2012 Atlanta Falcons Season Game by Game Predictions

Week 1: @ Kansas City Chiefs-- 9/9/12-- 1:00 PM (FOX)

For the third consecutive season, the Falcons will open their campaign on the road in another tough environment, Arrowhead Stadium. Their opponent, the Kansas City Chiefs will look to have a bounce back season after injuries to key players such as safety Eric Berry and running back Jamaal Charles and a coaching change from Todd Haley to Romeo Crennel, Kansas City finished with a (7-9) record. Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez will play against his former team for the first time since being traded to Atlanta in 2009 and this should be an emotional game for the future Hall of Famer who made his mark while in a Chiefs uniform posting (10,940) receiving yards and (76) receiving touchdowns. Atlanta will also look to win their first road game in Arrowhead Stadium for the first time in franchise history, their last meeting in Kansas City was a 56-10 loss during the 2004 season. The Falcons defense must be prepared to contain the speed and explosive players that are key assets to the Chiefs success. The Falcons will look to win their first road  season opener since 2006. The Chiefs possess one of the best home field advantages around the NFL and their team is loaded with talent starting with All-Pro running backs Jamaal Charles and recently acquired Pro-Bowl running back Peyton Hillis. Kansas City have one of the best rushing attacks around the NFL when they are healthy and the Falcons will definitely be up for the challenge of facing their two-back tandem. Another big weapon the Chiefs have on offense is Pro-Bowl wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and the Falcons must be prepared to contain him from making the Chiefs opening day exciting or even earning an victory.  Jamaal Charles can attack a defense in multiple ways whether it's running the ball or as a pass receiver and the Falcons front seven must be cautious not to allow him to make a huge impact on this contest. Another asset to the Chiefs offense is former Browns running back Peyton Hillis. Hillis, who was  acquired in the free agency from Cleveland, is a physical back who can carve up a defensive scheme similar to Charles but possess a power style in his game and Atlanta must find an answer to take their rushing attack from the Chiefs game plan. As for the Falcons offense, Matt Ryan must rise to the occasion and contain the Chiefs defensive unit from making an impact or it could be a long day in Arrowhead. Expect Julio Jones and Roddy White to have good stats due to the Chiefs starting corner backs having injury issues so Matt Ryan must take advantage of the lack of depth in Kansas City's defense entering the game. In the end, the Falcons will emerge with a opening day victory for the first time since 2009. 

PREDICTION: WIN (1-0)


Week 2:  September 17th vs Denver Broncos (8:30 PM on ESPN- Monday Night Football):

For the second straight season, the Falcons will open their season on the national stage but this will be their first home opening Monday Night Football game since 2005. Coming to the Georgia Dome will be future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning and his new team, the Denver Broncos. Peyton Manning will bring a Denver Broncos team into town that is coming off winning the AFC West and still have a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. Denver brings in the best rushing team in the NFL last season lead by Willis McGahee. The Broncos lead the NFL in rushing with (164.5) yards per game and was a key component to the success they had in the second half last year and now with Manning, they will bring an balanced attack to give the Falcons defense a test. As for the Falcons, Michael Turner will be a huge component to help the offense gain momentum against a very tough opponent and his production will help Matt Ryan and the Falcons passing game will benefit from the efforts that Atlanta's offense can produce that day. In Atlanta's previous match against the Broncos, Michael Turner had another 100+ yards performance; however, the Broncos would earn a shocking 24-20 win. Atlanta will look to win their first Monday Night Football game since 2005 (Defeated New Orleans 36-17) and they will also look to defeat Peyton Manning for the first time since his rookie season in 1998. The Falcons must get Michael Turner and the running game going first and foremost in order for their game plan to get their passing attack to have an effective impact against a great Denver defense. Atlanta can't be a one-dimensional offense against the Broncos because of the defensive front. Elvis Dummervil and Von Miller are two great defensive ends who can attack the quarterback and disrupt any offense if they are given the opportunity. Another asset to the Broncos defensive unit is veteran corner back Champ Bailey, who is still considered as one of the best players in his position today. The Falcons offense must have a balanced scheme in order to have a successful night against the Broncos. On defense, the Falcons must contain veteran Willis McGahee, who had a bounce back season in 2011 posting (1,199) rushing yards and (4) rushing touchdowns. McGahee can still carve a defensive front when given the opportunity and the Falcons can't allow him to set the tone and give Peyton Manning any sort of balance because it could affect the defensive scheme that evening. In the end, I have the Falcons defeating the Broncos in a close game and earning their first victory over Manning since 1998.

PREDICTION: WIN (2-0)


Week 3: September 23rd @ San Diego Chargers (4:05 on FOX)

The Falcons will travel west to take on Phillip Rivers and the Chargers for the second consecutive time that these two teams have matched up against each other. This will be Michael Turner's second time playing against his old team. The Chargers are coming off another disappointing season and with the loss of Vincent Jackson and Mike Tolbert to the free agency, this team will be looking for some kind of big win against a tough NFL contender such as the Falcons. This season, San Diego will use a lot of Antonio Gates to keep their passing attack afloat after losing such a key component to why Phillip Rivers emerged as one of the best quarterbacks in the league. As for the Falcons defense, they must pressure Rivers into making costly turnovers because he threw the third most interceptions in the NFL last season with (20). As for Atlanta's offense, the Falcons must be a balanced attack against a San Diego defense that's still very talented and can compete with some of the best teams in the league today. Allow Michael Turner to set the tone and that will be a huge benefit for the Falcons to defeat the Chargers on the road. Atlanta is looking to win another game against San Diego, which trails the series 7-1, including losing at home to the Falcons 22-16. In order to beat the Chargers, the Falcons must contain Philip Rivers completely because he is still one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL when he is completely focused. The Falcons must contain Philip Rivers from having a monster game against them by containing the passing attack. A key match-up that day will be Antonio Gates vs Akeem Dent. Dent must rise to the challenge of containing one of the best tight ends in the game today or the defensive unit could have a long day trying to stop the Chargers passing attack. Robert Meachem is another acquisition to the Chargers offense and he's going to have a breakout season this year and with the young, talented running back Ryan Matthews, the Falcons need to keep their offense off the field because the Chargers are a good team at home. For the Falcons, on offense, you must present a balanced strategy by mixing up with a fair amount of running plays as well as passes because the Chargers defense is very opportunistic. Last season, San Diego was not that talented on defense; however, this team have the talent to make game-changing plays and get their home field advantage behind them. This game will be a toss-up; however, I feel the Falcons could slip up and drop this game after dealing with a tough battle with Peyton Manning and to make a quick turnaround to return to the West. 

PREDICTION: LOSS (2-1)

Week 4: September 30th vs Carolina Panthers (1:00 on FOX)

Atlanta's second home game will be another tough challenge as Offensive Rookie of the Year Cam Newton and the Panthers come to the Georgia Dome. The Panthers was a team loaded with potential in 2011; however, they lost a lot of close games against some good opponents, including the Falcons both times. Carolina had the Falcons on the ropes of defeat in both games last season; however, Atlanta would rally in both games and give the team a much-needed sweep en-route to the NFL playoffs. The Falcons defense will have their hands full with the talented offensive weapons that the Panthers have such as All-Pro receiver Steve Smith, who is one of the Falcons killers and the defense must be prepared to contain him from having any sort of impact on the game. In the previous games, the Falcons had a challenge trying to contain tight end Greg Olsen, which means Akeem Dent and Sean Weatherspoon will be presented with a task to contain this weapon. The Panthers also have a talented running back tandem of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, which can be a problem for our defense and now with the addition of Mike Tolbert, Atlanta's defense will need to pressure Cam Newton into costly turnovers and limit the offense from having any sort of impact on the game. As for the offense, the Falcons can continue to use their All-Pro running back Michael Turner, who gave the Panthers defense fits ever since he became an Atlanta Falcon, Turner have posted numerous 100+ yard games and was the key to the Falcons winning streak over this NFC South opponent. Carolina is looking to earn their first win at the Georgia Dome since 2007 and the Falcons will look to extend their winning streak to five consecutive against their division foe. The Falcons need to continue and present their balanced offense to the Panthers defense. Atlanta will continue to have success with the ground attack and Michael Turner is a defensive nightmare to the Carolina defensive unit and he will need to create an impact on the ground in order to establish a balanced attack in the game. Matt Ryan should have a good game against a less than average Panthers secondary but the game strategy must be balanced in order to have a big game against this team. On defense, the Falcons must contain one of the best offensive groups in the NFL last season as the Panthers were (7th) in the NFL in total yards per game with (389.8) and (3rd) in the league in rushing with (150.5) per game so this team have multiple ways to make an impact on the game. The Falcons pass rush will need to pressure Cam Newton into turnovers, which he struggled to avoid interceptions and other costly mistakes that would result in momentum on offense. In the end, I feel the Falcons will emerge in a competitive home contest at the Georgia Dome.

PREDICTION: WIN (3-1)

Week 5: October 7th @ Washington Redskins (1:00 on FOX)

Atlanta's third road game of the season is at FedEx Field against rookie sensation Robert Griffith III and the rebuilding Washington Redskins. Many people are looking at the road opponent as an easy victory but NOT SO FAST..... This team is not as bad as their recent records have shown. Washington added former Indianapolis Colts star receiver Pierre Garcon along with former San Francisco 49ers standout Josh Morgan along with All-Pro receiver Santana Moss and now they have some depth at receiver. The Falcons must contain this group from having any kind of impact on the game along with RGIII. Washington also have talented running back Roy Helu who was doing a great job for their rushing attack after an injury sidelined former running back Tim Hightower for the remainder of 2011 and he could be effective so the defense must stop this offense from having an impact that day.  On offense, the Falcons need to counterattack with the explosive wide receiver tandem of Roddy White, Julio Jones, and Harry Douglas and give the Redskins secondary, who just lost safety Laron Landry to the New York Jets, a hard afternoon. In their last match-up, Michael Turner ran for over 100 yards and lead Atlanta to a 31-17 win in a emotional game at the Georgia Dome, which included Mike Smith and former Falcons player DeAngelo Hall getting into a brawl. As for Washington, they would like to earn a win over Atlanta for the first time since 2003. The Falcons need to bring their balanced attack into this game as well because the Redskins defense had a very good campaign depsite finishing with a bad record as they were ranked (12th) overall in defense and also finished with (41) sacks, which was in the top ten around the NFL last season. London Fletcher and the Redskins front seven can cause a huge impact on a game so the Falcons must keep the defense off balanced. In the end, the Falcons will have a big game and earn another road victory.

PREDICTION: WIN (4-1)

Week 6: October 14th vs Oakland Raiders (1:00 on FOX)

In the Falcons final game before their bye week, they will return home to take on the Oakland Raiders lead by All-Pro running back Darren McFadden. The Falcons will need to get their offense going against a inconsistent Raiders defensive unit in order to establish momentum against this team. Last season, Oakland struggle against some of the best running backs in the league and this is where the Falcons can use the compliments of Michael Turner to get the offense going. As far as the passing game, the Falcons will need to establish some dominance in the air because the Raiders defense surrendered (31) touchdown passes to opposing quarterbacks last year and Matt Ryan could have a big day against the Raiders in this contest. Oakland will look to earn a win against the Falcons for the first time since 2000. In the last match-up, the Falcons posted a shut-out victory in Oakland with a final score of 24-0. This would also be the final game against an AFC opponent for the 2012 season for Atlanta and a win could be a huge confidence booster heading into the bye week. The Falcons defensive must unit must contain Darren McFadden from establishing any momentum for the Oakland Raiders because without McFadden's impact, it will be a difficult  afternoon for Carson Palmer to have any impact on the game. Atlanta's front line must attack Carson Palmer and make it very difficult for him to get his explosive receiving core involved. Denarius Moore and Darrius Heyward-Bey are both explosive play makers who can change a game in one reception so Asante Samuel and Brent Grimes must prevent them from doing so. Although the Raiders finished (11th) in the NFL in passing last season averaging around (247.6) yards per game, they were also one of the most intercepted passing attacks in the league as well. Combined, Jason Campbell and Carson Palmer threw (23) interceptions last season so the Falcons secondary must be prepared to make opportunistic plays. In the end, I feel the Falcons will have a huge day and the Raiders could be in trouble from the start as Atlanta wins another game and head into their bye week. 

PREDICTION: WIN (5-1)

WEEK 7: BYE WEEK

Week 8: October 28th @Philadelphia Eagles (1:00 on FOX)

Atlanta returns from the bye week to play a familiar opponent on the road, Philadelphia Eagles, whom the Falcons have played 9 of the previous 10 seasons. Philadelphia is the most explosive and balanced offensive team in the entire league.  The Falcons defense must go in there and contain Michael Vick first and foremost because he's still a defensive nightmare for all of his opponents and rushing the quarterback will be a huge key towards Atlanta earning a rare road victory. Another huge weapon that Atlanta must be aware of is running back Lesean Mccoy because in the previous match-up against the Eagles, he scored two touchdowns and came close to posting (100) yards in the game. Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin must also be limited because both of those explosive wide receivers can change the tone of a football game within minutes so the Falcons secondary must rise to the occasion and contain these two deadly weapons. On offense, Matt Ryan needs to avoid turnovers in this game because despite him posting a career-high four touchdown passes in the win last season, he threw two costly interceptions which resulted in 14 points for the opponents and in order to beat the Eagles, turnovers are not going to help win the game. Another factor that Atlanta must use is their rushing attack because Michael Turner's efforts helped the Falcons come from behind last year and beat the Eagles. Atlanta must also avoid getting in a shoot-out with the Eagles because despite finishing 8-8, this team was ranked 8th in points scored per game with (24.8) so the Eagles explosive attack must become an non-factor to help the Falcons win. The Falcons will look to earn their first ever win at Lincoln Financial Field this season. Asante Samuel will return for the first time in another uniform after playing six seasons for the Eagles. The Falcons will compete in a very competitive game; however, the Eagles will emerge with a close victory as both teams will return from their bye weeks as the second half begins. This game could go either way once this match-up becomes closer; however, the advantage goes to the home team in a nail-biting contest. 

PREDICTION: LOSS (5-2)

Week 9: November 4th vs Dallas Cowboys (8:20 on NBC, Sunday Night Football)

The Falcons will return to the Georgia Dome and welcome Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys to town in their second prime-time game. Atlanta is looking to beat the Cowboys at home for the first time since 2001. The last time these two teams met in the Georgia Dome, Dallas won 38-28. The Falcons defense will have to step up to the challenge to pressure Romo into huge mistakes because we all know that if you can pressure the Cowboys that they will fold especially in late game situations. Dallas have a lot of offensive weapons and the two main factors that have to be eliminated out of the game are Jason Witten and Dez Bryant. Witten is still one of the best tight ends in the NFL when healthy and can help the Cowboys passing game throughout this match-up. The linebackers must prevent Witten from having any sort of impact to the prime-time match up. Dez Bryant, in his third year, is also a triple threat for the Cowboys and he's a game changer on offense and special teams. As for the Falcons offense, in order for anything to be able to work, the offensive line must be up to the challenge to contain DeMarcus Ware from interrupting the offensive game plan or that could lead to issues throughout the football game. The Falcons will need for Matt Ryan to establish the tempo of this game because the Cowboys passing defense is not the best and you want to take care of that and then incorporate your rushing attack into the game. Another key component to beating Dallas is to contain second year running back DeMarco Murray. Murray is a tremendous player who provides the balance to the Cowboys offense but the Falcons defensive front have to keep him contained and make Tony Romo have to win this game in the air. On offense, the Falcons have to remain balanced as well because the Cowboys secondary have a lot of depth and making yourselves one-dimensional could result in a bad thing for Matt Ryan. With the addition of Brandon Carr and Morris Clairborne as well as veteran Mike Jenkins, the running game is critical to the team winning this game because establishing Michael Turner on the ground will open up opportunities in the passing attack. In the end, the Falcons will earn a huge victory over the Cowboys at the Georgia Dome.

Prediction: WIN (6-2)

Week 10: November 11th @ New Orleans Saints (1:00 on FOX):

The Falcons- Saints rivalry continues to become of the best games around the NFL and these  two teams will meet again in one of two potential match-ups to determine the NFC South. Other than the embarrassing blowout on Monday Night Football last year, This NFC South rivalry between the Falcons and the Saints have always been a close matchup. The previous 5 matchups have been decided by 8 pts or less. Also, the Saints have won the last three games and the Falcons will look to end that streak. In order for the Falcons to win in New Orleans, they must established a balanced attack that will keep the raucous Superdome crowd out of the game and allow Atlanta to successfully conduct their offensive strategy. Another step the Falcons must take to winning this game is scoring touchdowns and not settling for field goals. Last season, the Saints had one of the worst red zone defenses around the league; however, against the Falcons, they were able to force the team to settle for field goals and that ultimately was the factor in both Atlanta losses. The Falcons defense must also start pressuring Drew Brees in order to cost turnovers because despite the fact that Brees is one of the best quarterbacks around the NFL today, he will make huge mistakes when defensive lines can get after him and that's a huge problem the Falcons encountered when playing the Saints. Atlanta is looking to earn their second win over the past six seasons down in New Orleans and hopes to earn a huge win that could ultimately decide the division in Week 17. This game will be a close game and expect to see Matt Ryan and Drew Brees battling for bragging rights in the division. Usually, the team who wins the turnover battle will come away with a victory in the series. The Falcons defense will play a huge factor in the game and needs to force Brees and the Saints offense to lose the turnover battle and also get the Georgia Dome crowd behind them in the game. Also, Michael Turner have caused fits for the Saints defense and if the rushing attack starts putting up big stats throughout the game, that will limit the Saints. Another factor is the addition of Julio Jones and an explosive slot receiver in Harry Douglas because in the previous matchups, the Saints defense applied double coverage to Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez and limited their effectiveness; however, if New Orleans use the same strategy, this will be a downfall for the team and could swing the game in Atlanta's favor. Although this contest will be another great match against two of the best teams in the NFC, a slight edge goes to the New Orleans Saints at home.

PREDICTION: LOSS (6-3)

Week 11: November 18th vs Arizona Cardinals (1:00 on FOX)

Atlanta will come back home and prepare to face Larry Fitzgerald and the Arizona Cardinals. Last time these two teams played,  the Falcons destroyed the Cardinals at home 41-7 and dominated Arizona on all sides of the football. The Cardinals are still a very talented team and the Falcons must be prepared to contain Larry Fitzgerald and Beanie Wells. Last season, the Cardinals offense couldn't score many points and suffered a lot of injuries but still finished 8-8 and the Falcons need to contain Fitzgerald from having a huge impact on the game and Atlanta's defense must force Kevin Kolb to find another weapon to give the Cardinals a shot to pull an upset in the Georgia Dome. As for the Falcons, the Cardinals defense struggled to defend the rushing attack, which fits our game plan and as long as the Falcons stick to their offensive identity, this team can win the game and should not encounter any threats from Arizona. The Cardinals will look to beat Atlanta for the first time in more than 10 years and for the Falcons, they will look to keep adding on wins as the playoff stretch starts to emerge. In the end, the Falcons will cost too much of an issue to the Cardinals defensive unit and Atlanta should win this game easily.

PREDICTION: WIN (7-3)

Week 12: November 25th @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1:00 on FOX)

This is the start of three consecutive NFC South games for the Falcons as they return to Tampa Bay, who shockingly stunned Atlanta 16-13 last season at home. Tampa Bay added some veteran free agents to help them contend within the division such as adding former Chargers star receiver Vincent Jackson and All-Pro guard Carl Nicks. The Falcons defense will need to contain Jackson from having a huge afternoon against the secondary because he's one of the most consistent receivers in the league today and can hurt your defensive strategy if he's not contained. Another weapon that must be contained is running back Legarette Blount and rookie sensation Doug Martin, who is a younger and more physical version of Michael Turner and the rushing defense must keep from doing anything to help the Buccaneers win the game. The final key for the Falcons defense is to keep pressure on Josh Freeman because with pressure, he's turnover prone and Atlanta did a good job forcing him into turnovers and creating opportunities for themselves on offense. For the offense, Atlanta needs to establish the ground attack first and then incorporate their explosive receiving core in the game, which Tampa Bay had a hard time stopping in the previous match-up and the Falcons offense must take flight and prevent the Bucs from earning a second consecutive win at home. In a close and competitive NFC South contest, Atlanta will earn a victory to help them down the playoff stretch.

PREDICTION: WIN (8-3)

Week 13: November 29th vs New Orleans Saints (8:20 on NFL Network)

In the Falcons third prime-time home game, the rivalry continues between the Falcons and the Saints on the prime-time stage and they will look to earn their first home win against New Orleans since 2008.  In order for the Falcons to win in front of the home crowd at the Georgia Dome, they must established a balanced attack that will keep the raucous Saints defense confused throughout the game and allow Atlanta to successfully conduct their offensive strategy. Another step the Falcons must take to winning this game is scoring touchdowns and not settling for field goals. Last season, the Saints had one of the worst red zone defenses around the league; however, against the Falcons, they were able to force the team to settle for field goals and that ultimately was the factor in both Atlanta losses. The Falcons defense must also start pressuring Drew Brees in order to cost turnovers because despite the fact that Brees is one of the best quarterbacks around the NFL today, he will make huge mistakes when defensive lines can get after him and that's a huge problem the Falcons encountered when playing the Saints. Another step will be getting the Georgia Dome crowd behind the Falcons and that will take a hard fought effort to prevent the Saints from running their offense effectively. Finally, NO GUTSY plays!!!! In the last three games at the Georgia Dome, the Falcons have failed to convert a 4th down play which gave New Orleans a close victory and in order to do that, the Falcons need to establish themselves on the scoreboard early and effectively. The Falcons will have a huge night and finally beat the Saints for the first time since 2008.

PREDICTION: WIN (9-3)

Week 14: December 9th @ Carolina Panthers (1:00 on FOX)

This will be the end of the Falcons three game stretch against the NFC South and their second match-up against the Panthers. Carolina had the Falcons on the ropes of defeat in both games last season; however, Atlanta would rally in both games and give the team a much-needed sweep en-route to the NFL playoffs. The Falcons defense will have their hands full with the talented offensive weapons that the Panthers have such as All-Pro receiver Steve Smith, who is one of the Falcons killers and the defense must be prepared to contain him from having any sort of impact on the game. In the previous games, the Falcons had a challenge trying to contain tight end Greg Olsen, which means Lofa Tatupu will be presented with a task to contain this weapon. The Panthers also have a talented running back tandem of Deangelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, which can be a problem for our defense and now with the addition of Mike Tolbert, Atlanta's defense will need to pressure Cam Newton into costly turnovers and limit the offense from having any sort of impact on the game. As for the offense, the Falcons can continue to use their All-Pro running back Michael Turner, who gave the Panthers defense fits ever since he became an Atlanta Falcon, Turner have posted numerous 100+ yard games and was the key to the Falcons winning streak over this NFC South opponent. The Falcons also can't allow the home crowd in Charlotte to provide any boost to the Panthers because this could be a huge upset and Cam Newton would love to earn a statement victory so Atlanta must be mentally prepared as a team as the December playoff stretch begins. In the end, if the Panthers are in a close playoff race, as they should be around this time, this game will be a huge statement game for the Panthers and this young team will find a way to potentially pull an upset. Although the contest will be close, I'll give the edge to Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers to redeem themselves in a close victory.

PREDICTION: LOSS (9-4)

Week 15: December 16th vs New York Giants (1:00 on FOX)

With three games remaining in the 2012 season, the Falcons return home to play the defending  Super Bowl champion New York Giants and look to earn revenge after last year's embarrassing playoff loss in New York.  This will be one of the biggest games of the season especially with the bitterness that all the Falcons players and fans have towards this team after losing the playoff game and watching this team go on to win Super Bowl XLVI. Expect to see both the Falcons and the Giants play with a chip on their shoulder and battle for a full 60 minutes. In order to beat the Giants, the Falcons offense needs to establish the rushing attack with Michael Turner because when a team can effectively run the football against this defense, you have a better chance of winning. Atlanta's home crowd needs to fuel the defense up for this playoff atmosphere and the Falcons pass rush needs to earn sacks and apply pressure to Eli Manning because when you can force him into a bad spot, he's turnover prone. Atlanta's defense must also contain Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz from having any sort of impact for the Giants offense because those two were the biggest components to the Giants Super Bowl team and the secondary must take away any opportunity for them to turn the game in the favor of New York. Finally, the real battle of this game will be the Falcons Offensive Line vs Giants Defensive Line. The Falcons must contain the Giants defensive line and apply the pressure to the secondary and that can place Atlanta in great position to win this football game. In the end, the Giants are a tough football team and will try to earn as many wins as possible due to their tough schedule. This game was a toss-up to me but I will give the Falcons only home defeat of the year to the New York Giants, who could be playing for a post-season berth by this portion of the season.

PREDICTION: LOSS (9-5)

Week 16: December 22nd @ Detroit Lions (ESPN- Saturday Night Football)

In the Falcons final regular season game on the road, they return to Detroit to take on a Lions team who they defeated last season 24-17 at Ford Field. This game will definitely have playoff implications with two of the best teams in the NFC playing in front of a national TV audience. In order for the Falcons to earn back to back victories in Detroit, the Falcons must establish the run with Michael Turner. In last year's victory, Turner had a decent game that helped Atlanta keep the raucous Ford Field crowd out of the game and they also set the tone in order to conduct their offense, which led them to a huge road win. Another component that the Falcons successfully did in the win last season was the Falcons offensive line  protected Matt Ryan against the Lions defensive line and kept the offense intact in order to help the Falcons put more points on the board and take their defense out of the aggressive mindset. On defense, the Falcons need to contain Calvin Johnson from taking over the football game and helping the Lions win. The Falcons need to design plays in order to limit him from making any major plays to get Detroit's offense going. Another weapon the Falcons must limit is running back Jahvid Best, who is a triple-threat athlete and Atlanta can't allow him to make his mark on the game or that could result in a long game for the defense. In the end, the Falcons will earn another huge prime-time road game.

PREDICTION: WIN (10-5)

Week 17: December 30th vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1:00 on FOX)

In the final game of the NFL regular season, the Falcons finish off their division with Tampa Bay. he Falcons defense will need to contain Jackson from having a huge afternoon against the secondary because he's one of the most consistent receivers in the league today and can hurt your defensive strategy if he's not contained. Another weapon that must be contained is running back Legarette Blount and Doug Martin , who is a younger and more physical version of Michael Turner and the rushing defense must keep from doing anything to help the Buccaneers win the game. The final key for the Falcons defense is to keep pressure on Josh Freeman because with pressure, he's turnover prone and Atlanta did a good job forcing him into turnovers and creating opportunities for themselves on offense. For the offense, Atlanta needs to establish the ground attack first and then incorporate their explosive receiving core in the game, which Tampa Bay had a hard time stopping in the previous match-up and the Falcons offense must take flight and stop the Buccaneers from trying to stun them at home. As for the Falcons, they will look to win their 5th straight home game against their NFC South foes. In the end, the Falcons will win this game and the division title as they prepare for the NFL Playoffs. 

FINAL RECORD: (11-5), NFC SOUTH CHAMPIONS

FINAL THOUGHTS

The 2012 NFL season will be an exciting one for the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons will play four nationally televised games. A Monday Night Football home opener vs the Denver Broncos, Sunday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys, Thursday Night Football against the New Orleans Saints, and Saturday Night against the Detroit Lions. Atlanta have not won on Monday Night Football in 7 years, the Falcons are 2-0 on Thursday NFL Network games, and they are looking to win on Sunday Night Football for the second consecutive year. If the Falcons want to be considered a top contender, this is the time to show their team off by winning big prime-time matches against some of the best teams in the NFL. A significant part of our schedule have us facing some of the best quarterbacks or some talented ones for consecutive weeks. From Weeks 2-5, The Falcons will face two passing quarterbacks (Peyton Manning and Phillip Rivers) and then will take on two young but dual-threat quarterbacks (Cam Newton and Robert Griffith III) and this will make the team have to continue to play at a high level, which is a benefit for the overall mindset of the football team. The second stretch is between Weeks 8-10 when the Falcons face Michael Vick, Tony Romo, and Drew Brees and these are going to be crucial football games against some of the best teams around the NFL. The final stretch will be Weeks 13-16 when the Falcons will face (Drew Brees, Cam Newton, Eli Manning, and Matthew Stafford) in consecutive weeks and this will force the Falcons to rise to the test and give their best efforts weekly. Although the new season brings many challenges to this Falcons team heading into 2012, this team is primed to achieve great things in the future and this season will be very exciting. Until next time, RISE UP!!!

2012 Atlanta Falcons Season Preview: Michael Turner

Michael Turner, entering his fifth season as a member of the Atlanta Falcons, he's definitely far from the days in San Diego where he was  backing Ladainian Tomlinson to becoming one of the best backs in the NFL today. Since Turner was acquired by Atlanta in the 2008 season, he's been one of the most valuable players to the Falcons organization and is a key contributor to the success under the Mike Smith-Thomas Dimitroff era. Last season, Michael Turner led the NFC in rushing with (1,340) yards, (11) rushing touchdowns, and averaged (83.8) yards rushing per game. In his four years in Atlanta, Turner broke numerous Falcons records such as: Most Touchdowns In A Season (17 in 2008), Most Consecutive Games with a Touchdown (7 in 2009), Most Touchdowns In A Game (4 in 2008), and Most Yards In A Single Game (220 in 2008). Turner's (5,281) rushing yards is ranked (5th) among running backs in Atlanta Falcons history and broke Gerald Riggs franchise record in touchdowns with (50) in his successful career. Turner is on pace to breaking almost every Falcons rushing record and he's been one of the premier running backs in the NFL and in team history. Heading into the 2012 season, many reports have emerged that Turner's carries per game are going to be reduced due to the amount of carries he received under former offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey. Although Michael Turner is not the explosive athlete that he was when he was acquired four seasons ago, he's still a defensive nightmare to many opponents and is still one of the top running backs in the league today. This season, many reports have emerged that Michael Turner will probably average around twenty carries per game due to posting over (300) carries in three of his four seasons in Atlanta. In this blog, I will give my expectations for Turner as we slowly approach the start of the 2012 NFL season.

EXPECTATIONS FOR MICHAEL TURNER AND THE RUNNING GAME IN 2012:

1. Turner's Reduction of Carries Will Keep Him Fresh and Productive:

Michael Turner, without a doubt, has provided a spark in the running game whenever we needed him to over the last four seasons; however, carrying the ball as much as the 30-year old running back have throughout his time as a Falcon starts taking a toll on his production in the future. As I mentioned above, in three of his four seasons in Atlanta, Turner have received over (300) carries on offense throughout the team's campaign. Under Dirk Koetter, Turner's carries are going to be reduced, which is a benefit because this allows him to remain fresh and still give the production necessary to help Matt Ryan and the Falcons offense remain balanced. Last season, when Turner carried the ball around 15 or 20 times in a game, Atlanta was 3-1 and when he carried the ball 21-30 times in a game, the Falcons were 7-1. Michael Turner should at least have around (20) or (25) carries per game in order for the Falcons to keep their balanced offensive attack. Yes, everyone is excited to see what Julio Jones, Roddy White, and the Atlanta passing game will bring in 2012; however, the Falcons are still a run first offense and with the reduction of carries for the star player, his production can remain the same or could even improve. Another significant point to watch is during Koetter's stint as the Jaguars offensive coordinator, Maurice Jones Drew was averaging around 17-22 carries per game and still provided the same production as Michael Turner and even more in the past few seasons.  Michael Turner should average more yards per carry because with the offensive weapons of Julio Jones and Roddy White at receiver, the Falcons will be a very unpredictable offense and this season, Turner will be allowed to have some breaks during the game and will have enough stamina in order to make big runs from scrimmage for the Falcons offense. One of the main issues that wondered many Falcons fans and other NFL experts is the amount of carries that Turner receives during the entire season; however, with a balanced attack and a change of pace runner, Turner should catch some time to produce at a higher rate than the previous  seasons for the Falcons.He's still one of the most valuable assets to the Atlanta Falcons; however, he must receive a fair amount of carries each game so he can continue to produce big numbers like he did since 2008. Even with the struggles from rushing attack, Turner still ranked as the NFC's best rusher and his production is very important in each game. His explosive traits may have taken a step down since the beginning of his time in a Falcons uniform; however, he provides a power style that many teams struggle to contain on game day. Although Turner is your starter, he needs to receive some valuable contribution from other running backs on the team as well, which is my next point.

2. Michael Turner needs either Jason Snelling or Jacquizz Rodgers to add another threat to the rushing attack:

One of the biggest issues the Falcons encountered last season was the lack of production from another running back on the roster. A portion of the issue had to do with Mularkey's scheme which either had Turner on the field for most of the game or he couldn't place each running back in the position to provide a spark for Atlanta's offense, which allows Michael Turner to remain fresh and still give the momentous runs we'll need in big game situations. Jacquizz Rodgers, Atlanta's second year running back is supposed to provide the rushing attack with that spark because of his elusive running style and ability to be a true "change of pace" running back for the offense. Many people would like to see Rodgers give Atlanta's offense another spark similar to what former running back Jerious Norwood provided in Turner's first two seasons. In 2008, Jerious Norwood and Michael Turner was one of the most explosive two back tandems in the NFL because Turner was the power back who could also break for some huge runs; however, Norwood was your speed back who could provide a "home-run" threat for the offense in which an explosive run could result in a huge play or even a touchdown. Unfortunately, with Norwood being hurt the next three seasons, the Falcons were unable to have a change of pace player in the rushing attack. Jason Snelling, who is another reliable option at running back, is a good player; however, like Turner, Snelling is a physical runner who also excels in catching passes out of the backfield but under Mularkey's system, his production was limited as well and that placed a lot of responsibility on Michael Turner. Under Koetter's new system, the Falcons should call formations and "add a few wrinkles" to the rushing plays in the playbook. Michael Turner is your power back who can provide big runs when he's running up the middle and Koetter should add some more delays and other schemes which allows Turner to break for huge plays on the ground and provide the assistance to the offense for Matt Ryan. Jacquizz Rodgers need to be an option for pitches and he will also be used for the Falcons screen game. In Jacksonville, Maurice Jones Drew was used often in screen passes and with the elusive ability that Rodgers have, he could be your first option to give defenses a hard time predicting whether the Falcons would run or pass when he's on the field and that's another huge support system behind Turner. Koetter can allow Jason Snelling to play both styles in the running game because he can run the ball with power similar to what Michael Turner provides to the team and he's a great pass receiver and possess the ability to break for big plays in both aspects of Atlanta's offense. The Falcons will aim to be more of a "running back by committee" offense similar to New Orleans and Carolina. With the Panthers, you can see how DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart split carries and how their offense use them both to call plays that will fit each player's style. In New Orleans, Pierre Thomas is the player who can either run the ball up the middle or use him in the screen game, which he excels at executing on offense. Darren Sproles also provides the speed factor to their rushing attack in which he can be a receiving back who have the ability to make big plays at a high rate. The Saints also use Chris Ivory and Mark Ingram as their power backs as well and those teams are certain examples of how the Falcons will use their running back by committee for the upcoming season. 

3. Pat Hill's Blocking Scheme Will Benefit Michael Turner:

In the off-season, the Falcons did a lot of work to their offensive line and the first step was bringing in former Frezno State head coach Pat Hill. Hill, who was a offensive line/tight ends coach in the NFL. Hill joined the Cleveland Browns in 1992 and spent four seasons (1992-95) in the organization, coaching tight ends and offensive line in addition to working in the personnel department evaluating players. Also, the Falcons made some moves in the NFL Draft to improve their offensive line. Second round pick Peter Konz, who was a center from Wisconsin was the top center ranked in the draft and came from a run-heavy Badgers offense which successfully blocked for Monte Ball, which is one of the best running backs in the country. Atlanta acquired their full back Bradie Ewing, who was Konz teammate and was another key component in their successful rushing attack and they could be key additions to the offensive line because not only were they successful blocking linemen; they were athletic because they were successful at pull blocking. The Falcons needed to address this issue after losing Harvey Dahl to free agency last season and Ovie Mughelli suffered a season-ending injury, which made the Falcons rushing attack struggle down the stretch in 2011. This season, Pat Hill mentioned during the Falcons mini camps that he was trying to teach the lineman fundamentals and bring a zone blocking scheme for the running game. In a zone blocking scheme, fleet-footedness and athletic ability trump size as desirable qualities in offensive linemen. Coordination and technique matter more than muscle in implementing a successful scheme because defensive linemen are often double-teamed at the point of attack. For many fans that don't remember, the Falcons used to be a zone-blocking under former offensive coordinator Greg Knapp and in Michael Vick's last three seasons in Atlanta. Atlanta was successful using the zone blocking scheme as former running backs T.J. Duckett and Warrick Dunn led the NFL in rushing from 2004-2006 and with the offensive talent that the running back core possess, this team could really benefit off the new scheme. Under this scheme, Michael Turner will have linemen blocking for him once he starts to run at the second level of the defense. Once Turner reaches the second level, he will be able to use his elusiveness, power, and vision in the open field. If the offense can get it going through the zone blocking scheme, it can help their entire offense as well because having an effective running game will help the passing offense really take flight in Atlanta. 



CONCLUSION:

Michael Turner is still one of the most valuable players to the Atlanta Falcons offense. In the NFL, we know that most teams are now transitioning to a pass happy offense including ours as well but we have the advantage of having a power running back who can keep the offense balanced and productive. Over the last four years, when Turner runs for 100 yards, the Falcons have a 22-5 record and by this stat, when the Falcons rushing attack is on, this team usually wins the game. Heading into 2012, a lot of talk has been centered around Julio Jones, Harry Douglas, and the Falcons passing attack; however, the bread and butter of success in Atlanta is running the ball. Eventually, the Falcons will progress into a passing attack; however, Michael Turner is the key to the Falcons success in 2012. Until next time, RISE UP!!!!!

2012 Atlanta Falcons Season Player Preview: Matt Ryan

Heading into his fifth season in the NFL , there is no doubt that Matt Ryan is on pace to becoming the most successful quarterback in Atlanta Falcons history. At the age of 27 years old, Matt Ryan has already broken numerous team records and continued to establish an impressive resume unlike any other quarterback in Atlanta Falcons History. In his short career, Ryan led the Falcons to four consecutive winning seasons, a 42-19 record overall in his career as a starter, three playoff appearances, and a NFC South Division Title in 2010. He's also coming off a great 2011 campaign in which he posted (4,177) passing yards, a career high, which was ranked (8th) best in the NFL and set the record for the most yards passing in a season in Atlanta Falcons history. Ryan's (347) completions was the second highest of his career and set another career high with (29) touchdown passes. Ryan  posted a (61.3) completion percentage, which was the second highest of his career and finished with a QB rating of (92.2), which was another career high for Ryan last season. Every year, Matt Ryan continues to  make progression throughout the regular season; however, there is one flaw that's setting him from the elite quarterbacks in the league: playoff wins and a Super Bowl victory. Without question, Ryan can deliver 10-12 wins or even more in the regular season; however, he struggled in the NFL playoffs posting an 0-3 record and lost to the last two Super Bowl winners (New York Giants, Green Bay Packers) . Many Falcons fans would love to see Matt Ryan take the next step towards delivering the first Super Bowl championship in team history and with the talent that the 2012 team have, they are capable of making the goal possible. Matt Ryan is the key to the Atlanta Falcons success this season. Many national experts view him as a great quarterback that can't escape the January struggles; however, under a new offensive coordinator and a completely different scheme, Matt Ryan looks to post yet another career season for the Falcons. Matt Ryan is emerging as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL and this season, the fans of Atlanta are expecting great things from this team and I will list some of the important steps that Matt Ryan needs to take in order to have a great season and potentially return a Lombardi trophy to Atlanta.




EXPECTATIONS FOR THE 2012 SEASON:


1. Expect Matt Ryan's Yards Per Completion to Increase:


Under Dirk Koetter's new offensive game plan, you will see Matt Ryan make better decisions when the Falcons are throwing the ball throughout the season. In the past four years under Mike Mularkey, after his rookie campaign, some of the plays called under the previous offensive system made the Falcons passing attack take a step back due to lack of consistency. In 2008, Matt Ryan passes that were completed averaged (7.93) yards per completion, which is a great amount especially if you're in a ten yard situation because  making successful passes with this amount of yards can allow your running game to assist you and keep a balanced attack throughout the game, which is a defensive nightmare. In 2009 and 2010, Matt Ryan averaged (6.47 in 2009) and (6.49 in 2010) per pass completion, which is a good number; however, Mularkey's system did not allow Matt Ryan to take control of certain passing situations throughout the game and that could have been due to the fact that many defenses often played tight coverage or double teamed Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White. Last year, after the acquisition of Julio Jones, Matt Ryan took a step forward as he averaged (7.38) yards per completion consistency in their offense and as great as Ryan's number was, the offensive scheme prevented the team from taking steps forward. In 2012, Matt Ryan will be able to expand his passing offense under his control for the first time in his career. During training camp, I saw Matt Ryan making great decisions in certain passing situations where he was able to make accurate passes and get the offense involved and utilize all of his weapons as well. Koetter's system was very successful in Jacksonville with former Jaguars star David Garrard and in Atlanta, Ryan will excel in a new system that can adjust to his passing style. 




2. Matt Ryan's Completion Percentage Will Improve and Atlanta's Offensive will take a step ahead:

Last season, Matt Ryan had a decent completion percentage of (61.3) throughout the season; however, this was a stat that could have been a lot higher and unfortunately, the Falcons offense lacked their true identity under Mularkey's scheme. This season, Ryan will make smarter choices during game-day situations such as calling better routes for his receiving core. In 2011, with the addition of Julio Jones, the Falcons were trying too hard to be an explosive team that Ryan were taking unnecessary deep shots down the field to give Atlanta quick offensive scoring possessions and many times, the strategy was unsuccessful. Yes, it's great to have a wide receiver with the ability such as Jones; however, this team never took many shots down the field under Mike Mularkey. After last season, Matt Ryan averaged a (43.1) quarterback rating when throwing passes over (25+) yards and that's a number that must improve and under Dirk Koetter system, I feel that Ryan will make better passing decisions. This season, expect Matt Ryan to throw more passes around ten or twenty yards and the completion ratio will continue to increase as well. As you look at the talented wide receiver tandem in Roddy White and Julio Jones, Matt Ryan will need to throw passes that can allow those talented players to use their skills to make productive plays when the Falcons are on offense. Another key component to the Falcons passing game taking strides ahead will be the screen game. Last season, the Falcons didn't utilize this into their offense and that set back the progression of backup feature backs Jason Snelling and Jacquizz Rodgers because Mularkey's offense didn't allow Atlanta to show their offensive talent to opposing defenses. Under Koetter's new scheme, the screen game will be a huge bonus for the Falcons because this makes the offensive mindset difficult to predict and with the speed coming out of the backfield, this will force opposing defenses to respect the balanced attack and unlike last season, Matt Ryan and the Falcons offense will not be considered "vanilla"- which is when your offense becomes very predictable and encounter limited success throughout games. Another huge reason for his completion percentage to improve will be the emergence of Harry Douglas and Kerry Meier. Under Mularkey's scheme, Douglas or "HD" as many Falcons fans refer him as was unable to show the explosive aspect he brought to Atlanta's receiving core; however, when Douglas was called upon, the Falcons passing attack went to another level. In 2012, with the Falcons allowing the slot receiver to provide more of an impact to the game plan, this will prevent double or tight coverage on receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones. In past seasons, many defenses felt that if they were able to successfully take those receivers out of the game, Matt Ryan would struggle to have success in the air, which usually happened under former coordinator Mike Mularkey. This season, Dirk Koetter will allow Matt Ryan to utilize Harry Douglas to his full potential and many could view Douglas as a Wes Welker or Lance Moore type receiver that can cause problems for opposing coordinators. In the Falcons new scheme, Matt Ryan will finally be able to utilize all of his offensive weapons and that could lead to another career season for the fifth year quarterback.


3. Expect Matt Ryan to throw for at least 30 Touchdown Passes:

Each season, Matt Ryan's numbers have increased in his tenure as the Atlanta Falcons franchise quarterback. Last season, Ryan posted (4,177) passing yards, which was his career high and was ranked (8th) best in the NFL and set the record most yards passing in a season in Atlanta Falcons history. His (347) completions was the second highest of his career and (29) touchdown passes was another career high  for the young quarterback. Ryan also posted a (61.3) completion percentage, which was the second highest of his career and finished with a QB rating of (92.2), which was another career mark that Matt Ryan posted last year. This season, with a new coordinator, Ryan will have his best season as a Falcons quarterback. Usually, as a fifth year quarterback, most elite NFL players enter their prime and under a new offensive scheme, you should expect Matt Ryan to really take flight especially with the offensive talent that the Falcons will have to open the 2012 campaign. Under Koetter's scheme, if the Falcons running game can still remain effective like they were under Mularkey's offense, this will help Matt Ryan's passing attack as well. With a consistent running game, Matt Ryan is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL when he's running a play action pass because usually, opposing defenses are so cautious of what impact Michael Turner can make on the ground that it allows Ryan and the Falcons passing game to take control of the game. Also, you can expect the Falcons to take some chances in the air once they enter the red-zone. Over the past four seasons, when Atlanta was within 10-20 yards of the end zone, their offense fed through Michael Turner and the ground attack to score points; however, expect Matt Ryan to rely on his offensive weapons in short yardage situations. In my opinion, Tony Gonzalez is the most reliable option for Matt Ryan to score touchdown passes and you will also see production from Julio Jones and Roddy White in those situations because the Falcons will have many options that have the ability to score touchdowns. As I mentioned above, we could also see the Falcons run their screen game down in the red-zone and that could lead to more passing touchdowns and that makes Atlanta's offense hard to predict in red-zone situations. This season, we're going to see the Falcons aim towards scoring more touchdowns and settling less for field goals and with the new system, I feel that Matt Ryan can successfully take the next step necessary. When many national experts look at the Falcons in the red-zone, they probably expect us to pound the ball with Michael Turner on the ground; however, you will see Ryan make great decisions which will lead to touchdowns in the red-zone. Every season, he continues to improve his numbers and I truly feel that 2012 will be the breakout season for the fifth year quarterback. 



4. Matt Ryan will improve his confidence and his effort in big games:

Many national experts talk about Matt Ryan as the great regular season quarterback who can't pull it together to win a post-season game; however, the Falcons as a team must take this step and it all starts from the production of Ryan. Without a question, he is one of the best regular season quarterbacks in the NFL and the best in Atlanta Falcons history; however, many feel that Ryan lacks a "killer instinct" when it comes to big game situations. The first step is confidence in Dirk Koetter and the offensive strategy established to deliver a playoff win. Under Mike Mularkey, either his game plan was inconsistent or the offense failed to establish a true identity and that was a huge issue in the 2011 campaign, which led to the Falcons starting 2-3 and only defeating one playoff team last season, the Detroit Lions. Atlanta were beating the teams who many expected them to beat; however, they struggled to bring the same effort against teams such as the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints. Under Dirk Koetter, expect the Falcons to have a better strategy that's necessary to compete with and beat those elite teams in the NFL. Matt Ryan must have a lot of confidence in his offense and the coordinator because Mularkey held certain things back and that ultimately cost us many games over the past four seasons due to lack of an identity. This season, Koetter will allow Matt Ryan to have more control of the offense and trust him to make better decisions and that's a huge confidence boost for Ryan. Recently, Dirk Koetter referred to Matt Ryan as a Top 10 quarter back in the NFL, which can only make your star player feel better and believe in conducting your game plan to the best of his ability. Another component that Matt Ryan needs to improve is consistent play on the road in big games. Over the past four seasons, the Falcons only have one winning season on the road (6-2 in 2010) and the other seasons, the team either went .500 or less in road contests. Some of the best quarterbacks win big games whether at home or on the road and Matt Ryan will encounter some interesting tests with his schedule this year. This season, Atlanta will play a road- home schedule the entire season and that could be the advantage to help him develop the killer instinct to win through any predicament and the level of quarterbacks we're encountering this season such as Drew Brees, Tony Romo, Eli and Peyton Manning, and Michael Vick to name some of the few, Matt Ryan will be placed on a big stage and this is his opportunity to show the league that he's indeed one of the best quarterbacks around the league. 




CONCLUSION:

In conclusion, Matt Ryan is going to have a successful 2012 campaign for the Atlanta Falcons and these are some of the many expectations that Atlanta fans and the entire league will witness as the season begins. He’s a talented quarterback that works hard, has all the intangibles and has a great supporting cast at the skill positions that is necessary to deliver a Super Bowl championship this year. As for Matt Ryan, it will take one step at a time this season; however, I feel that Ryan as well as the rest of the organization believes that the franchise can go to newer heights this year. With a new offensive coordinator such as Dirk Koetter, who was instrumental in the success that Jacksonville had in the late 2000's under David Garrard, Koetter has a reputation for being more creative and flexible than Mularkey and that’s exactly what Ryan needs. He’s on the verge of being an elite quarterback. He just needs to take steps ahead starting this season and help the Atlanta Falcons take flight and win a Super Bowl. Until next time, FALCONS RISE UP!!! 

One Year Anniversary Blog

Last year, on July 7,2011, I wrote my first blog for this website that I named "All About Atlanta Sports" which talked about the Atlanta Dream, whom at the time were 3-9 and I specifically wrote this blog in order to inform fans to not give up on that team, who eventually went to the WNBA Finals that season. Before I even decided to write, it took some motivation from a few of my followers. Previously, in high school, I was the sports director for our weekly TV news broadcast and I also entered college in 2009 with the full intentions of only dealing with filming sports highlights and never once thought about journalism as an option for my future. In late June, I received a direct message from a gentleman named Kris Willis (@Kris_Willis) who wrote for Peachtree Hoops and SB Nation and he told me that I should consider starting my own blog site because he could see the knowledge I had in Atlanta Sports in general. This wasn't the first time I was asked about blogging, two of my good friends, Brandon (@BMccoy20) and Reggie (@Reggies_World) also gave me tips on the proper steps that would be necessary to publish my own blogs. Brandon and Reggie were both blogging about the Hawks and their work was impressive and it gave me a small interest in writing my own work. After weeks of debating back and forth about writing a sports blog, my big brother Rod (@AtlantaRISE) gave me a phrase I'll never forget when I told him I was afraid that people may not like my work and he stated " The biggest fear you could have is never putting an effort towards your dream. Fear can keep you from receiving your ultimate blessing." Once I read those words, that was the extra push I needed that motivated me to finally start writing. Although the Atlanta Dream was my first one, once I started writing about the Falcons, that's when this site really took off. I want to take time out and thank everyone who ever read, re-tweeted, offered advice, or kept me motivated to continue on this great journey.


Special Shout-outs:


Jeanna- (@JeannaThomas) and Krissy (@KrissyBriESPN) Thanks for the encouragement you ladies gave me to take a chance at not only write successful sports blogs ; however, you gave me the motivation to even ask a professional player for an interview and I was blessed to have you giving me the extra support I needed to never give up and continue to take steps ahead that will benefit me in the near future.


Brian- (@BrianOHern) Thank you for getting me in order when I needed you to do that for me. As you know, when I first started the site, I was still trying to do things such as use foul language and other things that could have blown my chance at receiving opportunities for my future and once I cleaned my act up, things really went up from there. Again, thank you for helping me not only write like a professional person but also carry myself like one as well.


KD- (@YaBoyKD) Thank you for all of the support you have shown me throughout this process. From day one, when I needed to talk to someone about which direction I should approach to make each blog successful, you gave some valuable tips and constructive criticism whenever I needed it. You've supported me from the time I've started to now and I couldn't thank you enough for being a great support system.


Dominique Franks (@DFranks24) I can't thank you enough for that blessing you gave me in August 2011. You allowed me to interview you despite the fact that I was just emerging as a blogger and what I received was an interview that I as well as the people whom read that blog an opportunity to be inspired and get to know you as well. I'm still thankful every single day that I was able to have that great experience and for the simple fact that I gained a good friend out of this process. No matter how far I go in life with this, I will always credit him for pushing the dream I had to another level.


Rod- (@AtlantaRISE) The message you gave me that pushed me to another level is the reason why I'm even writing this blog today. Every blog I've ever written, you've given me great feedback and kept me inspired to write more and add more content to make All About Atlanta Sports a very informative and original website. There were many times I felt like procrastinating and wanted to give up on writing; however, you never allowed that to happen. From a reminder to an encouraging message, you always told me about the potential I had to make this dream an reality and I can't thank you enough for that.


Jay Adams (@FalconsJAdams) Thank you for the continuous support that you've shown to my website. Every time I posted a blog referring to the Falcons whether it was a recap, preview, or anything related to the Atlanta Falcons, you promoted that to the rest of Falcons nation and it gave fans the opportunity to read some of the hard work and determination that I put into each blog. You also exposed the followers on your account to read one of the most informative representation of a site dedicated to promoting Falcons football. You have also blessed me with an opportunity of a lifetime to join you at training camp later in the month and I'm thankful that you have supported me through this journey.


Dave Choate (@TheFalcoholic) Shortly, after I received the confirmation that I could interview Dominique Franks, you gave me a challenge to see could I use this opportunity and excel at the chance of a lifetime. As you continued to read my blogs, it was obvious that you saw the potential that this site possessed and I'm thankful that you decided to not only read my work but you also promoted the blogs to your followers and I want to thank you for that because you didn't have to recognize my talent but I'm blessed that you did.


Brandon (@BMccoy20) and Reggie (@REGGIES_WORLD) I held conversations with the both of you prior to my decision to become a full-time blogger and you both gave me motivation to even consider opening my own page. I remember reading both of your Hawks blogs and immediately becoming interested in writing my own about my favorite teams because you both expressed a tremendous amount of knowledge about basketball and I can't thank you enough for triggering the idea because that small encouragement led me to where I'm at today.


Kris Willis (@Kris_Willis) and Jason Walker (@JasonWalkerSBN) Last but not least, I must thank you two gentlemen for not only motivating me to start writing but to also bless me with a chance to join the Peachtree Hoops family. The last five months have been like a dream to me from writing about the Atlanta Hawks and receiving support from readers of Peachtree Hoops and SB Nation, but, the opportunity to write about the Atlanta Dream. Since the WNBA season started, I've had the chance to meet certain individuals whom I always looked up to since I was a kid such as Bob Rathbun and Lachina Robinson. Also, the chance to speak with Marynell Meadors and other well-known writers of women's basketball. Thank you guys so much for all you have done to make this dream come true for me and for that, I really thank you both.




TO ALL OF THE SUPPORTERS:


I want to thank all of you for the continuous support you've shown me over the last year for all of my blogs. Thanks to everyone who leaves a comment, re-tweet the link on Twitter, and promoted my work as well. All of the wonderful things you said to me and the encouragement to keep pushing my blogs out to everyone made me want to write these sports blogs for all of you. I have enjoyed the pleasure of expanding my knowledge of Falcons football, Braves baseball, and Hawks/Dream basketball to all of you and you've embraced each and every post I've made since last year. I'm looking forward to continuing to provide you with my blogs and the opportunity to receive an in-depth outlook on every team I cover. In two weeks, I'll start my preview blogs for the 2012 Atlanta Falcons campaign. Until then, thank you all for everything you've done to make All About Atlanta Sports a successful site!!!