The Atlanta Falcons are the only NFC team that has been in the playoffs each of the past two seasons. How does their 2018 schedule shake out?
From 2010-12, the Atlanta Falcons set a franchise record for consecutive playoff appearances under then-head coach Mike Smith. In fact, they were the conference’s top seed in both 2010 and ’12 but failed to reach the Super Bowl in either of those seasons.
Under Dan Quinn, the Falcons have been in the postseason each of the past two years. In fact, they are the only club in the NFC that can claim that distinction. Now this team gets ready for the 2018 campaign and will have its work cut out for itself in a very tough division.
Home: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, Arizona Cardinals
Away: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers
As for this fall, here is how the Falcons’ complete schedule (week-by-week) lays out:
Week 1: at Eagles – 8:20 p.m. ET
Week 2: vs. Panthers – 1 p.m. ET
Week 3: vs. Saints – 1 p.m. ET
Week 4: vs. Bengals – 1 p.m. ET
Week 5: at Steelers – 1 p.m. ET
Week 6: vs. Buccaneers – 1 p.m. ET
Week 7: vs. Giants – 8:15 p.m. ET (Monday)
Week 8: BYE
Week 9: at Redskins – 1 p.m. ET
Week 10: at Browns – 1 p.m. ET
Week 11: vs. Cowboys – 1 p.m. ET
Week 12: at Saints – 8:20 p.m. ET (Thanksgiving)
Week 13: vs. Ravens – 1 p.m. ET
Week 14: at Packers – 1 p.m. ET
Week 15: vs. Cardinals – 1 p.m. ET
Week 16: at Panthers – 1 p.m. ET
Week 17: at Buccaneers – 1 p.m. ET
We will update the schedule above as the NFL reveals the docket.
It has been a relatively quiet offseason when it comes to player movement for this team. Quinn’s club did lose a pair of defensive linemen in Dontari Poe and Adrian Clayborn and could use the draft to add some help there.
As for additions, Atlanta signed guard Brandon Fusco and tight end Logan Paulsen – both from the San Francisco 49ers – as well as cornerback Justin Bethel (Arizona Cardinals). The latter should also be a big boost to the team’s kickoff and punt coverage units.
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The Atlanta Falcons own an impressive 9-3 record within the NFC South the past two seasons combined. That bodes well in a division that sent three teams to the playoffs in 2017.