Home Games
Carolina-- Let's get the division games out of the way first. The Panthers are the Falcons' closest geographical rival. The team's split in 2009 with the Falcons winning the Week 2 matchup at the Georgia Dome.
Tampa Bay -- In the other "throwback" game of 2009, the Falcons defeated the Bucs at home. Chris Redman came in for an injured Matt Ryan and threw a last-second touchdown pass to get the win. Tampa Bay leads the all-time series 18-15.
New Orleans -- The Saints went 4-2 in the NFC South, picking up wins over the Falcons in two close games. In fact, it was in Atlanta's three-point loss to the Saints in the Dome in 2009 that some of the New Orleans armor started to tarnish.
Green Bay -- The Packers will visit the Georgia Dome for the first time since 2005. Green Bay won that game 33-25.
Baltimore -- A mainstay on the Falcons preseason schedule (the teams have played in six of the last seven years), the Ravens will play a regular-season game against the Birds for the first time since 2006. That game was in Baltimore and a Ravens victory. These teams have played just three times in the regular season since the Ravens -- formerly the Browns -- moved to Baltimore from Cleveland.
Cincinnati-- A surprise division winner in 2009, the Bengals will certainly come to Atlanta at some point in 2010 looking to back up their success. Cincinnati leads the all-time series with the Falcons, 7-4.
San Francisco-- Certainly head coach Mike Singletary and his 49ers remember the 45-10 whooping the Falcons placed on them in San Francisco in 2009. In fact, Atlanta has won the last three games against its former division rival.
Arizona -- The Cardinals eliminated the Falcons from the playoffs after the 2008 season and, in 2010, will travel to the Georgia Dome for the first time since 2006 -- a 32-10 Falcons win.
Away Games
Carolina -- The 2009 meeting between these teams at Bank of America Stadium will haunt the Falcons. It's one of two close games that, if won, would have lifted the Birds to the playoffs.
Tampa Bay -- Perhaps the Falcons will get lucky and the trip to Tampa will again fall at the end of the season (a nice place to go in December). Two out of the last three years the Birds have traveled to face the Bucs in the final three weeks of the season.
New Orleans -- Schedule makers love putting the Saints on prime time at the Superdome. Atlanta played there on Monday Night Football in 2009 and came within a few plays of giving New Orleans its first loss. Atlanta hasn't won in New Orleans since 2005.
Philadelphia -- Here's one of those potential foul weather games. Philadelphia can be a pleasant trip if played early. Weather could be brutal later in the year. Regardless, the Falcons have some unsettled business at Lincoln Financial Field, losing a close game there in 2008.
Pittsburgh -- No matter the record, the Steelers play well at home. The Super Bowl XLIII Champions hold an 11-2-1 all-time edge over the Falcons. Thanks to weather, there's never been a field goal of 50-yards or longer kicked at Heinz Field.
Cleveland-- A trip to Cleveland in the later months of the season could mean wind and snow. That said, the Browns are working with a new personnel decision maker -- Mike Holmgren -- and have some issues to address. Cleveland has won the last two meetings.
Seattle -- The big reunion game of 2010 will be with former Falcons head coach turned Seahawks head man Jim Mora. Mora finished his first season in Seattle 5-11.
St. Louis-- The Rams are officially on the clock with the first selection in the 2010 NFL Draft. This game was originally scheduled to be played in Atlanta, but the NFL changed the schedule breakdown to ease East-West coast travel.
