Predicting the second half of the Atlanta Falcons season

What does the second half of the season hold for the Atlanta Falcons?

Entering their bye week, the Atlanta Falcons have a 3-6 record and are 3-1 since they fired Dan Quinn after the 0-5 start.

The NFL Owners recently voted for the playoffs to expand to sixteen teams if all regular-season games cannot be completed, meaning the Atlanta Falcons have a chance at the playoffs after all.

However, do not expect the Falcons to make a late-season stretch compared to the previous years because they have the toughest schedule remaining.

The Falcons play the Saints and Buccaneers twice, Chiefs, Raiders, and Chargers. Outside of the Chargers, the Atlanta Falcons will play six games against playoff teams. Despite what NFL fans think of the Raiders, they currently hold the sixth seed in the AFC.

Crazier things have happened in the NFL, but this schedule might be too tough for the Falcons to overcome. Nevertheless, having a tough schedule remaining will benefit Atlanta because they will have a higher draft pick compared to the previous years.

With the remaining games, a 3-4 finish is most likely what is in store for the Falcons. In order, the next eight games are at Saints, home vs Raiders, home vs Saints, at Chargers, home vs Buccaneers, at Chiefs, and at Buccaneers.

Their three wins are going to be against the Saints, Buccaneers, and Chargers. Their four losses are going to be against the Saints, Raiders, Chiefs, and Buccaneers.

Starting with the division, Atlanta will split the Saints and Buccaneers. Last season the 1-7 Falcons manhandled the 7-1 Saints, so anything is possible.

The Falcons match up well with the Saints. The best way to neutralize the Saints offense is having a fast linebacker that can cover Kamara out of the backfield. Luckily, the Falcons have two outstanding linebackers that can neutralize Kamara with Deion Jones and Foye Oluokun.

The Buccaneers is a tougher matchup for the Falcons, but they are playing Tampa Bay at the perfect time. They have their match up against each other two of the last three games in the season. The Buccaneers will either rest their starters for the season or the Falcons might pull of the upset win.

Older quarterbacks struggle later in the season and luckily for the Atlanta Falcons, they will play Tom Brady late when he starts to struggle.

The Los Angeles Chargers is another game the Atlanta Falcons will win and has the potential to be game of the year. Both the Chargers and the Falcons lose games in unbelievable ways to the point both teams have become internet memes.

The dream scenario for a Chargers Falcons is the Falcons jump out to a 17-0 lead. Then the Chargers score 34 unanswered points having a score of 34-17. Then the Atlanta Falcons score 17 points in the fourth quarter sending the game to overtime tied at 34. Then the game ends with a Younghoe Koo field goal.

Nevertheless, the Chargers should be a game that Atlanta wins.

Top 10 NFL pick is instore for the Atlanta Falcons.

Even before the season started Atlanta Falcons fans penciled in the Kansas City Chiefs game as a loss. After seeing both teams play this season there is no way the Falcons secondary can contain Patrick Mahomes and his receivers. The Atlanta Falcons did get an improbable win against the 49ers last season so there is any given Sunday.

The Las Vegas Raiders is a tough matchup for the Atlanta Falcons. They have a vulnerable defense but a solid offensive line and the most balanced running back in the league Josh Jacobs.

The Atlanta Falcons have been good against the run this season but have not faced a running back of Josh Jacobs caliber. The best running back the Atlanta Falcons have faced this season is Ezekiel Elliot and Aaron Jones.

The Falcons lucked out playing the Vikings without Dalvin Cook and the Panthers without Christian McCaffrey. Josh Jacobs will be the true test to see if the Atlanta Falcons defense is good against the run.

The Falcons should finish with a 6-10 record which might be enough to land a top 10 pick in the NFL Draft.