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Atlanta Falcons: Strength of schedule goes from easiest to toughest

By Freddie Boston

Dec 20, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) calls a play against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third quarter at EverBank Field. The Atlanta Falcons won 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) calls a play against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third quarter at EverBank Field. The Atlanta Falcons won 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /
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To make the playoffs in 2016, the Atlanta Falcons will have to do it the hard way.

If karma exists, it’s hitting the Atlanta Falcons hard for not taking advantage of the NFL’s easiest schedule in 2015.

To earn a playoff berth in 2016, the Falcons must navigate through the league’s toughest strength of schedule, which includes games with Arizona, Seattle and Green Bay. That’s before we mention the two games with Carolina – the Super Bowl runners up – and road trip to Denver to take on the defending champions.

If you were to draw up a schedule to punish Dan Quinn’s team for throwing away a 5-0 start in 2015, this would be it. The schedule will be released in April, but it doesn’t matter what order the games are in, there are a number of daunting challenges ahead.

Let’s take a look at the Falcons’ 2016 opponents.

Home: Carolina, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Arizona, San Francisco, Kansas City, San Diego, Green Bay

Away: Carolina, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Los Angeles, Seattle, Denver, Oakland, Philadelphia

To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best right? Here’s some of the quarterbacks Atlanta is set to face: Cam Newton (twice), Drew Brees (twice), Carson Palmer, Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers. Those quarterbacks have three Super Bowl rings, two Super Bowl MVPs, three NFL MVPs and 23 Pro Bowls between them.

Of the 16 games Atlanta plays, seven will be against playoff teams from 2015. All seven of those games will be against teams that reached at least the divisional round, four the championship round and three against Super Bowl opponents.

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That’s before we mention up-and-coming teams like Oakland and Tampa Bay, both of which could make the playoffs in 2016 behind talented young quarterbacks in Derek Carr and Jameis Winston.

For the Falcons to end their postseason drought, they will have to do it the hard way.