Try TonysPicks.com search:
Selected TonysPicks.com searches:
Trends Matchups Picks Injuries Odds NFL College Football Scores
Published: July 14, 2010
The Atlanta Falcons finished off their 2009 regular season with a 9-7 record and second place in the NFC South division but failed to make the playoffs.
The nine win season marked the first time in team history that the Falcons were able to have back to back winning seasons.
This came about with the Falcons three straight wins to finish the season.
The Falcons began 2009 winning four of their first five games and closed the season with three straight wins. A turf toe injury to second year starting quarterback Matt Ryan doused hopes for a return to the post season for Atlanta.
The team was also marred by a poor pass defense that ranked 28th in the NFL against the pass by allowing 241.9 yards per game. Early on we saw the problems.
Defensive breakdowns in pass coverage was very evident in the 2009 preseason as the Falcons gave up tons of third and long situations that had head coach Mike Smith blowing a gasket on the sidelines.
The Odds:
The odds at Bodog sportsbook reveals the Atlanta Falcons 2010 regular season win projection at 9 wins with over and under coming in at -115.
Bodog has lined the Atlanta Falcons as 30-1 to win Super Bowl XLV, 13-1 to win the NFC Championship and +200 odds to win the NFC South.
Sports betting at Bodog Sportsbook
Place your NFL sports wagers at Bodog with customer service that’s second to none!
2010 Atlanta Falcons Regular Season Schedule:
Atlanta plays in the NFC South so that means 1 game each home and away against the New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The NFC South must play the NFC West and AFC North this season.
The NFC West opponents will be home games against San Francisco and Arizona with road games at St Louis and Seattle.
Atlanta will play AFC north opponents Pittsburgh and Cleveland on the road with home games to Baltimore and Cincinnati.
With a second place finish in the NFC South in 2009 the Falcons must play against the two other second place teams from the NFC and that brings a home game against Green Bay and a road trip to Philadelphia.
Atlanta’s final two games of the season will be home divisional contests against New Orleans and Carolina.
They catch a break playing at Pittsburgh in week one. The Steelers will be without starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger who will serving his suspension.
Offense:
Starting quarterback Matt Ryan suffered through an injury plagued season. The QB was hampered by a turf toe injury that limited his participation during the 2009 season. Ryan missed two critical home games in week 13 and 14 that resulted in two losses costing the club a spot in the playoffs.
Ryan completed 58.3% of his passes for 2916 yards 22 touchdowns and 14 interceptions last season.
Injury issues hit the Falcons running game as lead back Michael Turner missed 5 games with a high ankle sprain. The team lost three critical games to NFC teams in his absence losing to the Giants, Eagles and Saints which hurt the team in playoff tiebreakers.
Turner rushed for 871 yards on 178 carries for a 4.9 yards a carry average with 10 touchdowns. Backup Jason Snelling returns off a 2009 season that saw the back carry the ball 142 times for a 4.3 yards a carry average and 4 touchdowns. In the teams week 17 win against Tampa Bay the four year back produced 147 yards rushing on 25 carries. Backup Jeriious Norwood struggled in 2009 with injuries with just a 3.3 yards a carry average on 76 attempts.
Matt Ryan has good weapons in the passing game to throw to with Michael Jenkins and pro bowler Roddy White returning as the #1 and #2 receivers for the Falcons.
Veteran tight end Tony Gonzalez had a solid 2009 season with 83 catches for 867 yards and a 10.4 yards a catch average with 6 touchdowns. Eric Weems, Harry Douglas is back from knee surgery and Eric Weems enter camp as the #3 and #4 wide outs.
The Falcons finished #16 in total offense by averaging 340.4 yards per game. The offensive line returns with Todd McClure at center flanked by guards Justin Blalock and Harvey Dahl. Tyson Clabo and Sam Baker return at tackle. The Falcons line in 2009 allowed 27 sacks.
Earn a 20% Signup Bonus at Bookmaker!
Defense:
The defense took a step back in 2009. Pass rusher John Abraham had only 5 ½ sacks in 2009 after producing 16.5 sacks in 2008. Jamaal Anderson returns as the left defensive end. The two defensive tackles are Thomas Johnson and Jonathan Babineaux. Providing depth to the defensive line will be third round tackle Corey Peters who was drafted in the third round out of Kentucky.
The Falcons linebackers in 2010 will be Curtis Lofton at middle and Mike Peterson and Sean Weatherspoon at the outside. The Falcons ranked 10th last season against the pass allowing 106.9 yards per game. This unit will need to be better in pass coverage in 2010.
The biggest problem with the Falcons were the play of their secondary. Atlanta ranked 28th in the league last season against the pass allowing 241.9 yards per game. The team is hoping that free agent acquisition Dunta Robinson from the Houston Texans can shore up the secondary. Robinson is slated to start at corner with Brent Grimes. Erik Coleman and Thomas DeCoud is penciled in as starting safeties. Safety Matt Giordano was acquired in free agency from the Packers in free agency.
And now to my Selection:
Matt Ryan has plenty of game tape in 2009 to correct mistakes following a year with 14 interceptions. He has shown to be a good student of the game. The club went 9-5 with Ryan starting. Michael Turner when healthy and playing the team went 7-4 with him in the lineup. The secondary will be better in 2010 with Robinson at corner. The team is scheduled against the NFC West and should win at least 3 of 4 against this division in 2010. The Falcons get to 10 wins this season.
Selection: Play Over 9 wins in 2009 Regular Season.
