Atlanta Falcons schedule key to making a playoff run

The Atlanta Falcons may have gotten lucky with this year’s schedule after all. When it was released, you had every right to be concerned since it was so backloaded.

The  Atlanta Falcons’ first divisional matchup doesn’t come until week 10.

But four weeks into the season and the Falcons may have gotten lucky. Yes, it’s hard to say that sitting 1-3 but look at it this way.

The Falcons so far have played two NFC games and they split those. Beating the Philadelphia Eagles at home and losing to the Minnesota Vikings on the road. That’s what you expected considering you have two solid teams.

Now, they are in the midst of three straight versus the AFC south. After playing at Houston on Sunday, 10 of the next 11 games come against the NFC. Six of those games are against the NFC South.

The Falcons have the opportunities to turn the season around. It starts in Houston. They get two huge back-to-back home games against the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks. Another break. If either of those are on the road, the outlook is a lot different.

They may or may not face Drew Brees in the first game against New Orleans, and that comes after the Falcons’ bye week. the second time they face the Saints? Thanksgiving night. This time, in Atlanta.

And to top it off, no one quite knows what’s going on with Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers

Not to mention, four of their last six games come at home. Could it be the football gods smiled on Atlanta and were more clairvoyant than us fans? That it would take the first few weeks to work things out before the games come that actually matter?

Making it to and being effective in the playoffs is all about getting hot at the right time. And at 1-3 the Falcons have the personnel and experience to do just that and take home the division crown.