Atlanta Falcons 2012 NFL Schedule: Game-by-Game Predictions, Info and Analysis

The schedules have been released, and now it's time to take a look at the matchups the Atlanta Falcons will be facing in 2012. Their schedule is as follows:

Week 1 - Sunday, September 9, 2012, 1:00 PM

Atlanta Falcons at Kansas City Chiefs, Arrowhead Stadium

Week 2 - Monday, September 17, 2012, 8:30 PM

Denver Broncos at Atlanta Falcons, Georgia Dome

Week 3 - Sunday, September 23, 2012, 4:05 PM

Atlanta Falcons at San Diego Chargers, Qualcomm Stadium

Week 4 - Sunday, September 30, 2012, 1:00 PM

Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons, Georgia Dome

Week 5 - Sunday, October 7, 2012, 1:00 PM

Atlanta Falcons at Washington Redskins, FedEx Field

Week 6 - Sunday, October 14, 2012, 1:00 PM

Oakland Raiders at Atlanta Falcons, Georgia Dome

Week 7 - BYE

Week 8 - Sunday, October 28, 2012, 1:00 PM

Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles, Lincoln Financial Field

Week 9 - Sunday, November 4, 2012, 8:20 PM

Dallas Cowboys at Atlanta Falcons, Georgia Dome

Week 10 - Sunday, November 11, 2012, 1:00 PM

Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints, Mercedes-Benz Superdome

Week 11 - Sunday, November 18, 2012, 1:00 PM

Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons, Georgia Dome

Week 12 - Sunday, November 25, 2012, 1:00 PM

Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Raymond James Stadium

Week 13 - Thursday, November 29, 2012, 8:20 PM

New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons, Georgia Dome

Week 14 - Sunday, December 9, 2012, 1:00 PM

Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers, Bank of America Stadium

Week 15 - Sunday, December 16, 2012, 1:00 PM

New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons, Georgia Dome

Week 16 - Saturday, December 22, 2012, 8:30 PM

Atlanta Falcons at Detroit Lions, Ford Field

Week 17 - Sunday, December 30, 2012, 1:00 PM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons, Georgia Dome

Atlanta has one of the most interesting schedules this year. One thing to look at is that the Falcons play 10 games indoors; they are 30-12 indoors the past four years but 13-12 outdoors.

Now let's attempt to predict the Falcons' record going by what we know about the team before the draft.

Atlanta Falcons at Kansas City Chiefs on September 9th

All-time Series

2-5-0 Kansas City leading, with Atlanta winning two of the last three.

Last Time These Teams Met In Kansas City

Atlanta got demolished 56-10 by a strong Kansas City running game lead by Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson.

How They Match Up This Time

Kansas City isn't exactly the best team in the NFL, but they also aren't the worst. The Falcons are a perennial playoff team and have arrived as a team that should have a winning record every year. The Falcons offense should have fun vs. the Chiefs defense and Tony Gonzalez should rip his old team.

Who Will Win

Atlanta Falcons by a touchdown

Record To This Point

1-0

Denver Broncos at Atlanta Falcons on September 17th

All-time Series

4-8-0 Denver leading, with Atlanta losing seven of the last 7 games.

Last Time These Teams Met In Atlanta

Denver won 24-20, but Roddy White dropped a last second touchdown that would have won the game for Atlanta.

How They Match Up This Time

Atlanta has an offense that should dominate Denver's defense and a defense that should put quite a bit of pressure on Manning. Manning is a great player, but is he what he once was? If he isn't it could be a long day in Atlanta for the Broncos.

Who Will Win

Atlanta Falcons by a field goal if Peyton is old Peyton, more if he isn't.

Record To This Point

2-0

Atlanta Falcons at San Diego Chargers on September 23rd

All-time Series

7-1-0 Atlanta leading, San Diego hasn't beat Atlanta since 1988

Last Time These Teams Met In San Diego

Atlanta beat San Diego 22-16, but it was a game Atlanta led the whole way through.

How They Match Up This Time

Atlanta is a strong running team and should control the ball against San Diego's average run defense. However, San Diego's passing attack could score a lot against the Falcons passing defense. This one is very equal, and should come down to one of the final drives.

Who Will Win

Since it's in San Diego, I'll say them by a field goal.

Record To This Point

2-1

Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons on September 30th

All-time Series

22-12-0 Atlanta leading, with Atlanta winning the last four and eight of the last 10.

Last Time These Teams Met In Atlanta

Atlanta won 31-17, Matt Ryan threw for a touchdown and ran for one and the teams battled back and forth in the first half with Atlanta coming out on top in the end.

How They Match Up This Time

Carolina's defense should be much better with a draft to address it and Beason coming back from injury. Atlanta's defense should also have another success against Cam Newton as the Falcons have intercepted him five times while allowing him to score only three touchdowns in the two games so far.

Who Will Win

Atlanta Falcons by a touchdown.

Record To This Point

3-1

Atlanta Falcons at Washington Redskins on October 7th

All-time Series

6-14-1 Washington leading. However, Atlanta has won three of the last four.

Last Time These Teams Met In Washington

Atlanta won 24-14. They went down 14-0 early, but fought their way back to a 24-14 win later on in the game.

How They Match Up This Time

Washington is currently still rebuilding a team that needs a lot of work and will have a rookie quarterback. The Falcons are a veteran team who should be able to contain RGIII the way they contained Newton in 2010.

Who Will Win

Atlanta Falcons by a touchdown.

Record To This Point

4-1

Oakland Raiders at Atlanta Falcons on October 14th

All-time Series

5-7-0 Oakland leading, with Atlanta winning the last two and four of the last seven.

Last Time These Teams Met In Atlanta

Atlanta won 35-10, with Rod Coleman, a DT returning an interception for a touchdown. That's how bad the Raiders were.

How They Match Up This Time

The more things change the more they stay the same. The Raiders are a broken team at the beginning of a rebuilding phase and have some good pieces but they don't match up well to an established team like Atlanta.

Who Will Win

Atlanta Falcons by a touchdown.

Record To This Point

5-1

Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles on October 28th

All-time Series

11-15-1 Philadelphia leading, with Atlanta losing eight of the last ten match ups.

Last Time These Teams Met In Philadelphia

Atlanta lost 31-17 to a strong passing game lead by Jackson and Maclin

How They Match Up This Time

Atlanta's pass defense is essentially overmatched in this game and the scheme change could be the only savior. Atlanta needs to hit Vick early and often to even stand a chance of winning. On offense, Atlanta needs to play ball control and have Michael Turner pound it up the middle.

Who Will Win

Philadelphia Eagles by a touchdown.

Record To This Point

5-2

Dallas Cowboys at Atlanta Falcons on November 4th

All-time Series

8-14-0 Dallas leading, with Atlanta losing five of the last seven.

Last Time These Teams Met In Atlanta

Atlanta lost 38-28 in a back and forth game.

How They Match Up This Time

Atlanta has a pounding running game that can beat Dallas up the middle, and wide receivers and a tight end that should overmatch the Cowboys defense. However, Dallas has one of the better offenses in the league and this could be a shootout.

Who Will Win

It's in Atlanta, so I'm saying Atlanta Falcons by a field goal.

Record To This Point

6-2

Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints on November 11th

All-time Series

45-40-0 Atlanta leading, with Atlanta losing six of the last seven.

Last Time These Teams Met In New Orleans

Atlanta got embarrassed on Monday Night Football. 45-16 isn't something that's fun and will only piss off an already angry Falcons team that didn't like the Saints to begin with.

How They Match Up This Time

The Falcons have a brand new offensive and defensive scheme and should be able to score more points and stop points. The Saints are riddled with suspensions that will all be coming back right around this time though and the Vitt staff should be settled in.

Who Will Win

Because it's in New Orleans, I'm going to say New Orleans by a field goal.

Record To This Point

6-3

Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons on November 18th

All-time Series

11-14-0 Arizona leading, with Atlanta winning five of the last seven matchups.

Last Time These Teams Met In Atlanta

Atlanta crushed Arizona 41-7 and had a ridiculous game from Jason Snelling on the ground.

How They Match Up This Time

Atlanta is still the same team they were in 2010 when Atlanta crushed them but have some better talent, and the Cardinals are not much different either. Atlanta may not crush them like last time but they should win as they just are a better team all around.

Who Will Win

Atlanta by a touchdown

Record To This Point

7-3

Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 25th

All-time Series

18-19-0 Tampa Bay leading, with Atlanta winning six of the last seven.

Last Time These Teams Met In Tampa Bay

Atlanta lost 16-13 with a bad offsides call on Corey Peters that shouldn't have happened.

How They Match Up This Time

Atlanta is a superior team talent wise. Tampa has issues all around the team and a new coaching staff alone isn't going to fix them right away nor will it only be one season. They will be competitive however, they should still lose to Atlanta.

Who Will Win

Atlanta by a field goal

Record To This Point

8-3

New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons on November 29th

All-time Series

45-40-0 Atlanta leading, with Atlanta losing six of the last seven.

Last Time These Teams Met In Atlanta

Atlanta lost 26-23 with a bad 4th and 1 attempt.

How They Match Up This Time

Atlanta is a better team this year than they were last because they have had more time to gel and the extra year with Ryan throwing to Julio will make a difference. Atlanta also has an extra reason to be pissed. Again, still a close game.

Who Will Win

Because it's in Atlanta, Atlanta wins by a field goal.

Record To This Point

9-3

Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers on December 9th

All-time Series

22-12-0 Atlanta leading, with Atlanta winning the last four and eight of the last 10.

Last Time These Teams Met In Charlotte

Carolina led early and then Atlanta came back and won 31-23.

How They Match Up This Time

Atlanta and Carolina should be a bit closer this time and if Carolina is healthy could give Atlanta run for their money. Atlanta still has that matchup advantage against the Panthers defensive line and should be able to run on Carolina.

Who Will Win

It's in Carolina and they should do better and win this time by a Field Goal.

Record To This Point

9-4

New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons on December 16th

All-time Series

10-10-0 Tied up, with Atlanta losing the last four meetings.

Last Time These Teams Met In Atlanta

It was 2007 and Atlanta lost 31-10.

How They Match Up This Time

Atlanta lost to the Giants in New York in winter. Atlanta isn't a cold weather team at all but the offensive line issues should be resolved by the time they play this year and Ryan is ice at home. Atlanta should be able to pull this one out.

Who Will Win

Atlanta Falcons by a field goal.

Record To This Point

10-4

Atlanta Falcons at Detroit Lions on December 22nd

All-time Series

11-23-0 Detroit leading, with Atlanta winning three of the last four and five of the last eight.

Last Time These Teams Met In Detroit

Atlanta won 23-16 in the middle of last season.

How They Match Up This Time

Atlanta and Detroit are very evenly matched, however Atlanta has a tendency to play better down the stretch against teams like Detroit. Detroit is a good team, and will likely be an 8-10 win team at this point, but Detroit hasn't seen Julio Jones yet and could be at a big disadvantage because of that.

Who Will Win

Atlanta Falcons by a touchdown

Record To This Point

11-4

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons on December 30th

All-time Series

18-19-0 Tampa Bay leading, with Atlanta winning six of the last seven.

Last Time These Teams Met In Atlanta

Atlanta crushed Tampa 45-24, but it was 42-7 at half time, and Atlanta's backups played the last half of the game.

How They Match Up This Time

Atlanta still should hold an advantage but should be playing for home field this time. Atlanta doesn't like to lose to Tampa and hasn't lost to Tampa in Atlanta since 2007. Atlanta will always play this game tough and they will try to win regardless of seeding position.

Who Will Win

Atlanta Falcons by a Touchdown

Record To This Point

12-4, NFC South Title and at least a No. 2 seed.