them feel like March threats: experienced guards, matchup‑problem forwards, and legit size. Then we shine a light on some mid‑majors that can ruin your bracket: disciplined, slow‑tempo teams like Saint Mary’s, tough and experienced groups like Dayton, and those Mountain West grinders (think Utah State/San Diego State types) that are perfectly fine winning 63–58 and sending a favorite home early.
From there, we head into a full Super Bowl preview: New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks. We break down the key players and stats to watch: Drake Maye’s MVP‑caliber season and dual‑threat ability, Stefon Diggs as a chain‑moving route technician, TreVeyon Henderson as a balanced rushing/receiving threat, and a disruptive Patriots front with guys like Christian Barmore. On the Seattle side, we talk about Sam Darnold’s redemption year, Jaxon Smith‑Njigba’s monster production, Kenneth Walker III’s home‑run ability, Rashid Shaheed’s speed and return value, plus a deep, nasty Seahawks defensive line and playmakers like Ernest Jones and Devon Witherspoon. We wrap that segment with a score prediction: Patriots 27, Seahawks 23—and ask you whether QB, head coach, or pass rush matters most in a one‑game, win‑or‑go‑home setting.
Finally, we close with a quick Atlanta Braves preview as spring creeps closer. We touch on the core of Acuña, Riley, and Albies, the importance of rotation health and depth, and what has to change in October for Braves fans to really believe this is the year again.
Throughout the episode, you’ll get listener prompts to react to:
• What kind of QB do you want in Stefanski’s system?
• Who deserves the most credit for Jalen Johnson’s All‑Star leap?
• Which mid‑major terrifies you the most in March?
• Patriots or Seahawks—and why?
• Who’s your Braves breakout pick for 2026?
Hit follow, drop your takes, and get ready for a stretch where Atlanta football, basketball, college hoops, and baseball futures all collide in the best way.