Bodog Beat

Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan will be expected to continue making progress in the passing game. (AP Images)

Some experts would argue that Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan had the best rookie season of any signal-caller ever — and Ryan was certainly stellar in 2008. He led a Falcon team that most expected to win maybe four games to a playoff berth and threw for 3,440 yards and 16 touchdowns with a QB rating of 87.7.

I'm not here to focus on whether it was the greatest rookie season by a quarterback, especially since Dan Marino and Ben Roethlisberger, among maybe a few others, would have pretty strong arguments. Nope, I'm here to wonder if there's any chance Ryan has a sophomore slump.

Certainly everything came together for Atlanta last year in the wake of the Michael Vick mess. A new general manager, new coach and a new starting running back in Michael Turner all were home runs. But Ryan, the first Falcons rookie to start opening day at quarterback since 1975, was the catalyst to all that success. He actually lived up to the unprecedented six-year, $72 million contract that he received as the No. 3 overall pick out of Boston College.

I would say sophomore slumps are a bit of a media creation. After all, Roethlisberger's numbers were basically the same in his second year, Peyton Manning was much better in Year 2, and Marino set all those records in his second season in the NFL. Even Vince Young was better in his second season than his first – although he apparently fell victim to the junior slump.

Ryan did slide a bit late last year, throwing six interceptions in the final four games (including the playoff loss to Arizona) and exceeding 200 yards passing just once in that stretch. Yet the Falcons went 3-1.

Remember, too, that Ryan didn't have much of a threat at tight end last year. Now the Falcons have future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez to open up the middle, which can only help Ryan and the entire offense.

Ryan's teammates can't stop gushing about him.

"It's actually scary how much he's improved and it's only his second year. People thought he couldn't get much better than last year,” said Falcons fullback Ovie Mughelli to reporters.

If you believe in Ryan, you believe in the Falcons. And at 13/1 odds to win the NFC on Bodog, which is longer odds than eight other teams, that seems like great value if you are a believer. For what it's worth, I am one.

Now is the best time to get your football futures betting…at Bodog.