Sports
Atlanta Falcons 2016 Schedule Released by NFL
The Atlanta Falcons will play their last-ever game at the Georgia Dome against arch-rival New Orleans Saints on New Year's Day.
ATLANTA, GA -- The Atlanta Falcons will face the Super Bowl champions and the Super Bowl runner-ups twice before wrapping up their final regular season at the Georgia Dome in a New Year's Day tilt with the arch-rival New Orleans Saints.
The NFL has released its 2016 schedule for the Falcons and other teams.
The Falcons season kicks off with a September 11 game against the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 1 p.m. game, in Atlanta, will be televised by Fox.
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Other schedule highlights include games October 2 and December 24 against NFC South champions and Super Bowl losers the Carolina Panthers, an October 9 matchup in Denver with the 2015 champion Broncos and the last-ever Falcons game scheduled for the Georgia Dome -- a January 1 bout with the Saints.
The Falcons will also visit the 2014 Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks on October 16. It will be the second of two West Coast visits in as many weeks, coming on the heels of the matchup with the Broncos.
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Coming off of an 8-8 campaign in 2015 that fell short of a playoff bid, the Falcons are facing what analysts are calling one of the two toughest schedules in the league.
The Falcons and San Francisco 49ers are tied with the toughest 2016 strength of schedule, based on their opponents' records last year.
Here's the complete Atlanta Falcons 2016 schedule (all times Eastern):
Sunday, September 11 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (FOX) 1 p.m.
Sunday, September 18 at Oakland Raiders (CBS) 4:25 p.m.
Monday, September 26 at New Orleans Saints (ESPN) 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 2 vs. Carolina Panthers (FOX) 1 p.m.
Sunday, October 9 at Denver Broncos (FOX) 4:05 p.m.
Sunday, October 16 at Seattle Seahawks (FOX) 4:25 p.m.
Sunday, October 23 vs. San Diego Chargers (FOX) 4:05 p.m.
Sunday, October 30 vs. Green Bay Packers (FOX) 1 p.m.
Thursday, November 3 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL Network) 8:25 p.m.
Sunday, November 13 at Philadelphia Eagles, (FOX) 1 p.m.
Sunday, November 27 vs. Arizona Cardinals (FOX) 1 p.m.
Sunday, December 4 vs. Kansas City Chiefs, (CBS) 1 p.m.
Sunday, December 11 at St. Louis Rams (FOX) 4:25 p.m.
Sunday, December 18 vs. San Francisco 49ers (FOX) 4:25 p.m
Saturday, December 24 at Carolina Panthers (FOX) 1 p.m.
Sunday, January 1 vs. New Orleans Saints (FOX) 1 p.m
(Photo courtesy Atlanta Falcons)
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