Some of the best quarterbacks in the NFL will visit the Georgia Dome as Atlanta Falcons' opponents in 2012 and the headliner will be the newest, most prominent Denver Bronco -- Peyton Manning -- in Week 2.
Manning and his head coach John Fox – no stranger to the Georgia Dome as the former long-time head coach of the Carolina Panthers – will visit on Monday, Sept. 17.
That is one of four nationally televised games for the Falcons, all of which feature a top quarterback.
Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys visit the Georgia Dome on Sunday, Nov. 4, at 8:20; NFC South Division rival New Orleans and Drew Brees visit on Thursday, Nov. 29, at 8:20. (The Falcons face the Saints twice in 18 days, as New Orleans visits Atlanta on Nov. 11.) The other – the only nationally televised game on the road – is at Detroit against the Lions and former Georgia quarterback Matt Stafford, a Pro-Bowler last season, on Sunday, Dec. 22, at 8:30.
In other games of interest, the Super Bowl champion New York Giants and quarterback Eli Manning will visit the Georgia Dome on Dec. 16 in a rematch of the Falcons' 24-2 playoff loss at Met Life Stadium in January. In a game always near and dear to the hearts of Falcons fans, Atlanta visits the Philadelphia Eagles and the Falcons' former quarterback Michael Vick on Oct. 28. This will mark the fourth straight season that the Falcons have played the Eagles. They are 1-2 over the last three years.
The season opener is Sept. 9 at Kansas City and the bye week is Oct. 21 in Week 7. The other games are: Sept. 23 at San Diego; Sept. 30 against Carolina; Oct. 7 at Washington – and likely quarterback Robert Griffin III, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner; Nov. 18 against Arizona; Nov. 25 at Tampa Bay; Dec. 9 at Carolina; and Dec. 30 against Tampa Bay.
Falcons 2012 Schedule:
Sunday, Sept. 9, at Kansas City, 1
Monday, Sept. 17, Denver, 8:30
Sunday, Sept. 23, at San Diego, 4
Sunday, Sept. 30, Carolina, 1
Sunday, Oct. 7, at Washington, 1
Sunday, Oct. 14, Oakland, 1
Oct. 21 – BYE
Sunday, Oct. 28, at Philadelphia, 1
Sunday, Nov. 4, Dallas, 8:20
Sunday, Nov. 11, at New Orleans, 1
Sunday, Nov. 18, Arizona, 1
Sunday, Nov. 25, at Tampa Bay, 1
Thursday, Nov. 29, New Orleans, 8:20
Sunday, Dec. 9, at Carolina, 1
Sunday, Dec. 16, New York Giants, 1
Saturday, Dec. 22, at Detroit, 8:30
Sunday, Dec. 30, Tampa Bay, 1
