This is how I think the second half of the season will shape up for the Atlanta Falcons…

Seattle Seahawks @ Atlanta Falcons

A playoff rematch is big for the Falcons, this is one of those games that will earn them respect if they can win it. With great offenses on both sides this game will be about who plays better defensively. Who can get the big stops will be the deciding factor in this one. Even though this game is at home and i hate to say this, I am going to give this game to the Hawks. They are gonna have that chip on their shoulder and win a good game 27-21 LOSS

Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa will be at home in this one which will give them a better shot the second time around. Division games can also be tricky because your record doesn’t matter as much. This is the worst team in the division though if you ask me so I don’t see them besting the Falcons. Atlanta takes this one 21-17 WIN

New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons

Thursday Night was very interesting between these teams last year to say the least. Eggs thrown at the Saints us, 4 interceptions from Drew Brees and his Touchdown streak finally ended. I wonder what is going to be in store this year at the Georgia Dome for the Thursday night rematch. The Saints publicly stated they think of Atlanta as their little brother early last season. Atlanta countered by beating them up the next time the two teams met. More of that to come this year, I think Atlanta finally gets the best of their rivals this year and take 2 wins. 31-17 WIN

Atlanta Falcons @ Buffalo Bills

Oh Canada! Being from Canada I can not wait to see this game. It will be the first cold weather game of the season for the Falcons which will be about the only factor working against them in this one. Unless CJ Spiller can rush for 300 yards and 4 TD’s I don’t see it happening for the Bills. 17-7 WIN

Atlanta Falcons @ Green Bay Packers

Two games on the road in cold weather for the Falcons Spells T-R-O-U-B-L-E.
Especially when its Aaron Rodgers working against you. Don’t get me wrong however, I think it is very possible for Atlanta to win this game but I am gonna give it to Green Bay 24-14 LOSS

Washington Redskins @ Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons will be beat up by week 15 but RGIII should be worse.The Redskins might even get conservative in this game and try to keep the young QB from tucking and running the ball. Atlanta played a sound game against Washington on the road last year so I am gonna take them on the road. 28-20 WIN

Atlanta Falcons @ San Francisco 49ers

Players and fans alike are circling this game on the calendar, including myself. I plan on going to this game and i expect the victory for the same reason I picked Seattle to beat us. Hands down this is the single most important game on the schedule this year; away from home, late in the season, potential home field advantage on the line and a rematch of the NFC championship game last season. This one is going to be a thriller and its hard to pick with it coming so late in the season. I am very confident though if the Atlanta Falcons are in good shape they will make this game their best of the season winning it 31-17. WIN

Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons

After another sub par season for the panthers I see them trying to finish strong against Atlanta. Depending on The playoff implications I see Atlanta resting their starters in the 2nd half opening the door for Carolina to take this one 24-17. LOSS

I Just want everyone to know I am going off of what I see the team doing for the entire season. I am picking Atlanta to go 13-3 (even though I have them losing 4), I am-picking a 5-1 division record and i see them splitting games between the Seahawks and the 49ers. This is just a breakdown of how I see the season playing out to get us to that point. I think the Atlanta Falcons have the potential to do better but also with injuries or poor play do worse. Who knows in the NFL only time will tell

Give me your feedback, I  am curious to see how other fans see the season going for the falcons.Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Link to first half predictions:

http://bloggingdirty.com/2013/05/15/atlanta-falcons-1st-half-schedule-predictions/

Feb 26, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Washington Huskies defensive back Desmond Trufant runs with the ball after catching a pass during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Throughout the Draft the last few days, I think it’s safe to say quite a few of us were a little confused here and there.  But the First two rounds could tell us a lot about what’s to come this season.  As we all know, the Atlanta Falcons drafter CB Desmond Trufant in the first round after trading up 8 spots to the 22^nd pick.  A lot of mock drafts had him falling to the Falcons, or had the Falcons trade up to get him.  This is no surprise to me.  The Falcons only had one known starting Corner with high hopes for Robert McClain after Three starting caliber corners left.  They definitely needed a defensive back and got a great one in Trufant.

What was a little confusing, and most people would probably agree with this, is watching Dion Sanders call out a name who many of us probably didn’t hear much of, followed by the position “Defensive Back.”

“What?  Didn’t we just get one?  You know we need a pass rusher!?  Do you know Damontre Moore was RIGHT THERE!?”  I believed that the dream picks for me was Trufant in the first and Margus Hunt in the second.  I was surprised he lasted as long as he did.  I was even more surprised that Moore dropped to the Falcons.  When they announced they picked another Corner, I would be lying if I said that my first reaction wasn’t anger.

After I cooled down a little, I repeated to myself “In TD we trust.” Knowing it was for a good reason.  After thinking about it and watching Robert Alford tape, I started really liking this pick for the following reasons:

Comfort and Familiarity:  Last season, the defense wasn’t great, but it was pretty good.  About the only thing we lacked was linebacker coverage (which could have been a scheme problem and not a personnel problem) and a legitimate pass rush.   The Falcons went a long way with those problems and after losing three corners in free agency, there was a huge hole in the defense.  Last year, the backfield was a strong point.  Nolan would have to make a lot more changes to match a strength in pass rush and a weakness in the backfield compared to the same strengths with an upgraded pass rush.  So first things first is to make the secondary a strength again.  With better depth and a step up from Robinson, It’s safe to say that’s a done deal.

Still Need a Return Game:  The last punt return that went all the way was two years ago against Tampa Bay with Eric Weems.  Since then, the return game was never very effective.  Robert Alford is a very good return man.  He’ll definitely take the job away from Fair-Catch-Franks and will add another threat to this high-scoring team.

Next Man Up:  Two Defensive ends were drafted, but neither of them will be automatic starters. We all know TD is a mastermind.  I didn’t like them getting rid of Tyson Clabo, but you know damn well that he wouldn’t do that if there wasn’t complete trust in how far Lamar Holmes has come.  I seriously doubt that the Falcons would pass up on the talents of Damontre Moore if there wasn’t a lot of confidence in the next man up.  Who is that?  Jonathan Massequoi.  He’s a great build for a pass rusher and very young.  He could step up and work on the other side of Umenyiora and be a major contributor.  I have a lot of high hopes for this guy.

It’s hard to criticize a guy like TD when the only flops under his belt are an overpaid Ray Edwards and Peria Jerry.  I’m betting these picks will go a long way.

August 30, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis (24) shown on the sidelines against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Falcons NFC South Rival, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, acquired Darrelle Revis from the New York Jets.

The acquisition of Revis should not concern the Falcons what so ever.

Revis is one man and one many only. He can not defend multiple high caliber receivers, which is what the Falcons have with Julio Jones, Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez. The Buccaneers would obviously surround a game plan around stopping Jones

Revis is one man and one man only. He can not defend multiple high caliber receivers, which is what the Falcons have with Julio Jones, Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez. The Buccaneers would obviously surround a game plan around stopping Jones with placing Revis on him, and then who is the one defending White, Gonzalez or even Douglas?

The corner back opposite of Revis, as of right now, is Eric Wright. The Buccaneers signed Wright to a five year, 37.5 million dollar contract with the team last off-season. It’s safe to say, he has not lived to his contract. It was actually reported that the Buccaneers were shopping Wright before eventually agreeing to re-structure his contract.

At least when Revis was on the Jets, he had Antonio Cromartie playing aside of him. The duo of both Revis and Cromartie caused havoc against opposing team’s offenses because they would cover the opposing team’s two best receivers. I don’t believe Eric Wright can bring what Cromartie did, playing aside of Revis.

Another thing about Revis is that he is coming back from a torn ACL. There is a very good chance that he does not come back to form, being the leagues top cornerback. Revis Island may be off the map if that happens.

There is no doubt that the Buccaneers did improve their secondary this off-season. Not only with the addition of Revis, but with the addition of Dashon Goldson and already having Mark Barron, makes them one of the leagues top secondaries.