Atlanta Falcons 2015 Schedule: Win-Loss Predictions for Every Game
The schedule for Dan Quinn's inaugural season as Atlanta Falcons head coach is also the schedule for the Falcons' 50th season since inception. Atlanta has a couple of unique things in its schedule, like a three-game road trip heading from Tampa Bay to Carolina to Jacksonville.
They also were given a later bye than normal—Week 10—as well as the benefit of not having to play a game farther than 500 miles from Atlanta during the after-bye portion of the season. The pre-bye portion has the Falcons heading to San Francisco the week before the bye.
Also, the Falcons get their second- and third-longest road trips out of the way early with trips to Dallas and New York in Weeks 2 and 3. The vast majority of the games on Atlanta's schedule are being played in the South—13 games are played east of New Orleans and south of Nashville.
Because of all of this, the Falcons might have their easiest schedule in years. But to top it all off, their strength of schedule is the easiest in the NFL based on 2014 records, according to John Breech of CBSSports.com.
With a schedule this easy, Atlanta should be able to have a shot at turning things around quickly. Follow along as predictions for every single game on the Falcons schedule are revealed. To check out the Falcons schedule, click here.
Home vs. Philadelphia Eagles, Sept. 14, Monday Night Football
1 of 16
Atlanta kicks off the season against a team that it hasn't played since 2012. Back in 2012, the Falcons won pretty easily on their way to a 13-3 season that included a sweep of the NFC East and AFC West. This season will be much tougher for the Falcons.
However, considering both the Falcons and Eagles have faced a ton of turnover, the Falcons might have a bit of an edge. The game is in Atlanta and the Falcons aren't having to break in a brand new starting quarterback before the season.
When it comes to an early-season game—and especially a season opener—it could be as simple as that to give the Falcons the edge. This one will likely be a shootout, but the more cohesive Falcons passing offense should be able to edge out Philadelphia in the end.
Result: Win
Record to Date: 1-0
At New York Giants, Sept. 20, 1 P.M.
2 of 16
The last time the Falcons played New York was in 2014, when they gave up a 20-10 lead with 20 minutes remaining in the game. The defense collapsed because they couldn't get any pressure on Eli Manning or stuff the run. The offense stopped producing yardage through the air.
And when the run game couldn't get it off the ground, Atlanta was done. In 2015, the Falcons will be heading back for revenge. They should play with more fire than the listless team that zombied their way through the 2014 season and lost five straight right in the heart of the year.
The Falcons match up better with the Giants. With an offensive line that looks to be much better than it was in 2014 and a defense that looks to be at least average, Atlanta should be able to get another close win to start the season on a very positive note.
Result: Win
Record to Date: 2-0
At Dallas Cowboys, Sept. 27, 1 P.M.
3 of 16
The Falcons last played the Cowboys in a thriller at the Georgia Dome during the 2012 season (sensing a trend here?). The Cowboys are a much better team than they were in 2012, too. They have one of the best offensive lines in the league and have a defense with a purpose and vision.
Atlanta would be coming off of a trip to New York, and travel miles can get to a team. After starting a season with a short turnaround and a long trip, following it up with a trip to Dallas will be tough to overcome. This has the makings of a game where the Falcons just come out flat.
Dallas should win this one pretty easily, as they are a better overall team with more stability playing a team that is coming off of a tough situation to start the year. But for the Falcons it only gets easier from here, travel- and schedule-wise.
Result: Loss
Record to Date: 2-1
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Home vs. Houston Texans, Oct. 4, 1 P.M.
4 of 16
The last time the Falcons played the Texans, they were in Houston and T.J. Yates—the current Falcons backup quarterback—was playing for the Texans as their starter.
Past the quarterback situation, the Texans defense has gotten much better. They feature an NFL Player of the Year candidate in J.J. Watt and a talented No. 1 overall pick in Jadeveon Clowney. The Falcons offensive line will have their hands full.
But, on defense, they should be able to focus primarily on the running game as the Texans' offense took a massive step back without Andre Johnson as the primary receiver. If this game was in Houston, it'd be much tougher, but since it's in Atlanta this is the game that the Falcons shock the world.
Result: Win
Record to Date: 3-1
Home vs. Washington, Oct. 11, 1 P.M.
5 of 16
Atlanta and Washington play quite often, this being the the third time in four years. The Washington team has regressed since 2013 and has since replaced its head coach and has a very questionable quarterback situation.
Considering both the 2012 and 2013 games were very close, it would be tough to say that the 2015 game would be any different. However, the Washington team lost key defenders like Brian Orakpo and has taken a step back on offense.
The Falcons should be able to win this one handily as they match up well with a Washington defense that should struggle to create a pass rush in 2015. Watching Julio Jones burn DeAngelo Hall will put a smile on Falcons fans' faces for days to come.
Result: Win
Record to Date: 4-1
At New Orleans Saints, Oct. 15, Thursday Night Football
6 of 16
Heading to New Orleans is almost always a tough game for the Falcons. Quinn will get his true first impression of Sean Payton and the Saints and what it takes to beat them with the roster that Atlanta currently has. It won't be easy to win a road game over its toughest rival after a short turnaround.
The Falcons and Saints matchups and talent levels should be thrown out of the window every time these two teams play. They are both evenly matched regardless of records and always play with motivation that makes most college games look boring.
Atlanta will love that the Saints don't have Jimmy Graham, but knowing how Payton coaches, they will have some sort of other wrinkle in the offense. Whether it's new running back C.J. Spiller or receiver Brandin Cooks, New Orleans will find its X-factor that it always has.
Result: Loss
Record to Date: 4-2
At Tennessee Titans, Oct. 25, 1 P.M.
7 of 16
After a rough turnaround and loss to the Saints, the Falcons would be looking for an easy win against a weak opponent after getting an extra couple of days of rest. The Titans game couldn't come at a better time for the Falcons.
Sure, it's an away game, but the trip would take less than four hours, and Atlanta should easily dispatch of one of the weaker teams in the NFL. The Titans have some solid pass-rushers in Derrick Morgan and Brian Orakpo, but outside of them their defense is lacking.
And when it comes to the Titans' offense, that's just a true cluster of awfulness. Their offensive line needs a ton of work, as they were one of the weakest during 2015. This should be an easy win for the Falcons and a confidence builder before their second divisional game.
Result: Win
Record to Date: 5-2
Home vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Nov. 1, 1 P.M.
8 of 16
Atlanta gets to see the No. 1 pick that the Buccaneers make for the first time. If it's rookie quarterback Jameis Winston, the Falcons should take the time to tee off on him and make him make mistakes. Atlanta has a ton of veterans on the team that would allow it to have an easy advantage there.
And considering the Tampa Bay defense is mediocre, the Falcons offense should be able to run through them again like they did in 2014. Despite having offensive line issues, Atlanta scored 56 points in Game 1 and 27 points in Game 2.
The pair of victories in 2014 are just a precursor to what should happen in 2015 against a rookie quarterback. An intelligent defensive coach like Quinn should be able to force the Buccaneers into beating themselves for this game, making it an easy win.
Result: Win
Record to Date: 6-2
At San Francisco 49ers, Nov. 8, 4:05 P.M.
9 of 16
The last time the Falcons took a trip to San Francisco, the game ended with Matt Ryan getting intercepted by NaVorro Bowman to add insult to an already injury-filled season in 2013. The Falcons look to get revenge in 2015 under new head coach Quinn.
It will be his first game against a former division rival with the Falcons, and his expertise on a former divisional opponent should come into play pretty heavily. The Falcons do match up well with the 49ers and should be able to keep the game close.
Because the Falcons would have had two easy wins back to back, this could be looked upon as a trap game. However, Quinn should be able to settle the team down, focus them and win a tough road game against an opponent that didn't have a great offseason.
Result: Win
Record to Date: 7-2
Home vs. Indianapolis Colts, Nov. 22, 1 P.M.
10 of 16
Atlanta will get two weeks to prepare for what is arguably the toughest opponent on its entire schedule. And after winning the previous three games in this situation, they should believe that they can beat anyone. The Colts may have Andrew Luck, but the Falcons will have home-field advantage.
Matt Ryan isn't some slouch of a quarterback and the Colts defense is still a very average defense at best. Luck might have a great game against the Falcons if they can't get to the former Stanford quarterback early and often, but under Quinn that should be an emphasis in the game plan.
Atlanta's offense should be able to put up quite a few points and in what looks to be a shootout, Atlanta should have the staying power at home that the Colts shouldn't have on the road. Atlanta should win this one, but it will be a very close.
Result: Win
Record to Date: 8-2
Home vs. Minnesota Vikings, Oct. 29, 1 P.M.
11 of 16
The Falcons losing to the Vikings in 2014 should feel like an anamoly because they were playing their two tight ends as a de facto right tackle for the fourth quarter due to Atlanta losing three offensive linemen to injuries throughout the game.
However, this is the trap game for the 2015 season. The Vikings aren't a better team than the Falcons. But the Falcons coming off a four-game winning streak could come into this game overconfident. Going against a quarterback like Teddy Bridgewater, that's a bad idea.
He should be able to come into his own well before the Falcons play him at this point in the season. Atlanta will put up a fight and with the game at home, could end up stealing it even if they come out flat, but Minnesota winning this week makes too much sesne.
Result: Loss
Record to Date: 8-3
At Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dec. 6, 1 P.M.
12 of 16
Second verse, same as the first. Atlanta gets Tampa Bay and should put another beating on a rookie quarterback. The Buccaneers just don't match up well with anyone and should lose a lot of close games until their starting quarterback finally gets used to the NFL.
This should just be another one of those losses for the Buccaneers that they attribute to the growing pains of having a young quarterback. Brighter days are ahead in Tampa, but it won't be in 2015. And they shouldn't compete for the division until 2016 or beyond.
Result: Win
Record to Date: 9-3
At Carolina Panthers, Dec. 13, 1 P.M.
13 of 16
Quinn ran a defense that could shut down almost anyone in Seattle. However, the Falcons have trouble shutting down the zone read that Cam Newton likes to run against them and should still have trouble despite the wholesale changes to the defense.
After a knock-down, drag-out fight against a Panthers team that hates Atlanta almost as much as the Falcons and Saints hate each other, the Falcons will likely fall. They don't match up well with the Panthers, and the game being in Carolina will hurt the Falcons chances at victory.
Result: Loss
Record to Date: 9-4
At Jacksonville Jaguars, Dec. 20, 1 P.M.
14 of 16
A win here would essentially give the Falcons a playoff berth for the first time since 2012. And a win here makes a ton of sense considering just how terrible the Jaguars have been for the past few seasons. The Jaguars continually pick in the top 10 because they haven't found a winning formula yet.
With Gus Bradley in his third season and still under heavy scrutiny for not making that next step with the Jaguars despite a lack of roster talent, a loss here could mean their head coach is losing his job at the end of the season.
Unfortunately for Bradley, Quinn should have more success with a more talented Falcons team than Bradley has had in Jacksonville. Atlanta should win this one, as it is just a more talented team with better coaching and a better quarterback.
Result: Win
Record to Date: 10-4
Home vs. Carolina Panthers, Dec. 27, 1 P.M.
15 of 16
The Panthers just seem to have the Falcons' number the past couple of seasons. This game would be no different. Newton's offense should be able to attack the Falcons defense with the packaged plays and zone reads that make it tough to defend the Panther offense as a whole.
Once Newton starts getting zone-read pass plays incorporated into the Panthers' offense, they could truly have a good team. Because this game is in the Georgia Dome, it should be much closer than the game in Charlotte. But the Panthers get the sweep this season vs. the Falcons.
Result: Loss
Record to Date: 10-5
Home vs. New Orleans Saints, Jan. 3, 1 P.M.
16 of 16
In what would likely be a crucial game for either the division championship for the NFC South or a playoff spot—or both!—the Falcons should play this game with a ferocity not seen in years. The Falcons and Saints don't like each other very much at all.
Nonetheless, Atlanta should have the edge in this game just because it's in Atlanta. When two evenly matched teams take each other on as often as the Falcons and Saints do, a team is going to eventually crack through for a win. This time, Quinn gets his first one over the Saints.
With a win vs. the Saints, an 11-5 record and a potential NFC South title, the Falcons should be pretty happy if they get these results during a rebuilding year. Then again, they have done something similar in the past under another first-year head coach.
Result: Win
Record to Date: 11-5
All stats used are courtesy of Pro Football Focus, ESPN.com, CFBStats or NFL.com. All combine and pro day info courtesy of NFLDraftScout.com. All contract information is courtesy of Spotrac.
Scott Carasik is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He covers the Atlanta Falcons, college football, the NFL and the NFL draft. He's also a Draft Analyst for Pro Football Spot.
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