Yet Another Look Ahead

by Adam Schultz on Oct 14, 2009 11:36 AM EDT

I totally called the 49ers game. Ahem:

The Niners win if: the Falcons are jet-lagged.

Chicago Bears
Where: Georgia Dome
When: Sunday October 18th, 2009 @ 8:20pm
Network: NBC
Why: The NFL just loves scheduling Falcons games on my birthday!

Importance: Pay Attention. A loss here won't doom our season but it will certainly have an impact. Jay Cutler destroyed our defense last year with the Broncos and he looks to do it again this year with the Bears. It's just a shame that defense has regressed with the loss of lynchpin Urlacher.

Notes: Urlacher's gone but Cutler's looking somewhat good. Without a major threat over top and with a so-far middling running game, this game could end up being yet another Lovie Smith will have to forget.

The Falcons win if: they play the same angry, hard-nosed, slap-you-in-the-mouth football that they did against San Francisco last Sunday.

The Bears win if: the Falcons fall asleep at the wheel (see: New England game)

Prediction: Falcons win by 7, or more.

Dallas Cowboys
Where: Cowboys Stadium
When: Sunday October 25th, 2009 @ 4:15pm
Network: FOX
Why: Dallas has been our post-season achilles heel on more than one occasion. That, and the schedule makers were told by the competition committee to ensure the Falcons have the toughest road possible to their first ever back-to-back winning seasons.

Importance: Pay Attention. Dallas is a good litmus test for our offense, especially with a Mr. Keith Brooking on the other side of the ball.

Notes: Dallas has not looked very good the past couple of games. As a matter of fact, it's seems as if they've had to struggle to win.

The Falcons win if: they get adequate pressure on Romo, force some turnovers, and burst out of the gate guns-a-blazin' offensively.

The Cowboys win if: their defense stymies our offense. Yes, it's that simple. Hard thing to do, but NE+bad officiating did it...

Prediction: Falcons win a close one. Yup, I've changed my pick.

New Orleans Saints
Where: Superdome
When: Monday November 2nd, 2009 @ 8:30pm
Network: ESPN
Why: Divisional Game

Importance: Serious Business. If we want the Division, we have to go through Brees and co.

Notes: The New Orleans are 5-0 and look to come off their bye even stronger. I fully expect the Saints to be 7-0 when we face them on MNF.

Prediction: The Falcons lose. Saints are, in my opinion, too strong.

Washington Redskins
Where: Georgia Dome
When: Sunday November 8th, 2009 @ 1:00pm
Network: FOX
Why: We need at least one guaranteed win this year!

Importance: Meh. This will get ugly. Ew.

Notes: Jason Campbell is to Ryan Leaf as Peyton Manning is to Matt Ryan. You do the math.

Prediction: Falcons demolish them.

Carolina Panthers Part Deux
Where: Bank of America Stadium
When: Sunday November 15th, 2009 @ 1:00pm
Network: FOX
Why: Divisional Game

Importance: Serious Business, for obvious reasons.

Notes: The Panthers may actually still only have one win by now. If that's the case, should I even discuss how this game will go down?

Prediction: Falcons stomp em.

New York Giants
Where: Giants Stadium
When: Sunday November 22nd, 2009 @ 1:00pm
Network: FOX
Why: To be the best, you have to beat the best.

Importance: Pay Attention. The Giants’ running game is superb. Hopefully our D can stop it. A great midseason test.

Notes: Our rush D will be put to a heavy test. Our pass rush will be up against a big wall. Our secondary will have to account for a lot of threats. Our running and passing games will be up against a stout defense. A win here will be a big statement.

Prediction: The Falcons lose, but manage to hang a bit of points against the G-Men

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Where: Georgia Dome
When: Sunday November 29th, 2009 @ 1:00pm
Network: FOX
Why: Divisional Game

Importance: Serious Business. Tampa sucks. If they have a win by now, it'll be by sheer luck alone.

Notes: The Bucs are winless. They are likely to continue being that way at this point in the season (yes, I am serious). This'll likely end up looking more like a scrimmage than a game.

Prediction: Falcons stomp 'em.

Philadelphia Eagles
Where: Georgia Dome
When: Sunday December 6th, 2009 @ 1:00pm
Network: FOX
Why: Because Eagles and Falcons are natural enemies.

Importance: Serious Business. Lots of history here plus You Know Who returns to the ATL.

Notes: McNabb will likely be back under center, but Michael "sack magnet" Vick will definitely be coming in. Abe and Biermann will hopefully have a field day with either. The Eagles are consistently tough, and consistently kick our butts on D. With all the weapons we have now, I think the story will end a little differently this time. I’m hoping we take them behind the woodshed. If not, I’d take a regular ol’ win with a side of some stout, brick wall-like Falcons defense.

Prediction: Falcons steal a win by a touchdown or less.

New Orleans Saints 2: Electric Boogaloo
Where: Georgia Dome
When: Sunday December 13th, 2009 @ 1:00pm
Network: FOX
Why: Divisional Game

Importance: Serious Business. With a probable loss in the Superdome, the Birds will definitely have to win here on their home turf if the division title is to be theirs.

Notes: Winning here will be tough but not impossible, especially if the Saints experience a collapse. It's a small hope, but who knows?

Prediction: Falcons lose this one.

New York Jets
Where: Giants Stadium
When: Sunday December 20th, 2009 @ 1:00pm
Network: FOX
Why: Because New Yorkers couldn’t get enough of us the first go round against the Giants.

Importance: Pay Attention. A big test for our offense.

Notes: If I look at this logically, the Jets beat the Patriots, who we got thrashed by. The Jets lost to the Dolphins, who we destroyed. Logically, this is a push. I have no idea who's better. I know the Jet D is good but...seriously, the Dolphins beat them? Hmm...

Prediction: Falcons win, possibly by a double digit margin if everything clicks.

Buffalo Bills
Where: Georgia Dome
When: Sunday December 27th, 2009 @ 1:00pm
Network: CBS
Why: The Bills are expected to be better this year, especially with TO in the fold. They still suck, though.

Importance: Ya know what, even with TO, a big fat MEH here. How do you lose 6-3? How does that happen? Against Cleveland, especially?

Notes: Did you watch last week's game? I sure didn't. Yuck. TO did nothing to help this fledgling team.

Prediction: Falcons win by a touchdown or more

Tampa Bay Buccaneers With a Vengeance
Where: Raymond James Stadium
When: Sunday January 3rd, 2009 @ 1:00pm
Network: FOX
Why: Divisional Game

Importance: Absolultely a Meh.

Notes: Tampa Bay may likely be looking for its third or fourth win at this point in the season.

Prediction: Falcons win, even with third stringers. Yes, I said it.

Current season record: 3-1

Current season prediction: 12-4

tlozwarlock's Current Prediction record: 4-0. Yup, I called the Pats loss too.

Tweet Comment 15 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Hey, tloz...

If your birthday is the 18th, then we share a birthday. I’m really, really amused if it is.

Anywho, I think we can beat the Saints at home. I think the Saints have slowly, but surely been coming back down to earth the past couple of weeks. After we completely embarrassed a supposed good D in the Niners, I think we can take it to the Saints. After all, we DID beat them last year in the dome. Both teams have improved, it’ll be a good game.

After 5 weeks of the season, our schedule looks easier now than it did in the preseason. I personally didn’t expect the Panthers to play such miserable football this year. I didn’t expect the Saints to come together and start disowning teams from the league. The Jets have had an epiphany, “Oh, our QB is a rookie.” and the Bills have regressed. The Eagles game concerns me a bit, but the Saints hung 10,000 points on the Eagles defense, so I believe we can, too. (Especially at the Dome) The Giants are good, but a beatable good, if that makes sense. They’re a complete team, like ourselves, except we’re a bit lesser of a complete team than them for the moment. Well, there’s my mental nugget. Here’s to a great rest of the season.

by Zippo729 on Oct 14, 2009 12:58 PM EDT reply actions

It's the 17th, but I'm hoping to celebrate it on the 18th with a Falcons win!

Thanks for the comments. I’m definitely hoping my Saints predictions turn out to be wrong!

You have opinions. We all do. Some of yours may have to do with the Falcons. Sign up today and share them.

by Adam Schultz on Oct 14, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I think I agree

I think there’s a chance we can take one from the Saints at home, but otherwise this doesn’t seem unreasonable, which is awesome.

by Dave Choate on Oct 14, 2009 1:24 PM EDT reply actions

We'll likely take a win from them at the Dome.

But in order not to jinx it, I go ahead and L it lol

You have opinions. We all do. Some of yours may have to do with the Falcons. Sign up today and share them.

by Adam Schultz on Oct 14, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions

13-3?

That’s if we take one from the Saints, who are definitely good but maybe not this good. And the only other game that could go either way is the Eagles. So that would mean a pretty definite range of 11-5 to 13-3, with potentially more wins. My day just got a whole lot better.

by acie4mvp on Oct 14, 2009 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions

i like it

other than the jets, i think we have one of those “what in the world happened?” games which seem to come once or twice a year and lose this one. still gives us a 11-5 season and a play off bid

by gritzblitz on Oct 14, 2009 5:35 PM EDT reply actions

I agree with tloz

12-4 is what I’m thinking as well, only time will tell.

Go Falcons!

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

by HEYJUDE on Oct 14, 2009 7:20 PM EDT reply actions

I want 13-3

They have to beat the Saints at least once this year (or at least i’d like to see it happen). I’d rather it be the 2nd game also. Realistically i see them going 11-5 though. As a fan, still 13-3

by qthaballa on Oct 14, 2009 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Cutler is a Tool

Hi, Broncos fans here. I’ve visited the ATL a couple of times and you guys are way classy. As for your game against the Bears, when Jay Cutler throws the ball to Falcons defenders, they need to catch it because he throws easily intercepted passes. I’m so glad Orton doesn’t turn the ball over for us AND makes big plays. When the Falcons have it going, they’re really tough to beat. I thought the 49ers were pretty good until you invaded the Stick. Keep up the good work and perhaps we’ll meet with a championship on the line.

Brad James

by the Bradfather on Oct 14, 2009 7:35 PM EDT reply actions

I have heard some of the talking heads saying Cutler beat us once, he can do it again. I have some problems with that.

First, we beat the Bears last year, Cutler(and the refs) beat us last year, so that’s a wash. Second, It has been well proven that you get in Cutler’s face, he melts down. If Anderson stays inside, and Abraham can beat Orlando Pace, well there is no need to guess there. Third, the Bears secondary is highly suspect and Matty Ice knows this, sooooo yeah, I think we should do alright. And last, well, they are coming to the Dome, if we can beat them at their house, I think we will be able to handle business at ours, improved D or no improved D.

by thisistherevolt on Oct 14, 2009 10:40 PM EDT reply actions

Falcons are better since last year, Bears are worse

This one’s not rocket science. I think Atlanta and N.O. come out of week 6 with identical records.

by Mountvillainy on Oct 15, 2009 2:47 AM EDT reply actions

si.com predicts the bears defense will have 3 sacks and 1 INT..HA! does our o-line even give up sacks? i don’t even think they know what a sack is…

by Hcgadawgs on Oct 15, 2009 9:17 AM EDT reply actions

After thinking about this a bit more

I’m gonna have to say this game is Serious Business. I know it’s still way early, but with Minnesota undefeated, Chicago would be one of the possible contenders for a Wild Card spot (if we weren’t able to catch New Orleans). I’d say these 3 (plus division games) are serious business:
1. Chicago
2. NY Giants (especially if New Orleans wins that game Sunday)
3. Philadelphia

I’d be willing to bet the NFC West is only going to send one team (and maybe at 9-7 like last year). Dallas and Washington look like varying degrees of suck. Whoever is 2nd in the NFC East and NFC North will be right there for the Wild Card spots. We get a chance at almost all of those teams (Green Bay excepted, assuming Minnesota wins it). We gotta take them down, in order to secure tie-breakers – just in case we need them…

by orang3b on Oct 15, 2009 11:59 AM EDT reply actions

This

Highly agree with this. It’s always good to plan a back-up…plan..

"This is America, if we can’t self-righteously look down on others and blame them for our faults, the commies win."-----Cormican on Bleeding Green Nation w/r/t fans overreacting to the Eagles signing of Michael Vick

by Jesse28 on Oct 16, 2009 8:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Falcs on the TeeVee

Over here in Cowboy country, I don’t get a lot of chances to watch the Birds. You can guess that I am pretty psyched to get them three weeks in a row. Looking forward to getting a first hand look at the precision offense Messers Ryan, Gonzalez, White and Turner (+ the O-Line) have on display.

by trevbal6 on Oct 15, 2009 8:08 PM EDT reply actions