1999 record: 5-11, third place in NFC West.

Last five years: 38-42.

Coach: Dan Reeves (28-23 in three years with Atlanta; 177-136-1 in 19 NFL seasons overall as a head coach.)

Playoff past: The Falcons are 4-6 in postseason play since the merger and some of the losses in the playoffs have been memorable ones. Atlanta was defeated by Denver in Super Bowl XXXIII, but the most hurtful setback for the team came in a 1980 playoff loss to Dallas. Regarded as a legitimate Super Bowl threat that year, the Falcons led the Cowboys by 10 points with five minutes remaining, only to fall to a rally orchestrated by Dallas QB Danny White. There are many Atlanta fans who view that as a watershed defeat, the point from which fortunes went south for the team. Notable is that Atlanta has never, in the 34 years of the franchise's existence, posted consecutive winning seasons.

Outlook

Two years ago, when the Atlanta Falcons stunned the world and themselves by advancing to Super Bowl XXXIII, the team probably wasn't as good as its 14-2 record, and even some of the key players from that ensemble will concede that notion is well-grounded.

But Dan Reeves' club always played hard, followed the rudimentary tenets annually espoused by the seventh winningest coach in NFL history, caught a few breaks along the way and simply kept gaining confidence in itself and in the belief they were a team of destiny as the victories piled up.

In '99, when the Falcons won only five games and slipped to third place in a shabby division that underwent dramatic upheaval, the team probably wasn't nearly as bad as its record. But the club always played hard, rarely cursed the misfortune of losing its centerpiece player in just the second game of the season, and maintained the mindset it was suddenly victimized by the same football gods that smiled on Atlanta the previous season.

The Falcons' hopes for the season likely will depend on tailback Jamal Anderson's return from injury.(AP)

The truth about the 2000 Falcons probably lies somewhere in between the Super Bowl glory of two seasons past and the ignominious plunge of 1999. But the one constant in every Reeves team is that it will play hard, hang around into the fourth quarter of most games and have a chance to pull out a victory. That common denominator, the pursuit of a level of consistency that does not waver from one Sunday to the next, is what could make the Falcons a surprising "bounceback" club this year.

No one is predicting a return to the Super Bowl. A wild card spot, however, is entirely possible. Given the uneven distribution of talent in the NFC West, it's conceivable Atlanta could finish as high as second in the division. Nine wins certainly is a reachable benchmark for this team.

"I don't think the winning attitude just evaporated last year," said cornerback Ray Buchanan, a standout veteran whose 1999 slump mirrored that of the team. "It's just that, when you lose your best player and then some games get away from you, it's easy to get down. We never thought we were a bad football team. But we felt snakebit at times, like, 'Hey, what's going on here?' Right now, the feeling around here is that we can win again. We might surprise some people."

Reeves coaches a style that, in a league diluted by free agency and ineptitude, actually plays a lot better now than it did during his successful tenure in Denver. The formula goes something like this: Run the ball effectively. Stop the running game of the opposition. Throw the ball vertically up the field, but off play-action flow that is in perfect concert with the physical running game. On defense, take the ball away from the other guy once in a while. Never allow the opponent to get out of reach, and steal some victories in the fourth quarter.

The return from knee surgery of tailback Jamal Anderson, the human battering ram, will permit the Falcons to establish and maintain offensive tempo. Provided, that is, Anderson really is all the way back from the surgery that sidelined him for the final 13 games of 1999 and which continued to limit his work in training camp. Quarterback Chris Chandler is at his best when the deep game at which he is so adept spins naturally from the running attack. His deft touch on the long passes should be enhanced with the addition of free agent wideout Shawn Jefferson.

Perhaps the biggest question marks concerning the Falcons are on both sides of the line, with the offensive unit revamped largely by design and the defensive front refurbished by necessity. The Falcons might have just one starter, left tackle Bob Whitfield, back in the same offensive line spot he played last season. On defense, there are two new ends, neither of whom is very physical. The plus on the defensive side is the new cornerback tandem of Buchanan and longtime best buddy Ashley Ambrose should allow coordinator Rich Brooks to be much more creative in terms of blitzing.

This is probably a team of middle-level talent on paper. But Reeves, despite his poor judgments in personnel acquisition, remains one of the league's best game-day coaches and his clubs always are well prepared. This time, he's hoping the Falcons are prepared to rebound from a disastrous season and reassert themselves as a playoff contender.

Schedule preview: The Falcons get a gimme in the first week of play, opening at home against the woeful 49ers, but then things get considerably more difficult. In an early season stretch that will define how improved a team this is in 2000, the Falcons play road games at Denver and Carolina, come home to face St. Louis and then go back on the road to Philadelphia. There also is a three-game road swing in November, at Detroit, San Francisco and Oakland. The likelihood is Reeves will keep the team on the West Coast between the San Francisco and Oakland games. There is a three-game homestand in late October, but it includes a matchup with Tampa Bay. The Falcons don't have their bye week until Dec. 10, after 14 games.

1999 offensive ranking: No. 27 overall, No. 30 rushing, No. 17 passing.

1999 defensive ranking: No. 16 overall, No. 29 vs. rush, No. 8 vs. pass.

Key players lost from 1999: DE Chuck Smith (to Carolina), LB Craig Sauer (to Minnesota), DE Lester Archambeau (to Denver), C Robbie Tobeck (to Seattle), FS Eugene Robinson (unsigned), OG Gene Williams (unsigned), WR Chris Calloway (released), OG Greg Bishop (retired), LB Ruffin Hamilton (unsigned).

Key additions for 2000: CB Ashley Ambrose (Saints), WR Shawn Jefferson (Patriots), DE Brady Smith (Saints), OG Anthony Redmon (Panthers), RB Ron Rivers (Lions), OG Everett McIver (Cowboys), LB Marcus Buckley (Giants).

Rookies to watch: If he had it to do all over again, it's doubtful Reeves would give up his first-round pick in 2000 for an extra 1999 second-rounder that became tight end Reggie Kelly. Then again, his critics might suggest Reeves picks so poorly in the first round anyway that not having a No. 1 option was a blessing. The Falcons plucked at least three players from this draft who could become eventual starters. One of them, second-round offensive lineman Travis Claridge, might be the starting right tackle immediately. In truth, though, fourth-round tackle Michael Thompson, a workout warrior at the combine, might be the better athlete. Linebacker Mark Simoneau, a third-round pick, is playing out of position on the strong side, but seems to be holding his own. Look for undrafted free agent Maurice Smith of North Carolina A&T, a power back in the Jamal Anderson mold, to make the team. And keep an eye, too, on seventh-round corner Derrick Vaughn, who has played well at times.

Offensive line: Still very much on the job despite a January report by SportsLine.com that he had been fired, line coach and Hall of Fame member Art Shell has a huge task this season. Unless right tackle Ephraim Salaam can return from arthroscopic knee surgery in time for the opener, the Falcons could have four new starters, with only left tackle Bob Whitfield in the same spot as one year ago. The line's best performer by far, Whitfield still remains an enigma in his ninth season. He has the physical tools to dominate and to be a perennial Pro Bowl performer, but rarely plays up to his enormous potential. He too often settles for ranking among the top half of left tackles in the league instead of being one of the two or three best. Former left guard Calvin Collins moves to center this year to replace the departed Robbie Tobeck and third-year pro Bob Hallen takes Collins' place. Hallen is a solid player on the move but doesn't seem to fit the physical in-line blocking the Falcons coaches prefer. The likely starter at right guard is journeyman Anthony Redmon and, if Salaam isn't recovered in time, rookie Travis Claridge could start at right tackle. Sometimes a great runner will elevate the play of a line unit and, should Anderson be close to 100 percent, that is what might happen here. Shell will need all his expertise to make this unit click.

Wide receivers/tight ends: The release last spring of wideout Tony Martin took away the one deep threat the Falcons' passing game had, the one player who forced enemy cornerbacks to begin backpedaling when Atlanta broke the huddle. Atlanta hopes former New England wide receiver Shawn Jefferson can restore the deep threat. But in nine seasons, Jefferson never has caught 50 passes or rung up 1,000 yards and, at age 31, he's beginning to have some brittleness. The top player here is unheralded Terance Mathis, a wonderfully precise wideout who operates well in the intermediate areas and possesses occasional and deceptive deep speed. He is the master of the double-move and, no matter the coverage, seems always able to find some space. Third-year pro Tim Dwight is a mighty mite, a big play waiting to happen, but his lack of size makes him a difficult target to find at times and also prone to injury. Tight end O.J. Santiago has a ton of talent but has fallen into disfavor with the staff. Second-year veteran Reggie Kelly, for whom Atlanta surrendered its first-round pick in the 2000 draft, is a better in-line blocker than people think. Look for the Falcons to use more two-tight end sets in 2000. And look for little-known free agent Brian Finneran to become the physical threat in the "red zone" the team lacked in past years.

Running backs: The offensive centerpiece is tailback Jamal Anderson, and it is not hyperbole to suggest the fortunes of the Falcons ride on how well he bounces back from knee surgery. During camp, he did not practice twice on any day, and he wasn't scheduled to be in uniform until the third preseason game. A big back with "little man's feet" in the scouting vernacular, Anderson is capable of dominating a game. He is essential to the Falcons because he can simply bleed time off the clock in the fourth quarter and permit Atlanta to maintain even the skinniest of leads. He also has the softest hands of any player on the team. Scatback Byron Hanspard is two years removed now from knee surgery of his own, but still appeared tentative at times in preseason. Hanspard is the perfect change-of-pace complement to Anderson when both are healthy. After a steady diet of Anderson off-tackle, the Falcons like to run weak-side tosses designed to get Hanspard outside, and he has enough speed to score from anywhere on the field. Fullback Bob Christian doesn't get nearly the credit he deserves. Although a bit undersized, he is a tenacious and technically sound blocker and terrific receiver. Don't be surprised if rookie Maurice Smith, an undrafted free agent from North Carolina A&T, sees some playing time early in the year. Smith is a big back much like Anderson and can pulverize tacklers.

Quarterbacks: He is often criticized for allegedly being injury prone, but Chris Chandler has quietly become one of the game's most respected passers. Few quarterbacks throw the deep pass with as much touch as he does and even fewer prepare as well mentally. Chandler will benefit this year not only from some on-field changes in the passing game but also from the addition of close friend and mentor Jerry Rhome to the coaching staff. Chandler has implicit faith in his old tutor and Rhome provides a comfortable sounding board for the veteran. It appears as if Danny Kanell will win the No. 2 job, although fourth-year veteran Tony Graziani remains in the hunt. Kanell has been much improved in camp, also benefiting from Rhome's presence, and seems to know the system much better now. The staff likes undrafted free agent Doug Johnson of Florida and he could claim the No. 3 job.

Defensive line: The Falcons slipped all the way to No. 29 in defense against the rush in 1999, after finishing second in the league during their Super Bowl season, and injuries in the front four certainly contributed mightily to that plummet. The improvement this year might depend not only on maintaining good health but also on how new ends Patrick Kerney and Brady Smith hold up. Longtime starters Chuck Smith and Lester Archambeau both departed in free agency, leaving the Falcons considerably smaller up front. Kerney has bulked up a bit but Smith, who will play the right side, is a 260-pounder. Count on opposing offenses trying early on to run directly at the Atlanta flanks. Left tackle Travis Hall is one of the league's best at his position when healthy. But he has been beaten up each of the past two seasons and in '99 played much of the year with just one good arm. Journeyman Ed Jasper, plucked off the street last spring, is challenging incumbent Shane Dronett for the right tackle spot. No matter who wins the starting job, the Falcons have a solid, three-man rotation. It wouldn't be surprising, given the lack of bulk, if Hall moved out and played end at times on early downs.

Linebackers: The master of this domain remains perennial Pro Bowl performer Jessie Tuggle, still a solid run stopper. But this could be the season in which weak-side 'backer Keith Brooking becomes a force. Because of the losses on the front four, coordinator Rich Brooks probably will have to blitz more, and that likely translates into some forays into the backfield for Brooking. An active player who too often runs around blocks rather than taking them on and shedding them, the former first-rounder is a terrific player in coverage and possesses rare quickness. Strong-side linebacker, Henri Crockett, finally looks healthy after battling knee problems for two seasons. He is a big hitter, probably better suited to playing inside, and another active player. Tuggle is just now beginning to slow a bit at age 35, and he makes more tackles three yards up the field than at the line of scrimmage. He probably has two more solid years left, however, before he retires. Young Jeff Kelly played well in spots last year and is the heir apparent to Tuggle's job. Third-round pick Mark Simoneau should also see playing time.

Secondary: If the talkative Ray Buchanan can bounce back to his '98 form and free-agent signee Ashley Ambrose repeats the '99 performance he had in New Orleans, the Falcons should have one of the top cornerback tandems in the league. The pair's single-cover abilities will allow the staff to be a lot more exotic than the past couple seasons when zone was the choice most of the time in the secondary. Both corners will gamble from time to time, but they make plays, can burst to the ball and can erase receivers entirely. Former starting corner Ronnie Bradford, who plays by the book more than with instincts, moves to free safety. The strong safety, Marty Carter, is a tackling machine who is more like a linebacker, but worked hard this offseason to improve his cover skills. Former first-round pick Michael Booker is in a battle for the nickel job and also for his career. Young veteran Eli Williams will see time in the nickel and versatile Gerald McBurrows always seems to make something happen when he is on the field.

Special teams: The kamikaze style of return man Tim Dwight occasionally gets him beaten up but also makes him one of the premier specialists in the league. It will be interesting to see, given his enhanced role in the passing game, how much Dwight is used on returns in 2000. But the staff knows his aggressiveness in attacking coverage units is hard to replace and that he can affect field position with his runbacks. The kicking game is very solid with longtime veterans Morten Andersen and Dan Stryzinski. The former is a future Hall of Fame member, arguably the top clutch placement specialist in league history. While his leg strength isn't what it was a few years ago, Andersen remains a guy you want lined up over the ball in the final minute and facing a 50-yarder. Stryzinski is the NFL's best directional punter and his style virtually eliminates most returns. The only problem is Stryzinski can rarely kick a team out of trouble when it is backed up against its own goal line.