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Rejoice football fans, for the NFL's regular season has finally returned to us. Of course the real season, as we know, does not begin until 1 p.m. on Sunday.
As we stand on the precipice of a meaningful Falcons football game, the fine staff writers at The Falcoholic (and myself) are going to conduct a timeless, age-old exercise that any self-respecting sports writer would conduct: making predictions that will undoubtedly, surely wind up incredibly wrong and make us seem foolish in hindsight.
And here... we... go:
Dave Choate
From Dave: I have the Falcons going 9-7, with the resurgent offense carrying a defense that still has several kinks to work through. Here's how that plays out.
W vs. Saints
L @ Bengals
W vs. Buccaneers
W @ Vikings
L @ Giants
L vs. Bears
W @ Ravens
W vs. Lions
L @ Buccaneers
W @ Panthers
W vs. Browns
L vs. Cardinals
L @ Packers
W vs. Steelers
L @ Saints
W vs. Panthers
Jeanna Thomas
From Jeanna: With a healthy roster, finishing the season 10-6 is not at all out of the question. There are some really tough opponents down the stretch, though, and the Falcons will have to really work for a playoff spot in the competitive NFC.
Week 1: W vs. Saints
Week 2: L @ Bengals
Week 3: W vs. Bucs
Week 4: W @ Vikings
Week 5: W @ Giants
Week 6: W vs. Bears
Week 7: L @ Ravens
Week 8: W vs. Lions
Week 10: W @ Bucs
Week 11: L @ Panthers
Week 12: W vs. Browns
Week 13: L vs. Cardinals
Week 14: L @ Packers
Week 15: W vs. Steelers
Week 16: L @ Saints
Week 17: W vs. Panthers
Alex Welch:
The ever-morose Alex Welch has the Dirty Birds going 8-8. Typical.
Week 1, vs. Saints: L
Week 2, at Bengals: L
Week 3, vs. Bucs: W
Week 4, at Vikings: W
Week 5, at Giants: W
Week 6, vs. Bears: L
Week 7, at Ravens: W
Week 8, vs. Lions: L
Week 10, at Bucs: L
Week 11, at Panthers: L
Week 12, vs. Browns: W
Week 13, vs Cardinals: W
Week 14, at Packers: L
Week 15, vs. Steelers: W
Week 16, at Saints: L
Week 17, vs. Panthers: W
Caleb Rutherford
From Caleb, who has Atlanta going 13-3: Get on my level.
Week 1, vs. Saints: W
Week 2, at Bengals: W
Week 3, vs. Bucs: W
Week 4, at Vikings: W
Week 5, at Giants: W
Week 6, vs. Bears: W
Week 7, at Ravens: W
Week 8, vs. Lions: W
Week 10, at Bucs: W
Week 11, at Panthers: L
Week 12, vs. Browns: W
Week 13, vs Cardinals: W
Week 14, at Packers: L
Week 15, vs. Steelers: W
Week 16, at Saints: L
Week 17, vs. Panthers: W
Alec Shirkey
Even with Lamar Holmes back in the starting fold, a revamped offensive line and a healthy Julio Jones should be enough for the offense to carry Atlanta through a relatively forgiving schedule to a 9-7 record. Whether that proves enough to make the playoffs, I'm not so sure.
Week 1: W vs Saints
Week 2: L at Bengals
Week 3: W vs Bucs
Week 4: W at Vikings
Week 5: L at Giants
Week 6: L vs Bears
Week 7: W at Ravens
Week 8: W vs Lions
Week 10: L at Bucs
Week 11: L at Panthers
Week 12: W vs Browns
Week 13: W vs Cardinals
Week 14: L at Packers
Week 15: W vs Steelers
Week 16: L at Saints
Week 17: W vs Panthers
Matt Chambers
W vs. Saints
L @ Bengals
W vs. Buccaneers
W @ Vikings
L @ Giants
L vs. Bears
W @ Ravens
L vs. Lions
L @ Buccaneers
W @ Panthers
W vs. Browns
W vs. Cardinals
L @ Packers
W vs. Steelers
W @ Saints
W vs. Panthers