Rejoice football fans, for the NFL's regular season has finally returned to us. Of course the real season, as we know, does not begin until 1 p.m. on Sunday.

As we stand on the precipice of a meaningful Falcons football game, the fine staff writers at The Falcoholic (and myself) are going to conduct a timeless, age-old exercise that any self-respecting sports writer would conduct: making predictions that will undoubtedly, surely wind up incredibly wrong and make us seem foolish in hindsight.

And here... we... go:

Dave Choate

From Dave: I have the Falcons going 9-7, with the resurgent offense carrying a defense that still has several kinks to work through. Here's how that plays out.

W vs. Saints

L @ Bengals

W vs. Buccaneers

W @ Vikings

L @ Giants

L vs. Bears

W @ Ravens

W vs. Lions

L @ Buccaneers

W @ Panthers

W vs. Browns

L vs. Cardinals

L @ Packers

W vs. Steelers

L @ Saints

W vs. Panthers

Jeanna Thomas

From Jeanna: With a healthy roster, finishing the season 10-6 is not at all out of the question. There are some really tough opponents down the stretch, though, and the Falcons will have to really work for a playoff spot in the competitive NFC.

Week 1: W vs. Saints

Week 2: L @ Bengals

Week 3: W vs. Bucs

Week 4: W @ Vikings

Week 5: W @ Giants

Week 6: W vs. Bears

Week 7: L @ Ravens

Week 8: W vs. Lions

Week 10: W @ Bucs

Week 11: L @ Panthers

Week 12: W vs. Browns

Week 13: L vs. Cardinals

Week 14: L @ Packers

Week 15: W vs. Steelers

Week 16: L @ Saints

Week 17: W vs. Panthers

Alex Welch:

The ever-morose Alex Welch has the Dirty Birds going 8-8. Typical.

Week 1, vs. Saints: L

Week 2, at Bengals: L

Week 3, vs. Bucs: W

Week 4, at Vikings: W

Week 5, at Giants: W

Week 6, vs. Bears: L

Week 7, at Ravens: W

Week 8, vs. Lions: L

Week 10, at Bucs: L

Week 11, at Panthers: L

Week 12, vs. Browns: W

Week 13, vs Cardinals: W

Week 14, at Packers: L

Week 15, vs. Steelers: W

Week 16, at Saints: L

Week 17, vs. Panthers: W

Caleb Rutherford

From Caleb, who has Atlanta going 13-3: Get on my level.

Week 1, vs. Saints: W

Week 2, at Bengals: W

Week 3, vs. Bucs: W

Week 4, at Vikings: W

Week 5, at Giants: W

Week 6, vs. Bears: W

Week 7, at Ravens: W

Week 8, vs. Lions: W

Week 10, at Bucs: W

Week 11, at Panthers: L

Week 12, vs. Browns: W

Week 13, vs Cardinals: W

Week 14, at Packers: L

Week 15, vs. Steelers: W

Week 16, at Saints: L

Week 17, vs. Panthers: W

Alec Shirkey

Even with Lamar Holmes back in the starting fold, a revamped offensive line and a healthy Julio Jones should be enough for the offense to carry Atlanta through a relatively forgiving schedule to a 9-7 record. Whether that proves enough to make the playoffs, I'm not so sure.

Week 1: W vs Saints

Week 2: L at Bengals

Week 3: W vs Bucs

Week 4: W at Vikings

Week 5: L at Giants

Week 6: L vs Bears

Week 7: W at Ravens

Week 8: W vs Lions

Week 10: L at Bucs

Week 11: L at Panthers

Week 12: W vs Browns

Week 13: W vs Cardinals

Week 14: L at Packers

Week 15: W vs Steelers

Week 16: L at Saints

Week 17: W vs Panthers

Matt Chambers





From Matt: With a revamped and healthy team, the Falcons beat the Saints twice and everything else I don't care about. Looks like 10-6.





W vs. Saints

L @ Bengals

W vs. Buccaneers

W @ Vikings

L @ Giants

L vs. Bears

W @ Ravens

L vs. Lions

L @ Buccaneers

W @ Panthers

W vs. Browns

W vs. Cardinals

L @ Packers

W vs. Steelers

W @ Saints

W vs. Panthers