Atlanta Falcons 2006 Schedule

Since 2002, the NFL schedule has been set up so that a team plays each team within its division twice. Each division is matched up with 1 division from its conference and 1 division from the rival conference. Two single games are also on the schedule. They match teams in the same conference, not division, who also finished the previous season with the same division ranking (ex. NFC South 3rd place vs. NFC West 3rd and NFC North 3rd).

AFC
East: Buffalo, Miami, New England, NY Jets
North: Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh
South: Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Tennessee
West: Denver, Kansas City, Oakland, Saint Diego

NFC
East: Dallas, NY Giants, Philadelphia, Washington
North: Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota
South(Video Preview, Written Preview): Atlanta, Carolina, New Orleans, Tampa Bay
West: Arizona, St. Louis, San Francisco, Seattle


There are 3 divisions that look better than the rest to me. The NFC East, NFC South, and the AFC North appear to be the best divisions. So guess who the Falcons play in '06. All Three. Of course in the NFL parity rules so this may not be the case after the season is over with. Injuries can turn a team upside-down and in the NFL things aren't always what they seem so maybe the Falcons will end up having an easy schedule.

NFC East
The NFC East will be one of the best divisions because of the strength of all four teams and because they have 3 of the best coaches in the NFL in Tuna (who loses Payton), Gibbs, and Reid (who losses Childress, off. cord. since '99). The Redskins added WRs Randle-El and Lloyd to an offense that set the record for fewest yards in a playoff victory (120 yards). Can they make the playoffs again with Brunell's weak arm because otherwise they are solid? The Giants won 11 last year and hope Eli continues to develop. Tiki's total yardage last year was 2nd only to Faulk in '99, can he repeat at his age? One of their big additions was LB Arrington, who has often been called overated. Their draft pick was DE Mathias Kiwanuka who will join Strahan and Umenyiora. They also added Sam Madison. The Eagles had an off-year with the T.O. mess and now have a mentally and physically healthy McNabb. DE Darren Howard should be a force with Jevon Kearse and their great secondary. No RB or WR depth despite the addition of WR Stallworth. Cowboys get T.O.'s talent but also get the unwanted strain that he causes. The other big change is they will have the league's most accurate K in history in Vanderjagt.

NFC South
The NFC South will feature 3 teams with Super Bowl aspirations and New Orleans. The Saints will have Reggie Bush AND Duece McAllister plus QB Drew Brees so they may do better than second-to-last in PPG but they have many problem areas. Atlanta have improved their roster. They added WR Lelie, DT run-stuffing specialist Jackson, DE Abraham, CB Williams, Ss Crocker and Milloy, RB Norwood, T Gandy, and essentially LB Hartwell (once healthy). Mike Vick also will be heatlhy, unlike '05, and loves his new QB coach. Atlanta losses Finneran, who was Vick's favorite WR, DE Smith, and RB Duckett but not a whole lot else. Carolina will feature Keyshawn opposite Steve Smith and get star DT Kris Jenkins back. Otherwise, Fox (who is one of the best) will feature most of the same players from last year's team that fell in the NFC Championship. '05 South Champ - Tampa Bay and stud coach "Chucky" Gruden will have the luxury of knowing their QB coming into the season this year. Simms took over after six games last year. The team's defense should again be one of the best with LB Brooks, CB Barber, and DE Rice all at the top of their position. RB Cadillac Williams is for real but his line will not be. . again. Have they ever had a good line?

AFC North
The AFC North, like the NFC South, has 3 teams will Super Bowl aspirations. The Ravens would be hard-pressed to get there but they could suprise people. They finally have a QB in McNair who will bring Pro Bowl skills to the team (he is 3 years out from winning the NFL MVP and made the Pro Bowl last year). McNair is getting worn-down but he's inspired to make one last run and this is it. The Ravens will have former McNair teammate, Derrick Mason, Todd Heap, Mark Clayton, C-Moore, and D-Darling catching balls which may be as good as that units been in a while. LT All Pro Jonathan Odgen returns to anchor the line, which may be the weakest unit on the team. At RB, they are deep and talented with Jamal Lewis, Mike Anderson, Musa Smith, and former Georgia Tech walk-on PJ Daniels. The Defense finished 5th in '05 and they should be just as good this year. The secondary features the Defensive-P.O.Y. S Ed Reed and shutdown CBs McAllister and Samari Rolle. The other spot may fall to rookie and former Tech S/QB Dawan Landry. LB Ray Lewis has been hurt and sounds more inspired with a QB he finally believes in. He missed the final 10 games last year when they ranked 5th. If he returns to his dominant and healthy ways the defense may be, well, dominant. DT Ngata was their 1st pick and they also added Trevor Pryce. K Matt Stover is one of the best. Pittsburgh, coming off their SB win, will return Big Ben, Willie Parker, the NFL's best OL?, Hines Ward, TE Heath Miller, Bill Cowher, NT Casey Hampton, DE Aaron Smith, LBs Porter Farrier and Haggins, SS Polamalu, and OC Ken Wisenhunt. They lost Randel-El, the Bus, DE von Oelhoffen but return most everyone else and they should be strong again. Cincy will have one of the top offenses if Carson Palmer recovers from his knee injury that occured on the 2nd play in the first home playoff game in franchise history. The offseason has been rocky with many players involved in legal matters. Dealtha O'Neal had 10 picks last year. Cleveland is cursed.

Dirty Birds look to have a tough schedule this year. Atlanta plays the NFC South 2x, the AFC North, and the NFC East. Our 2 other games are Detroit and Arizona. Our bye is the fifth week which means 12 straight weeks and then the playoffs. Carolina, TB, and NO all have to play those 3 divisions too so all things are close equal to win the division, but the schedule does not favor Atlanta for getting a wild-card. Fortunately due to last year's 3rd out of 4th finish we play Detroit, who should not be good, and Arizona, who will continue the rebuilding (or just building) with Edge, but Cardnals at home is still a win, right? Detroit, Arizona, Cleveland, and New Orleans (2x) are the games that look easiest. Past that though, we may play the toughest schedule possible. Carolina (2x), TB (2x), NYG, Dallas, Philly, Washington, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Baltimore. So the Falcons need to go 4-1 in the first group and finish 6-5 against the top-tier teams to make the playoffs comfortably but getting one of the 2 byes is crucial to SB hopes. So hopefully Atlanta can get 11 or 12 wins for the all important bye, forget last year's Steelers, and go 2 for 2 in the playoffs to make the Super Bowl. In 2007, Atlanta gets the AFC South and the NFC West.

*San Francisco plays Arizona (2x), Seattle (2x), St. Louis (2x), Kansas City, Oakland, San Diego, Denver, Chicago, Minnesota, Detroit, Green Bay, New Orleans, and Philly -- which looks favorable to me but I'm thinking they go 0-16 anyway.

ATLANTA FALCONS 2006 Schedule

at Carolina
TAMPA BAY
at new Orleans
Arizona
bye
NY Giants
PITTSBURGH
at cincinatti
at detroit
CLEVELAND
at baltimore
NEW ORLEANS
at washington
at TAMPA BAY
DALLAS
CAROLINA
PHILLY