Tomorrow at 8PM, the NFL will release the 2015 schedules for all 32 teams. While we will are still a day away from knowing exactly when each matchup occurs, we do know who and where the Atlanta Falcons will play next season.
The Dirty Birds are coming a bad two-year stretch, winning only ten games in Former HC Mike Smith’s final two seasons. With the hiring of Former Seattle Seahawks DC Dan Quinn as Atlanta’s new head coach, the Falcons are feeling optimistic about the upcoming 2015 season. After narrowly missing the playoffs despite a mediocre 6-10, Coach Quinn looks to transform arguably the league’s worst pass defense in 2014 into something special. Are we about to witness the Second Coming of Grits Blitz? Is the Legion of Boom coming to the Dirty South? Frankly anything Coach Quinn’s staff installs this offseason will be an improvement.
With an elite aerial attack orchestrated by QB Matt Ryan, new OC Kyle Shanahan introducing his seemingly fail-proof zone blocking scheme, and a favorable slate of games, the 2015 Atlanta Falcons can get back into the playoffs. Let’s take a look at this year’s competition.
Nov 9, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Vincent Jackson (83) runs with the ball as Atlanta Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant (21) defends during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Atlanta Falcons defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-17. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
NFC South (6 Games)
As with every season since 2002’s realignment, the Atlanta Falcons will play their division rivals: the New Orleans Saints, the Carolina Panthers, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home and on the road. Until Carolina reclaimed the division crown last year, the NFC South never had a repeat winner before. While a 7-9 record won’t win the division again this year, expect all four teams play with a chip on their respective shoulders. Led by their franchise QB’s (Tampa Bay will draft either Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota first overall on April 30th), each franchise is hoping to finish .500 or better in the division to have a leg up in the playoff race. Atlanta went 5-1 last year, historically an abnormality in the South. The Falcons should go either 3-3 or 4-2 in the South, depending on if they can sweep Tampa Bay again this year.
NFC East (4 Games)
The Falcons will play the NFC East in its entirety for the first time in three years as part of intra-conference divisional rotation. Fate would have it that the last time Atlanta played the East, the Dirty Birds swept this division en route to an NFC Championship appearance in 2012. Atlanta will play the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins at home and the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants on the road this season.
Blogging Dirty
While Dallas was a playoff team last year, America’s Team struggled at Jerry World and their All-Pro RB DeMarco Murray now plays for rival Philly. Chip Kelly has made many controversial decisions with his Eagles roster this offseason. Whether it’s Sam Bradford, Mark Sanchez, or Tim Tebow under center for Philadelphia, only Kelly knows what to expect out of his football team. The New York Football Giants are hoping that QB Eli Manning throws more TD’s to WR Odell Beckham, Jr. than interceptions to the other team in year two of OC Ben McAdoo’s system. Washington’s rocky marriage to RGIII will continue to dominate the headlines for the ‘Skins. Atlanta should beat Washington and might lose a game or two between the other three NFC East teams. Being cautiously optimistic, the Falcons go 2-2 against the East this fall.
AFC South (4 Games)
After a rough year against the AFC for the Falcons in 2014, Atlanta should benefit from the AFC South’s turn on their schedule. The Indianapolis Colts have Super Bowl aspirations for the 2015 campaign. Andrew Luck continues to climb higher up the quarterback hierarchy with each game the Colts franchise QB plays. Atlanta is fortunate to draw Indy at home this year but the Georgia Dome faithful shouldn’t expect a victory over the Colts. JJ Watt’s Houston Texans, like the Falcons, are looking to end a two-year playoff drought. How new QB Brian Hoyer performs for HC Bill O’Brien will decide if Houston belongs in the postseason. The two southern franchises square off in Georgia this fall.
Atlanta catches another break in scheduling as they will play AFC bottom-feeders Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans on the road. Both franchises are rebuilding and have top three picks in the 2015 NFL Draft. The Falcons could easily go 3-1 against the AFC South, with their only loss being to Luck’s Colts.
Sep 28, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White (84) catches a pass during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Falcons 41-28. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Fellow 2014 Third Place Teams (2 Games)
Part of the NFL’s effort to competitively balance the schedule, each team will play the two other teams of the same place in their conference to complete the schedule. Basically, the Falcons finished 3rd in the South and will play the Minnesota Vikings and the San Francisco 49ers who also placed 3rd in their respective divisions.
Minnesota will come to Atlanta with an improving roster. If Teddy Bridgewater replicates last season’s Falcons-Vikings game, look out! Not to mention, Adrian Peterson missed all of last year to suspension and is chomping at the bit to run over some people. Everything fell apart for the Niners as constant front office tension proved cost Former HC Jim Harbaugh his job. The retirements of LBs Patrick Willis and Chris Borland and the free agency departures of RB Frank Gore and WR Michael Crabtree highlighted as mass exodus of sorts for the 49ers. San Francisco just might be the worst NFC West team in 2015. Atlanta needs to win both of these games, the Vikes in the Dome and the Niners at Levi’s Stadium to make a serious playoff push.
After a quick glance over of the teams the Atlanta Falcons have to play in 2015, the Dirty Birds will only have to play four games against playoff teams (Indianapolis, Dallas, and Carolina twice). Having a favorable schedule like this should only help Coach Quinn get his Falcons back into the playoffs or at least to .500.