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With the NFL regular season fast approaching, we at SportsUntapped are taking our crystal balls out of storage and examining each team’s full 16-game schedule to prognosticate how the 2012 season will play out. We’ll look at all 32 teams and reveal each one’s final record. Next up: Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons, who’ll aim for their fifth straight winning season and a deeper postseason run.

ATLANTA FALCONS

Last year’s record: 11-5
 
Vegas Over/Under on 2012 Regular Season Wins: 9

First four games:
Sep 9 @Kansas City 1:00 pm
Sep 17 Denver 8:30 pm
Sep 23 @San Diego 4:05 pm
Sep 30 Carolina 1:00 pm

The Falcons don’t play a conference opponent until the Panthers in Week 4, so it’ll be interesting to see how they fare against the AFC West, especially in those two road games. Starting at Arrowhead could be tough, as will playing Peyton Manning in his first Monday night game with the Broncos. I see Atlanta dropping two of its first three for a 2-2 September.
 
Second four games:

Oct 7 @Washington 1:00 pm
Oct 14 Oakland 1:00 pm
Week 7 BYE
Oct 28 @Philadelphia 1:00 pm
Nov 4 Dallas 8:20 pm

This is a fairly tough stretch as well, but I think the bye in Week 7 should help the Falcons win three of four to get to 5-3 at midseason.

First four games of the second half:

Nov 11 @New Orleans 1:00 pm
Nov 18 Arizona 1:00 pm
Nov 25 @Tampa Bay 1:00 pm
Nov 29 New Orleans 8:20 pm

The Falcons should be focused on their heated rivalry with the Saints, and these two games could determine the division. That focus could make getting up for the Cardinals and Buccaneers in the intervening 18 days tough though. If they can avoid mental lapses, they should probably win three more games and be in pretty good shape at 8-4 through four games.
 
Last four games:

Dec 9 @Carolina 1:00 pm
Dec 16 N.Y. Giants 1:00 pm
Dec 22 @Detroit 8:30 pm
Dec 30 Tampa Bay 1:00 pm

The Falcons should play well in the playoff match with the Giants, and they won in Detroit last year. Their chances of winning the NFC South will probably come down to how well they play against the Panthers and Bucs, but I see another three wins and an 11-5 mark that should be good enough for a division crown.