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| NFC South Atlanta Falcons |
In today's day and time, the NFL is like New York City, it's the league that never sleeps. Yes, it is the offseason, or it's the term that has come to be known in this league as the NFL business season. The time where everything off the football field happens, free agency, contracts, and the always anticipated schedule release that falls before the NFL Draft. The 2012 regular season schedule was released on Tuesday, April 17 on NFL Network's Total Access.
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| Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
The Falcons' schedule is a little bit, what should I say, maybe, 'what were they thinking side' when they decided on the Falcons schedule.The Falcons are the only team in the NFL that from beginning to end, with the first game at Kansas City and the last game in the Georgia Dome against Tampa Bay that has an away, home, away, home throughout the entire season. The only consecutive home and away games are in the preseason. For preseason play, the team plays their normal teams that they usual play during the exhibition play. But this year they are adding in the Cincinnati Bengals, who we play every so often. Falcons open the preseason at home Thursday, August 9 versus the Baltimore Ravens, then the following Thursday in the Dome against the Cincinnati Bengals. Friday, August 24 the team travels to Miami to square off with the Dolphins. The Falcons close out preseason play at Jacksonville as they face the Jaguars, which are lead by former Falcons Offensive Coordinator, now current Jaguars Head Coach Mike Mularky. The Falcons schedule is ranked 24th amongst all teams schedules with a winning percentage of .488 of teams from last year. That number is a bit skewed in my opinion because Denver and Carolina will be much better this year with the additions of QB Peyton Manning in Denver and the maturity of play by QB Cam Newton in Carolina.
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| Carolina Panthers |
The Falcons play four playoff teams from a year ago including the Super Bowl Champs New York Giants. A little bit of an advantage this year is Atlanta plays the Giants at home. A disadvantage might be the game is late in the season in week 15, and things could be getting tight and the pressure mounting as it gets closer to playoff time. The Falcons play at home versus the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on September 17. It's been a long time since Peyton Manning stepped onto the Georgia Dome turf to play a game. The Falcons also play division rival and 2011 division winner New Orleans Saints on November 11 (away) and then a national televised game on NFL Network on Thursday, November 29. The Falcons might be looking at a different Saints team depending on the suspensions that Commissioner Roger Goodell could be handing down on the team this week due to bountygate. The next two games are against the playoff teams back to back, New York at home on Sunday, December 15, then away against the rising Detroit Lions the following week December 22.
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| New Orleans Saints |
A quick link to a printable schedule of all the teams the Falcons play, just go to: www.atlantafalcons.com/schedule/. The schedule looks pretty good this year except for the away, home, throughout the entire season. I'm not going to get way ahead of myself as I am always optimistic. But my prediction is a 10-6 season. Got to start winning some playoff games to start being considered an elite (great) team. Right now the team is an above average (good) team.
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| Mark A. Kirkley: twitter @makirkley |
2012 Atlanta Falcons Schedule
Preseason:
P1. vs Baltimore Thurs Aug 9 // 7:30 pm
P2. vs Cincinnati Thurs Aug 16 // 8:00 pm
P3. @ Miami Fri Aug 24 // 7:30 pm
P4. @ Jacksonville Thurs Aug 30 // 6:30 pm
Regular Season:
W1. @ Kansas City Sun Sept 9 // 1:00 pm
W2. vs Denver Mon Sept 17 // 8:30 pm (ESPN)
W3. @ San Diego Sun Sept 23 // 4:05 pm
W4. vs Carolina Sun Sept 30 // 1:00 pm
W5. @ Washington Sun Oct 7 // 1:00 pm
W6. vs Oakland Sun Oct 14 // 1:00 pm
W7. BYE WEEK
W8. @ Philadelphia Sun Oct 28 //1:00 pm
W9. vs Dallas Sun Nov 4 // 8:20 pm (NBC)
W10. @ New Orleans Sun Nov 11 // 1:00 pm
W11. vs Arizona Sun Nov 18 // 1:00 pm
W12. @ Tampa Bay Sun Nov 25 //1:00 pm
W13. vs New Orleans Thurs Nov 29 // 8:20 pm (NFL Network)
W14. @ Carolina Sun Dec 9 // 1:00 pm
W15. vs NY Giants Sun Dec 16 // 1:00 pm
W16. @ Detroit Sat Dec 22 // 8:30 pm (ESPN)
W17. vs Tampa Bay Sun Dec 30 // 1:00 pm
My poor Browns are screwed this year again.
ReplyDeleteI've seen inconsistency with the Browns year in and year out. You'll need a stable QB, and Colt McCoy isn't the answer. Maybe Brandon Weeden can give strength at the QB position. Awesome pick in RB Trent Richardson though. Have faith my friend.
ReplyDelete