Atlanta Falcons Projected at Only 9 Wins in 2012

If you're a Ramblin', Gamblin' man, then I'd suggest you head to Las Vegas and bet the over on the Falcons nine projected wins in the 2012 football season. 

As Covers.com reveals, the Falcons are projected to win nine regular season games in 2012, meaning they would miss the postseason for the first time in three years. 

A more appropriate line would have been 9.5 wins, just to discount the possibility of a push on the bet. 

But Atlanta will win more than nine games in 2012, and here's why: 

Schedule not as daunting as originally appeared

The Falcons' schedule is relatively difficult in 2012 but still manageable. Atlanta plays the NFC South twice, the NFC East, AFC West, Detroit and Arizona each once. 

On paper that schedule looks brutal, but the Falcons' 2012 opponents went 125-125 in the 2011 regular season. 

I'll say this: the Falcons are not going to win less than nine games. Winning less than nine games means a record of 8-8, barring the rare possibility of a tie, and every year under head coach Mike Smith and Co., the team has had a winning record. 

Atlanta can ink in two wins against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next year. If Atlanta goes .500 against the rest of the schedule, that's nine victories. Not so difficult anymore, eh? 

Finally the deep ball

The Falcons still have all the centerpieces on offense with Matt Ryan at quarterback, Michael Turner at tailback, Roddy White and Julio Jones at wide receiver and Tony Gonzalez at tight end. 

2011 will finally be the year the Falcons are going to be more explosive. New offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter is an expert at throwing the ball deep. With Roddy White and Julio Jones, the Falcons certainly have the pieces to stretch the field vertically. 

This is also the year where we will see the small, shifty running back become a legitimate offensive threat. Turner is 30 years old and the switch into the 30s for any back usually spells the beginning of the end. 

Asante Samuel

In the offseason, Atlanta improved its club with the addition of corner back Asante Samuel.

Now the Falcons have two elite corners to match up with the physical wide receivers in the NFC and the marquee quarterbacks in the league. 

On a schedule with quarterbacks such as Drew Brees, Matthew Stafford, Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, Tony Romo, Michael Vick, etc., it cannot be stated enough how critical it is to defend the pass. 

Atlanta essentially "stole" Samuel, a four-time Pro Bowler, from the Eagles for a seventh-round draft pick.