Monday Night Football returns to the ATL in 2010
061022 - ATLANTA, GA -- ROETHLISBERGER KNOCKED OUT--Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is knocked out of the game on this hit by Falcons defensive end Patrick Kerney during 3rd quarter action at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2006. Roethlisberger may be suspended when the Falcons face the Steelers this season. (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC staff)
UPDATE
061022 - ATLANTA, GA -- ROETHLISBERGER KNOCKED OUT--Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is knocked out of the game on this hit by Falcons defensive end Patrick Kerney during 3rd quarter action at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2006. Roethlisberger may be suspended when the Falcons face the Steelers this season. (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC staff)
BIRDLAND — The league’s premier in-season event, Monday Night Football, returns to Atlanta after a two-year hiatus.
The Falcons’ 2010 schedule is highlighted with two national television appearances, including one outing on Monday Night Football against the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints.
The Falcons will host the Saints at 8:30 p.m. on Mon., Dec. 27 at the Georgia Dome. The game will be televised on ESPN.
The Falcons other nationally televised game will be against the Baltimore Ravens at 8:20 p.m. on Thur., Nov. 11 at the Georgia Dome. The game will be televised by the NFL Network.
The Falcons played on Monday Night Football last season, but the game was in New Orleans. In 2008, the team did not play any prime time games.
The Falcons last played at home on Monday on Dec. 10, 2007 against the Saints. It would be Bobby Petrino’s last game as the head coach, a 34-14 drubbing.
The Falcons have the 20th toughest schedule in the league based on their opponents’ records in 2009 (127-129).
Last season, the Falcons finished 9-7 to post the franchise’s first back-to-back winning seasons. However, the team, which was beset with injuries to key starters in running back Michael Turner and quarterback Matt Ryan, posted only one victory over a team (New York Jets) that finished last season with a winning record.
In 2010, the Falcons will face six non-division opponents – Arizona (10-6), Green Bay (11-5), Baltimore (9-7), Philadelphia (11-5), Cincinnati (10-6) and New England (10-6) — who posted winning records last season.
Here’s a look at the Falcons 2010 Schedule:
Preseason games: Kansas City — 8 p.m. Fri., Aug. 13; New England – 8 p.m., Thur., Aug. 19; At Miami, 7 p.m. Fri., Aug. 27; At Jacksonville – 7:30 p.m., Thur., Sept. 2
THE REGULAR SEASON
The Falcons could see Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford in his rookie season if he's selected, as expected, by the St. Louis Rams. The Falcons play at St. Louis on Nov. 21.
AT PITTSBURGH
Date: Sept. 12, 1 p.m.
Last season: 9-7, third in AFC North.
The skinny: Ben Roethlisberger could be suspended, but the Steelers still have Hines Ward.
ARIZONA
Date: Sept. 19, 1 p.m.
Last season: 10-6, first in NFC West.
The skinny: Quarterback Matt Leinart will get his chance to take over for the retired Kurt Warner.
AT NEW ORLEANS
Date: Sept. 26, 1 p.m.
Last season: 13-3, first is NFC South.
The skinny: The Saints had some key losses during free agency.
SAN FRANCISCO
Date: Oct. 3, 1 p.m.
Last season: 8-8, second in NFC West.
The skinny: The 49ers will be seeking revenge from the 45-10 whipping the Falcons put on them last season.
AT CLEVELAND
Date: Oct. 10, 1 p.m.
Last season: 5-11, fourth in AFC North.
The skinny: Tennessee safety Eric Berry, of Creekside High, could land with the Browns.
Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens come to the Georgia Dome for a nationally televised game on Nov. 11. The game will be shown on The NFL Network.
AT PHILADELPHIA
Date: Oct. 17, 1 p.m.
Last season: 11-5, second in NFC East.
The skinny: Off to see the Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick show.
CINCINNATI
Date: Oct. 24, 1 p.m.
Last season: 10-6, first in AFC North.
The skinny: The Bengals picked up wide receiver Antonio Bryant in free agency.
BYE WEEK, Oct. 31
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Date: Nov. 7, 1 p.m.
Last season: 3-13, fourth in NFC South.
The skinny: The Buccaneers will rely on quarterback Josh Freeman from the outset.
BALTIMORE
Date: Thur., Nov. 11, 8:20 p.m. (NFL Network)
Last season: 9-7, second in AFC North.
The skinny: Ray Lewis and Ed Reed continue to lead the defense.
AT ST. LOUIS
Date: Nov. 21, 4:05 p.m.
Last season: 1-15, fourth in NFC West.
The skinny: The Rams are expected to take quarterback Sam Bradford in the draft.
GREEN BAY
Date: Nov. 28, 1 p.m.
Last season: 11-5, second in NFC North.
The skinny: The Packers feature the passing of quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
AT TAMPA BAY
Date: Dec. 5, 1 p.m.
AT CAROLINA
Date: Dec. 12, 1 p.m.
Last season: 8-8, third in NFC South.
The skinny: The Panthers have turned the page on the Jake Delhomme era.
AT SEATTLE
Date: Dec. 19, 1 p.m.
Last season: 5-11, third in the NFC West.
The skinny: Pete Carroll has returned to the NFL.
NEW ORLEANS
Date: Monday, Dec. 27, 8:30 (ESPN)
CAROLINA
Date: Jan. 2, 1 p.m.
ABOUT THE FALCONS SCHEDULE
BYE WEEK BREAKDOWN: The Falcons will have their bye week after playing seven games, one game short of the halfway point of the season.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The will have to prove their mettle on the road or risk getting off to a bad start in 2010. To open the season, they will play four of their first six games on the road. Under head coach Mike Smith the Falcons are 7-10 on the road, including the wildcard loss in Arizona after the 2008 season.
THROW BACK GAMES: The Falcons will wear their throwback uniforms in two home games. They will make their uniform decisions at a later time.
HOME SWEET HOME: After the bye week, the Falcons will play three of four games at home against Tampa Bay, Baltimore and Green Bay.
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156 comments Add your comment
You stupid MF!
April 20th, 2010
5:31 pm
I believe the falcons are in the process of acquiring MV7 in a Trade sending Poot Butt Ryan to the Canadian Football League….
You Heard it hear first!
Kevin Turner
April 20th, 2010
5:31 pm
With the schedule we are looking at there should be no excuse why we can’t win at least 11 games.
Painful Truth!!!
April 20th, 2010
5:33 pm
These Falcon fans have lost their DAMN minds!!!! Isee folks talking 12-4 or 13-3!!!! Looks more like a 8-8 or 9-7 to me but I don’t have Glasses shaped like Falcons on….
Tigerpaw1014
April 20th, 2010
5:41 pm
Are the Falcons taking a contingent from Milledgeville?
Chucktown 38
April 20th, 2010
5:41 pm
We nee a top flight WR to help Roddy and Tony G out. Some one if teams D doubles Roddy and Tony G they will pay the price.How about LaFells from (LSU)
chc4
April 20th, 2010
5:42 pm
We are hosting the Saints on Monday Night the 2nd to last week of the season — Dec. 27.
NO 504 SAINTS SUPER BOWL CHAMPS
April 20th, 2010
6:01 pm
tHE saints are 7-1 AGAINST THE durty turds the PAST 4 YEARS…WE COULD CARE LESS WHERE WE PLAY THEM/OR DAY WE’LL JUST BEAT THE foul-cons…
CW52
April 20th, 2010
6:04 pm
steelers traded a 7th round pick for byron leftwich from the buccaners BREAKING NEWS BREAKING NEWS BREAKING NEWS dont believe me turn on ESPN NEWS
extremus
April 20th, 2010
6:06 pm
At least on the surface that schedule seems very favorable for a third straight winning season (yes, I like the sound of that), and very possibly a playoff run. Will this year’s Falcons team be improved enough to get past the Saints and become the new darlings of the NFL? Possibly, in fact after those two very close games against stacked odds last year, I still think they will sweep the season series from New Orleans. Hopefully in the upcoming NFL Draft, Thomas Dimitroff will make several effective acquisitions on both the defensive and offensive line; we absolutely need a better passing attack and Matt Ryan would benefit hugely from better pass protection.
GO FALCONS!!!!!
NO 504 SAINTS SUPER BOWL CHAMPS
April 20th, 2010
6:10 pm
THE SAINTS havent lost SHARPER the story is a little misleading in the regard
CW52
April 20th, 2010
6:13 pm
i wonder in the opener vs the steelers if they will start leftwich
Gwinnett Fred
April 20th, 2010
6:16 pm
Only fitting that Big Ben won’t be playing when we go there after bringing all that bad publicity on our former Capital City!!!!
chc4
April 20th, 2010
6:38 pm
Scott Case — uh, the reason NO has an easier schedule is we have them twice and they were 13-3 last year. No conspiracy, only common sense.
hiramsaint
April 20th, 2010
6:43 pm
well lets just cancel the season and give the falcants the lombardi trophy now. y’all must be out of your minds to think your gonna win all those games.
VP
April 20th, 2010
7:02 pm
just two primetime games? are you kidding me? FU NFL.
VP
April 20th, 2010
7:04 pm
Falcons Schedule:
@ PIT
ARZ
@NO
SF
@CLE
@PHL
CIN
BYE
TB
BAL (thursday night)
@STL
GB
@TB
@CAR
@SEA
NO (Monday night)
CAR
hiramsaint
April 20th, 2010
7:06 pm
vp— and you deserve more primetime why?
VP
April 20th, 2010
7:07 pm
Go back to NO please. I am Falcons fan ofcourse i will always demand more primetime games. That is what being a fan is about. See if the Saints have a website and go there please.
Section134
April 20th, 2010
7:11 pm
Come on Atlanta………come out and support your team. Buy season tix and let’s turn this town around!! Go Falcons!!!
hiramsaint
April 20th, 2010
7:12 pm
you can demand all you want but why do you think you rate more primetime ?
martin2323
April 20th, 2010
7:26 pm
I see you turdybird fans are still talking SMACK about what could have been last year. You guys were the only team the saints beat twice last year. The saints have BEATEN the turdybirds 7 out of the last 8 times. You guys don’t have a chance against the super bowl champs. Get used to super bowl champion being mentioned with the saints name, because it will never be mentioned with the falcants. In case you have not heard the saints have been adding pieces on defense this off season. You guys are in trouble again. The super bowl champs will beat your sorry team on national t.v, December 27, 2010, on your turf, so get ready for the who dat nation. We hate to spoil your christmas, but guess what we would love nothing better then to do it to the turdybirds. I can’t wait to wear my super bowl champion leather jacket in the georgia dome come december. Now sit back guys and watch the super bowl champions beat up on the vikqueens come september. Trust me the saints will be partying with the LOMBARDI again in 2011.
hiramsaint
April 20th, 2010
7:32 pm
whodat twodat martin2323
VP
April 20th, 2010
7:47 pm
Hey loosers get off our welfare system and go back down to where you came from.
VP
April 20th, 2010
7:54 pm
Enter your comments hereBreakdown: Drawing Tampa Bay twice and St. Louis once in less than a month should help the Falcons avoid the mid-year slump that hurt them so badly last year and closing the season with the Saints and Panthers at home could give the Falcons a real chance in the NFC South — if the Saints don’t run away with it again.
The opener in Pittsburgh may look tough at the moment. But if there’s any suspension for Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger it will, at the very least, involve that game. That could get the Falcons off to a fast start.
Complaint department: Looks like the schedule-makers might have been trying to make things up to the Falcons after handing them such a brutal schedule last year and put them against four teams coming off byes. The bye week comes almost in the middle of the season, the final two games are at home and the Falcons got two primetime games.
Revenge of the Birds? When the Eagles came to Atlanta last year, the Falcons were banged up with injuries and Philadelphia made it a point to showcase Michael Vick against his former team. The Atlanta brass was too classy to publicly complain about it. But there were plenty of people within the organization who were furious with Philadelphia coach Andy Reid. They’ll get a chance to pay him back Oct. 17 when they go to Philadelphia.
Falcons Regular Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Sunday, Sep. 12, at Pittsburgh, 1:00 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 19, Arizona, 1:00 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sep. 26, at New Orleans, 1:00 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 3, San Francisco, 1:00 PM
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 10, at Cleveland, 1:00 PM
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 17, at Philadelphia, 1:00 PM
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 24, Cincinnati, 1:00 PM
Week 8: BYE
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 7, Tampa Bay, 1:00 PM
Week 10: Thursday, Nov. 11, Baltimore, 8:20 PM
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 21, at St. Louis, 4:05 PM
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 28, Green Bay, 1:00 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 5, at Tampa Bay, 1:00 PM
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 12, at Carolina, 1:00 PM
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 19, at Seattle, 4:05 PM
Week 16: Monday, Dec. 27, New Orleans, 8:30 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2, Carolina, 1:00 PM
D. Orlando Ledbetter
April 20th, 2010
8:10 pm
The members of the media I’ve spoken with are happy that the trips to Pittsburgh and Cleveland are early in the season.
martin2323
April 20th, 2010
8:11 pm
VP- I’ll show you where your welfare is dude. If paying over 5,000.00 a year in taxes to the state of georgia every year in property taxes, then I guess I’m on welfare. Now, let’s get back to your falcants, there’s no way they beat the saints. You guys will not and I repeat will not even make the playoff’s, AGAIN. So wishful thinking on your part. The who dat nation will take over the georgia dome, like always. I suspect by december 27, all you turdybird fans will have fallen off the bandwagon, you know the usual.
VP
April 20th, 2010
8:27 pm
Hey looser may be go and find and some find of saints fan to hang with!!
Oh right none of them know how a computer works anyway so never mind.
accountant
April 20th, 2010
8:36 pm
Hey Martin – If you’re paying property taxes to the state you’re a moron. The state does not tax property, the county you reside in is another issue. Anyway you can go back to the bayou now
hiramsaint
April 20th, 2010
8:45 pm
bitterness before the season even begins — i suppose thats because y’all know how the season will end. you and matty slush and smitty sittin’ on a couch watching the saints .
jpage327
April 20th, 2010
8:46 pm
Looks like a good schedule. I’m just glad the Falcons have a favorable match up this year. It means not everything will be handed to the Saints again this year, haha. Now we can see how the Saints really match up.
Home field advantage = a good Christmas for the Falcons!!
DePlane
April 20th, 2010
8:48 pm
Martin,
I can appreciate your enthusiasm for the Aint’s, having won the SB and all. But don’t dismiss the Birds just yet. The Falcans suffered through last season and pulled out 9-7. After the 2008 campaign that was dissapointing. But the Falcons are always in the rivalry between dem dang Aint’s and will give them a tough game, and you are dreaming if you think it’s going to be the Big Easy shootin’ dem Birds down this year.
Don’t know nothing about your welfare…don’t wish you no harm. Revel in your glory for the year, you deserve it…I would if the Falcons went all the way. But its a brand new year so don’t come here swashbuckling in with your glory hounds raining down on the spirit of the Falcon faithful.
Trust you? Why should we trust you…some armchair Saints leather jacket wearing Aint? lol! Dem Aints going to repeat cause dem Falcaaanns going to take care of em’ this year. You wait and see…you don’t understand the process.
martin2323
April 20th, 2010
8:51 pm
It seems to me the only loosers are the falcants and their fans, who continue to pray that one day, maybe one day the turdybirds win a super bowl. I suspect by the middle of the season, you guys will be back on this site talking about what could have been etc, just like this past year. I thought this was the saints cite, as it seems to me that 95 percent of the people on here are talking about super bowl champion saints. Take a look at that super bowl banner when we play the vikes in september, as that’s as close as the falcants will get to a super bowl banner. So i’ll hang in the bayou, the back woods of you hicks from georgia or on this site if I choose to. I know it pains you guys to say or hear super bowl champion saints being mentioned by the media, such is life.
DePlane
April 20th, 2010
8:54 pm
I like the schedule…only 1 divisional opponent in the first seven games, then 4 out of last five against the division two on the road, two at home.. That will be very interesting.
FalconUGAFan
April 20th, 2010
8:57 pm
martin2323….congrats to your Saints for the Super Bowl win… Thanks for joining us on the Falcons blog…
DePlane
April 20th, 2010
8:59 pm
Your derogatory attitude towards the fine upstanding fans on this site is apallable. You are disgrace to your brethren. No self respecting Aint fan…oh yeah…there aren’t any…would be dumb enough…oh wait a minute that’s wrong…would jinx their beloved stitched together now falling apart team by coming on another teams site…a fierce divisional rival at that…and jinx their team would they?
Oh no, the voodoo been cast…you have done it now!
bob
April 20th, 2010
9:06 pm
Good schedule. Get Pitt, Phoenix & Philly early with new QB’s.
At St.L, Clev, Sea very winnable.
Pivot game is Thurs w Balt. If can steal on short week, then 11 days to rest for St.L, could really boost season.
of course you never which team will be hot at a particular time of the year.
Falcon
April 20th, 2010
9:08 pm
Get out of our city Saints fans! You are all terrible and obvious fans. At least some of us congratulated you on the SB win, but if you want to go down that road again, we can make that happen!
JDH
April 20th, 2010
9:08 pm
That is a pretty favorable schedule I’d have to say. On the road against the weak teams and have the stronger teams at home. We get Pitt without Big Ben.
The only out of division games on the road against teams with a winning record last season are both in Pennsylvania. The Eagles (in transition but still strong) look to be the toughest road game without Big Ben under center (assuming they give this chump at least a 1 game suspension). An aside from that the only other road game vs a team with a winning record is the Saints game.
On the flip side, the Saints have all tough out of division road games (SF, AZ, DAL, CIN, Balt.) I’d say putting the 2 schedules up against each other, NO looks much tougher which bodes well for the Birds chances of taking the division.
dr henry/augusta
April 20th, 2010
9:16 pm
Orlando, the Thurs. night game on the NFL network is only nationally televised to a select few – - I hope the radio crew is in fine form that night./…
DePlane
April 20th, 2010
9:16 pm
Bob…I agree. No Big Ben, no Warner and no McNabb. Rookie in St. Louis, patchwork or a rookie in Cleveland, who knows what in Seattle.
Baltimore against Flacco and new weapons will be a nice game. Tampa and Carolina rebuilding….New Orleans overdue for some Falcons vengance. A good schedule for the process to unfold.
CraigDat
April 20th, 2010
9:23 pm
I respect the Falcons and their organization from top to bottom. They have a promising future ! To all of you Saints haters out there I have one thing to say to you ” Welcome to The Louisiana Superdome, Home of the SUPERBOWL XLIV CHAMPION, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS !”
Kyle
April 20th, 2010
9:57 pm
Open up at Pittsburgh. Might as well stay at home and rest and take 0-1 the easy way and rest up for the home opener.
Goldenglove002
April 20th, 2010
10:09 pm
I’m thinking 11 or 12 wins based off the schedule
hiramsaint
April 20th, 2010
10:15 pm
deplane–stitched together now falling apart team ? we’ve lost two players to other teams. fugita wasn’t a hurt to us. bell was a bit but thats it. what are you talkin’ about?
hiramsaint
April 20th, 2010
10:32 pm
goldenglove002- sorry man , the falcants don’t have any highschool teams on the schedule this year
chris taylor
April 20th, 2010
10:44 pm
Only one team off a bye, Bengals, then we have them at home. Most our tough non-divisional games at home, Saints are on the road. Monday Night at the Dome against the Saints on my birthday. I will be there definately. Can’t help but feel good bout our schedule. Looks promising but we play some teams with dangerous passing games, Packers, Bengals, Ravens, Saints. I think we need to do a little more for our pass rush and pass defence. But all in all it looks like a great year ahead. Can’t wait.
chris taylor
April 20th, 2010
10:57 pm
Does anyone else notice how class/respect deficient most Saints fans are. There are a few good ones but man…..they were the punching bag of the leage for years now all of a sudden they have no humility at all. Karma is a Mo Fo, be careful what you ask for Saints fans. No matter how much I hate you I always give respect. That simple fact will make beating you this year so much better.
chris taylor
April 20th, 2010
11:10 pm
Saints will lose home opener vs Vikings. That game will shut them up and set the tone for their whole season. Atlanta should sign Sharper if just to put him on practice squad or rotate him with Moore on obvious passing downs. Hurt them Saints as much as possible.
hiramsaint
April 21st, 2010
5:28 am
chris , you are so right on man and how could you not be seein’ that you’re one of those humble , gracious falcons fans. y’all aint beatin’ squat except youeselves for keeping smitty and matty slush for another year
The Captain
April 21st, 2010
5:44 am
In 2010, the Falcons will face six non-division opponents – Arizona (10-6), Green Bay (11-5), Baltimore (9-7), Philadelphia (11-5), Cincinnati (10-6) and New England (10-6) — who posted winning records last season.
NE is a preseason game