Could Falcons Matt Ryan Trade Lead to Colts Super Bowl Title?

It's a stretch, but one analyst thinks it's plausible.

Jeremy Brener | Sep 4, 2022

Robert Scheer-USA TODAY Sports

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Atlanta Falcons

Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is gearing up for his 15th NFL season, but his first one with the Indianapolis Colts.

The Falcons traded Ryan earlier in the offseason to the Colts for a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft (which became linebacker DeAngelo Malone), sending both teams into two different directions.

The move came after the Falcons attempted and failed to trade for Deshaun Watson, which forced Ryan to explore other options. He found an opportunity in Indianapolis after the Colts traded Carson Wentz to the Washington Commanders.

The Colts nearly made the playoffs last year, but due to Wentz's struggles at the end of the season, Indianapolis spent the postseason on the couch. However, NFL analyst Lance Zierlein believes the Colts can hoist the Lombardi Trophy with Ryan under center.

"Matt Ryan breathes life into Indy's passing game and exorcises Super Bowl demons while the Colts' defensive front swarms the Rams for a convincing title triumph," Zierlein writes.

If Ryan helps lead the Colts to their first Super Bowl title in 17 years this season, it will mark the second straight year where an offseason trade for a quarterback parlayed into a championship. Last year, the Detroit Lions traded longtime quarterback and former Georgia Bulldog Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams, who beat the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl.

Ryan might make the Colts better than they were a year ago, but seeing them winning the Super Bowl still feels like a bit of a stretch. However, in the NFL, anything can happen ... even a Ryan Super Bowl victory outside Atlanta.

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Published Sep 4, 2022

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.