Game by game: Here’s how the 2010 Falcons will finish 12-4
"The Super Bowl's that way," Tom Brady tells Matt Ryan. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
The Falcons will finish 12-4 and win the NFC South. Here’s how:
At Pittsburgh, Sept. 12: You don’t like playing these guys anywhere, especially up there on Opening Day with the Steelers coming off a dud season. But if you have to do it, this is the year. Because Ben Roethlisberger won’t be playing. Falcons 21, Steelers 16.
Arizona, Sept. 19: The great receiver Larry Fizgerald sprained a knee ligament in an exhibition game but is expected back for the regular season. Won’t matter. He no longer has Kurt Warner throwing to him. He has Matt Leinart, who hasn’t done a thing since college. Falcons 30, Cardinals 14.
At New Orleans, Sept. 26: Here’s where the watching world starts to take the Birds seriously. The Falcons nearly won in the Superdome last November at a time when the Saints were unbeaten. This time they’ll render the Saints unbeaten no more. Falcons 26, Saints 24.
San Francisco, Oct. 3: A potential misstep. The Falcons are coming off a win that has led NFL pundits — and there are only 10 zillion — to wonder if they’re the new power in the NFC. The Niners are improving incrementally. A tough game, but still a win. Falcons 23, Niners 17.
At Cleveland, Oct. 10: Mike Holmgren is running the Browns. This will help — eventually. Right now this is an NFL irritants: A road game against a lousy team when you’re 4-0 with everyone singing your praises. Falcons 24, Browns 14.
At Philadelphia, Oct. 17: Here’s where Mercury Morris and the rest of the 1972 Miami Dolphins stop sweating the 2010 Falcons. The Eagles are in post-Donovan McNabb mode, but they’re still an OK team. And the Falcons are due to lose. Eagles 20, Falcons 17.
Cincinnati, Oct. 24: The Bengals have found themselves again, but you never know how long a roster that includes Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco can co-exist. Lots of national chatter about this one. Lots more about the Falcons when they win. Falcons 34, Bengals 24.
Tampa Bay, Nov. 7: The Falcons exit their bye week atop the NFC South. They consolidate their hold against the only division opponent they swept last season. Falcons 35, Bucs 3.
Baltimore, Nov. 11: This is more like it. A Thursday night game against a tough AFC bunch. Some will see this as the game that proves Joe Flacco is better than Matt Ryan. (The two were first-round picks in 2008.) Scoreboard suggests otherwise. Falcons 20, Ravens 13.
At St. Louis, Nov. 21: Sam Bradford, the No. 1 pick in the April draft, should be starting by now, assuming he hasn’t already been chased out of the lineup by the utter lack of support around him. The Falcons have nine days to prepare, not that they’ll need it. Falcons 31, Rams 10.
Green Bay, Nov. 28: Another delicious Dome date. The Packers and Falcons are two of the NFC’s three best teams. (The Cowboys being the third.) They could well meet in January. If so, the Falcons had better hope for a different result. Packers 24, Falcons 20.
At Tampa Bay, Dec. 5: Move along, folks. Nothing to see here. Just an angry team hammering a lousy opponent. Falcons 31, Bucs 10.
At Carolina, Dec. 12: The Panthers are where they usually are in December — trying to slide into the playoff chase. This is a must win for Carolina, and it won’t be for the Falcons, who are 10-2 and a postseason cinch. Desperation carries the day. Panthers 17, Falcons 14.
At Seattle, Dec. 19: The third of three consecutive road games involves a long trip. It also involves an accommodating opponent less talented than the pro-style (heh, heh) teams Pete Carroll coached at Southern Cal. Falcons clinch their division. Falcons 27, Seahawks 14.
New Orleans, Dec. 27: Two nights after Christmas, only one team has much on the table. The Falcons have won the NFC South and need one victory in their final two games to secure a first-round bye. The Saints have to win. And do. Saints 30, Falcons 24.
Carolina, Jan. 2: Here it is, folks, the culmination of the finest regular season this franchise has seen since 1998. Those Birds wound up in the Super Bowl. These Birds just might. Falcons 24, Panthers 10.
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201 comments Add your comment
St. Clarkston
August 22nd, 2010
4:20 pm
After watching last years and this preseasons defensive struggles, 10 wins seems more realistic
BT
August 22nd, 2010
4:23 pm
In order for the Falcons to earn a 12/4 record?
They would need to RISE UP!
mario
August 22nd, 2010
4:30 pm
my bad about the SB location but what do you think about my predix
Addison174
August 22nd, 2010
4:37 pm
Is Roll Tide serious?! haha
So how long ago did you turn 6 years old?
No college team could come close to beating the back ups in the NFL.
I think 11-5 but 12-4 sounds great! Go Falcons!
Saint Sal
August 22nd, 2010
4:46 pm
The falcons will be lucky to win 10 games. Mark it down—the falcons will not make the playoffs. Ryans’ overrated and their D has more holes than a slice of swiss cheese. Saints–rolling to another NFC title.
Dawghater
August 22nd, 2010
4:46 pm
Mark,
Tell me you did see the game this week against New England? Preseason or not it showed the Falcons are not in the NFL Elite teams. 12 wins, I don’t think so!
realitycheck
August 22nd, 2010
5:04 pm
No way am I drinking this kool aid! Expectations are way way too high for this team. 10-6 is much more realistic and no guarantee of even that. Too many Falcon fans/writers are blowing their balloons up, only to likely have them pop. For ones drinking that 12-4 kool aid, big disappointment is likely to come. If Brees stays healthy, the Falcons are highly unlikely to overtake the Saints. However if something happens to Brees, then the door will open for the Falcons or Panthers. For everyone who’s so sure of 11-5 or 12-4, I suggest you withdraw all of your savings and fly to Vegas and put it all on the Falcons over 9(nine is the over/under total for regular season wins)for the season. Remember those sly old oddsmakers are usually pretty damn accurate!
juice sourcer
August 22nd, 2010
5:17 pm
Not a chance…loss at Pittsburg to open season sets the wrong tone…10-6 at best.
OranJuceJonz
August 22nd, 2010
5:29 pm
@@@@@@@MB..Did you forget how tough it is to play up in Seattle?? I have that as 1 loss and the 49′S game scares me,im leaning toward a loss there as well
Bob Horner
August 22nd, 2010
5:31 pm
Game 1 @ Pittsburgh will set the tone….(has anybody said that.??) Hines Ward makes a couple of big plays and they beat us on a FG…
observer
August 22nd, 2010
6:05 pm
It would be hilarious to watch an NFL team face a college team. Half the college players would be injured or on stretchers by the end of the game. If the Falcons did play Alabama, it would probably be about 56 – 0. Absolutely no way a college team, even a top notch team, could ever match up with a pro team.
JASon
August 22nd, 2010
6:09 pm
Mark, I agree with the 12-4, I think this schedule is one of the weakest in the country. Who knows they may do even better. But why do you feel the need to predict the scores? Does anyone have any idea how the games are going to play out? What difference does it make if you are correct on the scores, anyway?
Falcons Fan 4 Life
August 22nd, 2010
6:11 pm
I like it Bradley- though I am thinking 11-5. Hawks, Braves, Falcons, Tech, UGA…. we’ve got the best right here in Dixie.
cheshire
August 22nd, 2010
6:14 pm
i hope you’re right Mark. i’m trying to be cautiously optimistic about this team, and that preseason game threw me for a loop. i’m not sure if that was just one of those preseason blips that has no meaning, or if there were some valid red flags there.
bottom line though, this offense has to figure out a way to stay on the field, and this defense has to figure out a way to get off of it. last season was absolutely maddening watching our offense get two quick first downs and then completely stall, or watching our defense give up 3rd down conversion after 3rd down conversion. i don’t think i can handle another season full of that.
i don’t think we’ll go 12-4, but i think we’ll win 10 or 11 and get in the playoffs. after that, who knows. it all depends on (a.) how much Ryan progresses and (b.) how big a leap this defense can make as a unit. i think both will be better than they were last year (especially the defense), but right now, quantifying how much better is almost impossible.
MikeyD
August 22nd, 2010
6:17 pm
No way the Falcons possibly win more than 9 games this season unless there are major changes to the defense, starting with the overrated and underskilled college assistant pretending to be an NFL defensive coordinator. The “D” will continue to resemble swiss cheese until we cut this loser loose!
lakester
August 22nd, 2010
6:18 pm
you sir are the poster boy for a homer. dont know you but ive got 10K says you are wrong.
you have my e mail address so lets set it up, I enjoy free money
Whopper Dawg
August 22nd, 2010
6:49 pm
You are dreaming, the Falcons are the trendy pick this year because they have focused on the D though the last two drafts and free agency, which is perceived as their weak link because of the “stars” on offense. And part of the problem is they are starting to believe it.
The reality is that winning seasons back to back is a milestone for this franchise and we had one playoff appearance which resulted in a first round exit.
The New England game, while only preseason, clearly exhibited how far the Falcons have to go which is substantial. I think another winning season could be in the offing, but the projections of 12 -4 and NFC championship game appearance are widely off base.
PMC
August 22nd, 2010
6:49 pm
I kind of wonder if they really are solid enough on offense to score 35 pts even one time.
Way too many field goals the last two years.
Martin
August 22nd, 2010
6:51 pm
Bradley you are the same guy that predicted the saints would lose to the colts in the super bowl. You also predicted something special in the playoffs with the Atlanta hawks. Now you are saying that the saints would lose at home in the super dome to the dirty birds. With your predictions the saints have nothing to worry about. The dirty birds don’t have the horses on offense or defense to keep up with the saints. I’ll take you up on that bet, there’s no way the dirty birds unseat the saints in the NFC south. Remember in the last eight games the saints are 7-1 against the dirty birds. I predict the Saints sweep the birds again. Remember we’ve owned that team the last couple of years. We in the big easy hate the dirty birds as much as your fans hate the saints.
PMC
August 22nd, 2010
6:51 pm
It feels a bit more like a 10-6 or 11-5 team at this point doesn’t it?
They are good they are solid…. but they have a lot of issues and a fairly difficult division.
Flowery Branch, Georgia
August 22nd, 2010
7:02 pm
.
Nesbitt for Heisman
.
thunderbull56
August 22nd, 2010
7:14 pm
Mark, people used to ask me why I bought a paper every day.My answer was always, I live so far out of town, and I don’t mean Atl,there is no one to deliver a subscription, and what else can I buy for a quarter that delivers as much entertainment value? I know I often dog you and Jiffy, and the others, but that was entertaining.A whole sixteen game wrapup on Aug.22.I will only caution you to remember we once were in the NFC West and that more than the ownership probably contributed to the long no consecutive winning season drought as much as anything.We had to do the left coast three times a year and that was when the Rams were in LA.So SF and Seattle are dangerous games.If we do as well on the road as you predict,I’ll be humbled.Opening in Pittsburgh with Mickey Mouse playing quarterback for the home team, is not a lock.You make your statement as a team early and maintain consistency.And BTW,stick it in the endzone and you won’t need much of a kicking game.
Larry
August 22nd, 2010
7:20 pm
9-7
Mark, did you see how easy it was for the Patriots to convert 3rd downs? And have you not noticed we either can’t or want attempt passes over 30 yards?
A 12-4 team can stop people on key 3rd downs and know how and when to stretch the field!
Larry
August 22nd, 2010
7:25 pm
won’t not want
R.U.KIDDIN-ME???
August 22nd, 2010
7:32 pm
MARK,IBELIEVE THE TEAM WILL BE A 10-6/12-4,WON/LOST SEASON & NOT IN THE ORDER YOU PREDICT!! A LOT WILL DEPEND UPON THE REF’S( SEE THE N.O.KATRINA’S FOR EXAMPLE THEY GOT ALL THE B.S. CALL’S LAST YEAR)!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
August 22nd, 2010
7:34 pm
10-6 seems much more realistic, given that schedule. Don’t sleep on Baltimore and Cincinnati.
Football Bat
August 22nd, 2010
7:37 pm
MARK, YOUR PREDICTION LAST YEAR, scores aside, was almost perfect. You flipped the Carolina games (1-1) and you missed the 2nd New Orleans game which we lost. Every other game you were right on, which actually is damned impressive. Not that I don’t enjoy busting your AJC arse all season, but credit where it’s due, my man so kudos to you.
This year…. well let’s hope you’re only one off again. Vincent Jackson wouldn’t hurt your chances.
bama falcon fan
August 22nd, 2010
7:37 pm
@Pitt=L – Pho=W – @NO=W – SF=W – @CLE=W – @PHI=L – Cin=W – TAM=W – BAL=W – @STL=W – GRE=L – @TAM=W – @CAR=W – @SEA=W – NO=W – CAR=W
For the season – 13-3
Football Bat
August 22nd, 2010
7:44 pm
@ Martin, Falcons fans don’t hate the Saints, we love ‘em as a rival. We just hate half their fans that show up on the Falcons blog. Actually less than half. Some. A few. OK, really pretty much just you.
You can brag about last year, but you escaped by a hair last time. We shall see, we shall see.
Greg
August 22nd, 2010
7:55 pm
Mark, you are a true fan. As you probably know, ‘fan’ is short for ‘fanatic’. I.e., you have lost your mind! What a fantasy! I see the Falcons as an average team this year. Better than the Bucs and the Panthers, yes…but average. I’m originally from Pittsburgh, and I hope you’re right about the Birds beating ‘em this year, but I watched Dennis Dixon play this week, and he gives us plenty to worry about even without Roethlisberger. And the Pittsburgh defense is pretty awesome. I hope I’m wrong, but think we lose the opener
Martin
August 22nd, 2010
8:15 pm
Some of you sorry falcon fans needs to get off that Katrina kick about the saints and how the refs felt sorry for them that’s why they got the calls last year from the refs. If that were the case, the saints would have went to the super bowl in 2006 the year immediately after katrina. That’s the year they played the bears for the NFC championship. The saints won the super bowl because they’ve had the number one offense, the last 3-4 years. They won gene super bowl because they were second in the NFL, because of forcing turn overs. They won because they were the best team, unlike the sorry falcons. Until you win a super bowl, shut the hell up. The saints has played in the NFC championship game the last couple of years, what has your falcons done in that time span, nothing. So I say and I’ll say it again, until your team has the name of super bowl champion, next to it’s name shut the hell up haters.
rekingball
August 22nd, 2010
8:43 pm
Now Martin @8:15pm…….You know that the NFL officials were making a lot of calls in the saints favor in 2009, even if you don’t want to admit it.
Look at the pick6 against the Falcons last year in the 1st game, R. White was fouled by a saints linebacker directly in front of the umpire, and he never threw a flag against the saints.
There ought to be an investigation.
rekingball
August 22nd, 2010
8:45 pm
The Falcons were leading 14-7 at the time, and driving the ball down the field. The officials had to do something to help the saints get a win.
MikeyD
August 22nd, 2010
8:46 pm
Hey Martin –
Proper spelling and correct grammar aren’t crimes. Idiot.
Chop Block
August 22nd, 2010
8:50 pm
Wow, didn’t take long for Martin to show his true colors! Most Falcons fans on this blog keep it professional, even when Saints fans get ugly, but it only took one sideways comment to get Martin to call our Falcons “sorry” and tell us to “shut the hell up.”
Stay classy.
rekingball
August 22nd, 2010
8:51 pm
Later in the 2nd half, that same umpire threw a flag on Falcons LB Peterson for the same foul that was committed against Falcons WR White in the 1st half(that wasn’t called).
Only, Peterson never committed a penalty.Chris Collingsworth looking at the replay made the comment, that if you are going to call a penalty on Peterson for that play, you may as well not even play the game of football. And Collingsworth doesn’t even like the Falcons.
rekingball
August 22nd, 2010
8:53 pm
So in closing, Martin don’t try to tell me that the NFL didn’t help the saints to the SB, because they surely did.
ezcofalconfan52
August 22nd, 2010
8:54 pm
lol martin it wasnt until this past year yall saints fans had a reason to come out of hiding an talk like yall are a every year winning franchise, i use to like the saints as a team but yalls fan base is wack an makes yall team look horrible. unless yall win atleast 10 games every year for the next couple years dont come to our blog talkin down….. an beside falcons still have more overall wins between the 2 teams anyways.
rekingball
August 22nd, 2010
8:56 pm
Oh yeah, I think that MB is a little off on his prediction.
I think that the Falcons will end up at least 13-3 in the regular season, maybe 14-2.
They will beat the Steelers badly, and beat the saints both games.
rekingball
August 22nd, 2010
8:58 pm
GO MIGHTY FALCONS! FLY HIGH!
Bob Horner had a big fro
August 22nd, 2010
9:21 pm
Let’s hope you are right, Mark. We have a good schedule with the 49ers and Green Bay at home. I think this year could be special. However, we have to avoid injuries, and there is no guarantee for that. I can’t disagree with your picks, although I can’t see us losing to the Panthers. I think you threw that one in to sound “realistic.”
J-Man
August 22nd, 2010
9:22 pm
Bradley I know I gave you flak about that “8 Reasons” article on the Braves but I’m gonna let you pass on this one because if I was right last year you predicted a 10-6 or a 9-7 record for the Falcons so you have better mojo with the Falcons than you do with the Braves
Jamesdfd
August 22nd, 2010
9:26 pm
We’re not going to lose to Carolina we should be them twice which should make us 13-3 with a first round playoff bye.
Football Fan
August 22nd, 2010
9:32 pm
Bama earned respect by winning the championship. They lose respect with idiot fans comparing them to an NFL team. That said, the third poster who was “First” has prompted me to say….ROLL TIDE ROLL, AROUND THE BOWL AND DOWN THE HOLE…..
Jay
August 22nd, 2010
9:38 pm
No way they go 12-4. 10-6, 11-5 is far more likely. You underestimate the Saints, and the Cincy game could be tricky, since our secondary looks like hot garbage.
We better hope Robinson is that good.
icedawg
August 22nd, 2010
10:52 pm
9-7, perhaps 10-6, especially seeing how they played against NE
antidog
August 22nd, 2010
10:54 pm
Bradley sorry. How can you say we are going to win at New Orleans, then lose at home. However we have a better chance of winning Green Bay then winning at NO. Also we have a good chance to sweep Carolina. Eagles games would be done. 10 or 11 wins barring injuries is more realistic, with winning the division.
Dawgtards ruin this state
August 22nd, 2010
11:17 pm
Go Birds
DawgDad
August 22nd, 2010
11:35 pm
Easier to see them going 8-8 than 12-4. More likely 10-6. Not nearly enough defense to go 12-4, and the downfield passing game has to be a concern. I’m not sure this team can attack the edges consistently enough to knock off all those teams on the list.
Proud Season Ticket Holder
August 22nd, 2010
11:42 pm
I say 11-5 or 12-4… Preseason games don’t tell the story of a team… Look at the Raiders a few years ago… They went 4-0 and was the worst team in the league that year… I think Atlanta will be the NFC South Champs… The NFL gave the Saints a Super Bowl so ppl would say that saved their city… Both games last year was FIXED!!!!!!! And every other game last season was fixed… Looked like Madden to me smh but the Falcons are prepared to make a deep run… Just watch and see!!!!!!!!!