Lets take a closer look at the Falcons Schedule and see if we can predict the final record. Historically I am not the best at predicting the NFL season and I usually under estimate the Falcons wins but that could be a good thing this year.

Week 1: We will be traveling to Kansas City to play the Chiefs. The Chiefs are really not a good football team and I think this will be an easy win for the Falcons. Should KC is a tough place to play but if the Falcons get an early jump on things they can take the crowd right out of it. Falcons win game 1. Falcons record 1-0

Week 2: Tough game as the Peyton Manning led Broncos will be coming in to play the Falcons in a Monday night game. I am sure Peyton will want to show the world that he is healthy. It will be a close game and I am actually going to give the Broncos the win in a close game. Falcons record 1-1.

Week 3: Short week and we have to travel to the West coast to play the Chargers. This is the Falcons only trip to the West Coast and I see no problem with picking their defense apart. I also see no problem getting their offense off the field and maybe getting a few turnovers from them. Falcons win.Falcons record 2-1.

Week 4: Falcons come home to play the Carolina Panthers who are an up and coming team. Cam Newton is the real deal and I am sure the draft will help this team get better. Falcons are home and I am gonna pick the Falcons here in a close game. Falcons record 3-1.

Week 5: The Falcons go up and play the Washington Redskins in Washington DC. They will have a rookie QB and they really are not a playoff caliber team just yet. Falcons win this game easily. Falcons Record 4-1.

Week 6: The Falcons come home and play the Oakland Raiders. I see a few Carson Palmer interceptions and we run all over them. Falcons win and go into the bye week with a win. Falcons record 5-1.

Bye Week

Week 8: The Falcons head up to Philly and face their  old QB Michael Vick. This game is a tough one and playing in Philly gives me the thoughts that the Falcons won’t be able to beat the Eagles. Falcons lose a close game. Falcons record 5-2.

Week 9: The Dallas Cowboys come to the Georgia Dome for a Sunday Night game. Falcons haven’t been beating the Cowboys of late but I see the Falcons winning the game. It will be a close one. Falcons record 6-2.

Week 10: Falcons travel to the Super-dome to play the Saints. How the Saints are going to do this year is a mystery but I am going to say the Falcons win. I think the Saints are in for a crazy year and I don’t see them winning more than 6 games. Falcons record 7-2.

Week 11: Arizona Cardinals come to play the Falcons at the Georgia Dome. I don’t see a West Coast team coming and and beating the Falcons. The Cardinals are still not sure who their QB is although the are stuck with Kevin Kolb there can’t be to much loyalty there. Falcons win the game. Falcons record 8-2.

Week 12: Falcons travel to Tampa Bay and take on a team that has finally spent some money and is on the upswing. Josh Freeman is going to be better than he showed last year. Falcons lose a close game. Falcons record 8-3.

Week 13: Falcons get a Thursday night game against the Saints. Just like I said above the Saints are going to have a cray year and they will not win in the Georgia Dome. They will also be coming in on a short week after playing the 49ers. Falcons win easily. Falcons record 9-3

Week 14: Falcons travel to Carolina to play division rivals the Panthers again but this time on their home turf. I am going to give this game to the Panthers as I just have a feeling that they will be playing better this year and be tough to win at home. The game will be a let down as the Falcons will be coming off a big Thursday night game vs the Saints and will be looking forward to playing the Giants the following week. Falcons lose a close game. Falcons record 9-4.

Week 15: The Super Bowl Champion New York Giants come to the Dome in a rematch of last years playoff game that the Falcons were never in. Giants win again. Falcons record 9-5

Week 16: The Falcons go up to play the Lions in Detroit. This is going to be a tough game and it could have playoff implications for both teams as the Lions are improving. The Falcons beat them last year and I think they will do it again this year in a close game. Falcons record 10-5.

Week 17: Tampa Bay come back to the Georgia dome. I gave the Bucs the win in Tampa but the Falcons will win in the Dome. Once again a close game but the Falcons will need this game more than the Bucs. Falcons win. Falcons record 11-5.

The Falcons are going to the Playoffs again. With an 11-5 record they will also win the division. With the Saints in disarray and the Bucs and panthers not quite there yet it will be the Falcons with the best record when all is said and done.

What do you think about my predictions? Leave a comment and let me know.

October 15, 2006

The trip to Atlanta this time around found my team the Atlanta Falcons playing against the New York Giants. That means that my coworker Charlie had to use my extra ticket. He was nice enough to take me to the Meadowlands for the games that the Falcons played there over the last three years.

The best part of those games was that the Falcons won all three despite Michael Vick not playing in them. We beat the Giants using backup quarterbacks like Doug Johnson and Kurt Kittner. I know Falcon fans that is scary names from our past.

This time around I couldn’t get a hotel really close to the Georgia Dome as I usually do. It seems there was a convention for brain surgeons in the Georgia World Congress Center next door to the dome and it made getting a hotel room almost impossible. I was forced to get a room in the Holiday Inn Express a mile or so away. The rooms were nice but it was just a little bit further away from the dome than I liked.

The game was the worst part of the weekend as the Falcons played horrible and lost and I had to give up my window seat to Charlie as that was the bet. It seemed like we couldn’t cover anyone of their wide receivers and Tiki Barber ran all over the defense which spent most of the third quarter on the field. I was tired of watching them they were on the field so long. That is never a good thing for a defense.

The better part of the weekend was drinking a few beers at Houlihans at the airport after landing and getting the luggage. It is a good place if you have to meet someone at Hartsfield airport.

We also had a great dinner at Jock n Jills in the CNN Center the night before the game. The beers are always cold there and the Steak that Charlie had was huge. As you can tell I am not writing much about the game as there really was nothing that I liked except I got to see Norwood run the ball for the Falcons for the first time. He is going to be something special in the NFL.