FLOWERY BRANCH — A look at the teams on the Falcons' schedule and how they have reconstructed their roster since the season's end. We're up to Game Seven, when the Falcons will travel to East Rutherford, N.J. to face the New York Jets on Oct 29:
GAME SEVEN: NEW YORK JETS
Falcons at New York Jets, at 1 p.m. Oct. 29
No longer with the Jets: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB Geno Smith, CB Darrelle Revis, C Nick Mangold, LT Ryan Clady, CB Nick Marshall and WR Brandon Marshall. Also, offensive coordinator Chan Gailey retired. Quarterbacks coach Kevin Patullo, running backs coach Marcel Shipp, defensive line coach Pepper Johnson, outside linebackers coach Mark Collins and defensive backs coach Joe Danna were not retained.
Key free agent signings/pickups: QB Josh McCown, CB Morris Claiborne, LT Kelvin Beachum and K Chandler Cantazaro.
New York Jets' 2017 NFL draft
Weaknesses: The Jets are trying to groom Christian Hackenberg to take over at quarterback. McCown was signed as a bridge to Hackenberg. Wide receiver Eric Decker is expected to be recovered by hip and shoulder injuries by the start of training camp. A team with no quarterback is not going very far in today's NFL.
Strengths: Head coach Todd Bowles, who was a candidate for the Falcons' vacancy that went to Dan Quinn, got a franchise safety in Jamal Adams in the first round. It's not clear if the Jets are going to be patient enough to allow a full rebuild.
Comment: The Jets gutted their roster after going 5-11 last season. The prospects for 2017 are not very good and Bowles could be on the hot seat. The Jets have not been to the playoffs since 2010. Looks like another long season for Gang Green.
FALCONS SCHEDULE
Exhibition season
Falcons at Miami Dolphins at 7 p.m. Aug. 10
Falcons at Pittsburgh Steelers at 4 p.m. Aug. 20
Arizona Cardinals at Falcons at 7 p.m. Aug. 26
Jacksonville Jaguars at Falcons at 7 p.m. Aug. 31
Regular season
Sept. 10 at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m., Fox
Sept. 17 Green Bay Packers, 8:30 p.m. NBC
Sept. 24 at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m. Fox
Oct. 1 Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m., CBS
Oct. 8 BYE
Oct. 15 Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m., CBS
Oct. 22 at New England Patriots, 8:30 p.m., NBC
Oct. 29 at New York Jets, 1 p.m., Fox
Nov. 5 at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m., Fox
Nov. 12 Dallas Cowboys, 4:25 p.m., Fox
Nov. 20 at Seattle Seahawks (Mon) 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Nov. 26 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m., Fox
Dec. 3 Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m., Fox
Dec. 7 New Orleans Saints (Thur), 8:25 p.m., NBC/NFL Network/Amazon
Dec. 18 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Mon). 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Dec. 24 at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m., Fox
Dec. 31 Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m., Fox
THE FALCONS 2017 DRAFT
MUST READ PROFILE: Falcons top pick McKinley makes name for himself
2017 Falcons report card: Falcons earn a B-plus
NFC Champs add a pass rusher, quality depth
1st rounder: Meet defensive end Takkarist McKinley
3rd rounder: Meet linebacker Duke Riley
4th rounder: Meet offensive guard Sean Harlow
5th rounder: Meet defensive back Damontae Kazee
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