The San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks engaged in an offseason arms race, loading up two already stacked rosters with free agents and draft picks. But could the Atlanta Falcons be flying be under the radar and poised to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl?

"I still believe this team — the Atlanta Falcons — has a lot of talent on this roster," said free-agent acquisition, running back Steven Jackson. "They have the experience of now having been in the playoffs some years in a row. I believe falling short in the championship game will bring them back even hungrier."

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The Falcons, who fell 28-24 in the NFC championship game after leading the 49ers 17 points, addressed their major offseason needs — a better pass rush and running game. The addition of Jackson should provide an immediate boost to the league's 29th ranked rushing attack (87.3 yards per game). As a whole the unit averaged a measly 3.7 yards per carry.

Jackson, who will turn 30 during this summer, is not the player he once was. But with passing weapons like Roddy White, Julio Jones and Tony Gonzalez at Ryan's disposal, the Falcons don't need a bell cow back.

They just need someone who can prevent defenses from keying on the pass and who can grind out the clock to protect a fourth-quarter lead. The Falcons led the 49ers 24-14 at halftime and 24-21 going into the fourth quarter of the NFC title game, but they only amassed 81 rushing yards (a 3.5 average) during the contest.

The running game stalled behind Michael Turner.

The former bruising back seems to have worn down after carrying the ball 1,189 times from 2008 to 2011. Known for his powerful legs, Turner looked as if he was running through mud last year and averaged just 3.6 yards a carry on his 800 rushing yards.

Jackson, a three-time Pro Bowler, may have slowed, too, but the bulldozing, 240-pounder has a lot more left in his tank than Turner. He averaged 79.8 yards a game during the last half of the 2012 season. Jackson ran for 1,041 yards in all, averaging 4.1 a carry.

"[I have] breakaway speed," Jackson said, "and a tenacity to never say, 'quit.' "

His rugged running style will serve as a nice complement to the shifty 5-foot-6, 196-pound Jacquizz Rodgers. Jackson has been friends with his fellow Oregon State Beaver since 'Quizz was a teenager.

The Falcons' offensive arsenal also will have one of the best weapons in NFL history, Gonzalez, who had previously said he was "95 percent" sure he would retire after the 2012 season.

[Related: NFC South offseason review: Bucs make big moves]

The return of last year's 93-catch, 930-yard, eight-touchdown star further enticed Jackson to sign with the Falcons.

"It definitely made the decision a little easier," said Jackson, whose new team went 13-3 and had homefield advantage in the NFC playoffs last season.

One of Atlanta's problems in 2012 was a pass defense that ranked just 23rd in the league. That statistic had much to do with a poor rush, which totaled 29 sacks (28th in the league). The signing of defensive end Osi Umenyiora, who has 26 ½ regular-season sacks in the past three years, should improve that area.

"This a team that I feel needs or could use a player like myself," Umenyiora said.

Umenyiora should serve as an upgrade over John Abraham. Umenyiora (31) is four years younger than the unsigned Abraham. While effective for the Falcons (10 sacks last season), Abraham played limited snaps to preserve his oft-injured body.