Atlanta Falcons Predictions for the Remainder of the Season

The Atlanta Falcons have stumbled to a 2-3 record in this NFL season. With 11 games remaining before the playoffs begin, the Falcons have already put themselves in a precarious position. 

Can the Falcons make it to the playoffs in 2011? Let's look at their remaining schedule and see what their chances are.

Week 6: vs. Carolina Panthers—Atlanta hosts the explosive Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers. The Falcons will take care of business because they still play tough at home, and Carolina is a year away from becoming a real contender.

Record 3-3

Week 7: @ Detroit Lions—The Falcons' biggest weakness is the secondary. The Detroit Lions' biggest strength is their passing game. Calvin "Megatron" Johnson and Matthew Stafford should put up big numbers against the weak Atlanta secondary. I do not see the Falcons winning this game as of now.

Record 3-4

Week 8: BYE—I am pretty sure the Falcons will not lose this week...you can pretty much bet the farm on it, but I have been wrong before.

Record 3-4

Week 9: @ Indianapolis Colts—The Manning-less Colts have lost their swagger. Curtis Painter is not a sufficient replacement and the team will continue to struggle. The game will be closer than it should be, but the Falcons should make it out of Week 9 as the winner.

Record 4-4

Week 10: vs. New Orleans Saints—The Saints' defense is just as bad as the Falcons'. This game should turn into a shootout, similar to the Saints-Texans game a few weeks ago. Detroit has a better defense than the Saints, so while I said the Lions win in Week 7, Atlanta should use their edge at home to rise up in Week 10.

Record 5-4

Week 11: vs. Tennessee Titans—The Atlanta Falcons will stack the box to prevent Chris Johnson from beating them. The Falcons use their home-field advantage to their benefit again in Week 11 to squeeze out a win.

Record 6-4

Week 12: vs. Minnesota Vikings:—See Week 11's break down, subtract a Chris Johnson and add in an Adrian Peterson. The Falcons win again.

Record 7-4

Week 13: @ Houston Texans—Matt Schaub will be putting up significant passing yards against Atlanta's secondary. The Houston Texans' defense is better than the New Orleans Saints' defense.

The Saints being at home gave their team the edge when they went up against the dynamic Houston offense. In Week 13, Houston will be benefiting from home-field advantage. Atlanta loses another game on the road.

Record 7-5

Week 14: @ Carolina Panthers—In the rematch from Week 6, the Falcons should pull out a come-from-behind win. This game should be pretty close, with Atlanta playing poorly on the road (see examples from Weeks 1, 3 and 4).

Cam Newton is prone to mistakes, and his youth and inexperience will lead to a costly turnover late to keep Atlanta in the game. Atlanta still earns the win, but just barely.

Record 8-5

Week 15: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars—Against one of the worst teams in the league, the Atlanta Falcons take care of business at home in Week 15. Jags QB Blaine Gabbert is not quite up to the speed of the NFL game, and doesn't have the freakish tool set Cam Newton posses to make this game competitive.

Record 9-5

Week 16: @ New Orleans Saints—The Falcons will have to be lucky to pull out the win. Week 16 will not go Atlanta's way. They should drop this game in another high-scoring affair.

Record 9-6

Week 17: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers—The Falcons' loss to Tampa Bay in Week 3 was a big letdown for the Atlanta faithful. The Falcons are more talented at the skill positions, and if the full defensive line can enter Week 17 healthy, the team should take care of business at home again.

Record 10-6

The 10-6 record is probably the most optimistic outcome possible for Atlanta as they finish out this season. A 9-7 record is more likely, as the Falcons have yet to prove they can play at a consistent level.

A 9-7 or 10-6 record may have the Atlanta Falcons on the outside looking in.

The Atlanta Falcons are probably the second-best team in the NFC South in 2011. Both the Buccaneers and Falcons look unwilling to claim the spot behind the Saints.

The Lions, Green Bay Packers and Saints have emerged as the front runners in the NFC. I expect the Philadelphia Eagles to turn their season completely around; they have way too much talent not to.

The Falcons have a steep hill to climb to make the playoffs. The room for error is almost non-existent. If Atlanta trips up against one of the games they are "supposed" to win (Carolina twice, Indianapolis, Jacksonville and Minnesota), the playoff hopes are all but gone.