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Cam Marino

Falcons week-by-week schedule predictions

Just recently, the NFL released every team’s 2020 schedule and the Falcons have one of the toughest in the league. Here is my take on how the team will fare in each game.

Week 1, Sept. 13: vs. Seahawks  

Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

The Falcons open the season at home here against an incredibly talented Seahawks team. The last time these two met in 2019, Atlanta fell to Seattle. This offseason, both teams upgraded their rosters but I see the Falcons starting off slow. Atlanta’s offense will still be trying to mesh and the Seahawks’ savvy coaching staff will present a tough Week 1 challenge.

OUTCOME: LOSS, 0-1

Week 2, Sept. 20: at Cowboys

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The Falcons have shown in history that they can beat Mike McCarthy, the Cowboys’ new head coach. Plus, Atlanta has beaten Dallas in two out of the last three matchups. The Falcons should go into Week 2 with a stronger mesh point in the core of their offense. If history repeats itself and the team can learn from its mistakes, Atlanta should win this game, and I think they do.

OUTCOME: WIN, 1-1

Week 3, Sept. 27: vs. Bears  

Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

I think the Falcons have a better roster than the Bears through and through, but this game won’t be as easy as consensus has it being. If Mitch Trubisky is in at quarterback for Chicago, this should be a win for Atlanta. The Falcons have more talent, it’s a home game in Atlanta, and the identity of the team should be shaping through. However, if Nick Foles is taking snaps, the Falcons may be in for a tougher matchup. They’ve only ever gotten the best of Foles. I think regardless of who’s in at quarterback, though, the Falcons are the better team and come away with a victory.

OUTCOME: WIN, 2-1

Week 4, Oct. 5: at Packers (MNF)  

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

This is where the Falcons show how truly battle tested they are. The Packers are an incredibly strong team. Though many believe they had a horrendous draft, and even if they did, their roster was already consummate. Green Bay is loaded with depth, have a formidable offensive scheme with talent across the board on defense. This will be a tough challenge for Atlanta, especially playing at Lambeau Field. While the Falcons are certainly a talented team, the Packers are the more proven team for this year.

OUTCOME: LOSS, 2-2

Week 5, Oct. 11: vs. Panthers

Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

The Panthers aren’t a bad team, but they’re a new team, like, everywhere. New quarterback, new coordinators and a new head coach. That type of mesh usually doesn’t come into fruition until at least mid-season. The advantage of experience gives the Falcons the clear upper hand in Week 5, and I see this game being a win for Atlanta for sure. I also question how well Teddy Bridgewater is going to connect with his new guy, Robby Anderson, who the media seems to be hyping up in Carolina. Bridgewater excels in the short-passing game and finished with an incredibly low air yards per attempt number in 2019. Anderson’s best traits are his speed and range. The Falcons should win this game convincingly.

OUTCOME: WIN, 3-2

Week 6, Oct. 18: at Vikings

Harrison Barden-USA TODAY Sports

The Vikings lost some firepower on offense by sending Stefon Diggs to Buffalo. A main component in the Falcons’ loss to Minnesota last year was how anemic the team’s run game was. They also got manhandled by Dalvin Cook in embarrassing fashion. If the addition of Todd Gurley can bring life to Atlanta’s ground attack and pairing that with the shrewdness of Raheem Morris and his upper hand in game plan and scheme, I think the Falcons steal this one.

OUTCOME: WIN, 4-2

Week 7, Oct. 25: vs. Lions

Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

This game won’t be a walk in the park as some may suggest. The Lions deserve a little more respect than they’re getting. Their defense runs through the 2nd and 3rd levels and the offense has a powerful run game. However, the Falcons are better coached and more talented overall. Atlanta barely won the last matchup but should walk out of Week 7 with a victory. I think the Falcons also had a substantially better offseason than the Lions did, though the pieces the Lions added were good players.

OUTCOME: WIN, 5-2

Week 8, Oct. 29: at Panthers

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Now, contrary to the Week 5 result, I think the Panthers have found their mesh point by now and the inexperience of the coaching staff will be less of a factor. Midway through the season, Carolina may be putting things together or bottoming out. Ultimately, I think the Panthers will have a strong game plan in Week 8 and get the best of the Falcons.

OUTCOME: LOSS, 5-3

Week 9, Nov. 8: vs. Broncos

Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

The amount of confidence that John Elway instills into Drew Lock tells me that he may be a really good quarterback. The Broncos had a GREAT offseason. They added weapons to Lock and the offense and acquired starters in both trenches and the secondary. Denver is going to be good, and maybe good enough to get the best of the Falcons for the second consecutive week. The production of Drew Lock is going to be paramount in this matchup, and as I alluded to earlier, people around Denver make it sound like Lock is ready to take that next step.

OUTCOME: LOSS, 5-4

*BYE*

Week 11, Nov. 22: at Saints

Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

With the talent on this Falcons roster, I’d be surprised to see them lose three consecutive games, especially coming out of a bye. The Saints are coming off a game against San Francisco, which is likely to be a loss. New Orleans will also have a playoff spot in view, but I think the internal leadership in the Falcons front office will push them a little extra coming out of the bye week. It’s also worth noting that the Falcons, at 3-9, kept the final score a one-possession game. They fought incredibly hard in November.

OUTCOME: WIN, 6-4

Week 12, Nov. 29: vs. Raiders

Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

The Raiders have a really talented and speed oriented offense with talent on defense, mostly in the middle. Still, I believe the Falcons can manhandle Las Vegas in the passing game. Atlanta’s offensive personnel has a clear advantage over the Raiders’ defense. However, it’ll be important for the defense to step up because a combination of Henry Ruggs, Josh Jacobs and Tyrell Williams isn’t shabby at all. Though, I think the Falcons are completely capable of shutting down the Raiders’ offensive weapons, and will come away with a win here.

OUTCOME: WIN, 7-4

Week 13, Dec. 6: vs. Saints

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Okay, okay. The Saints are still an incredible team, though I hate to admit it. The truth is that they had a great offseason which only added to a good roster. I’m done with the New Orleans sweet talk. But, I’d be shocked if Atlanta swept the Saints because that usually never happens. The Falcons play really well in December though, so it’ll be interesting. Ultimately, I think the Saints come away with a victory here in Week 13.

OUTCOME: LOSS, 7-5

Week 14, Dec. 13: at Chargers

Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Again, the Falcons play pretty well in December and I don’t see them falling to rookie Justin Herbert in crunch time with a playoff spot on the line. This front office is battle tested with a roster that has experience in big games. This game might be the biggest of the season because if Atlanta wins here, it brings the team that much closer to a wild card spot. I don’t think the Chargers have enough experience across the board to beat Atlanta in the late-season swing. Yes, Los Angeles is a good team, but I don’t see the Falcons face-planting to a rookie with the front office’s jobs on the line or a playoff spot in view.

OUTCOME: WIN, 8-5

Week 15, Dec. 20: vs. Buccaneers

Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

The Buccaneers, man. They had a spectacular offseason shadowed by the signing of the best quarterback ever, Tom Brady. They have talent flying around the depth chart and they are a substantially better team than they were last year. They’re going to likely be aiming for a playoff spot as well, and I think the experience of Tom Brady and the projected camaraderie between that offense will lead Tampa Bay to a convincing victory here. If Jameis Winston could have good games against the Falcons, it’s hard to imagine Tom Brady would ever have a bad one.

OUTCOME: LOSS, 8-6

Week 16, Dec. 27: at Chiefs

Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

The Chiefs are phenomenal. No sugar-coating it. They just won the Super Bowl and at this time, may be heading for the same result. I would be mightily surprised if the Falcons beat Kansas City at the end of the season. I just don’t think its realistic.

OUTCOME: LOSS, 8-7

Week 17, Jan. 3: at Buccaneers

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

I think if Falcons fans have learned anything, it’s to never bet against Tom Brady with something on the line. In this case, I imagine that something is a playoff spot. The Buccaneers have such good talent across the board. I think they’ll either fall apart completely or be a very realistic Super Bowl contender. I don’t trust the Falcons against Tom Brady, especially in Week 17.

OUTCOME: LOSS, 8-8

FINAL RECORD: 8-8

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