Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons

Falcons were TV darlings in 2009

By
Jan 13, 2010

For the second consecutive year the Falcons have seen a significant rise in TV ratings, according to Nielsen ratings provided by the NFL.

Ratings increased 7 percent from the 2008 season, when the Falcons' regular-season record was 11-5 and the team made the playoffs. The team finished 9-7 in 2009 and failed to make the playoffs. They did accomplish consecutive winning seasons for the first time. Ratings for Falcons' games have increased 57 percent since 2007, the largest increase of any NFL team.

In 2009, Falcons games were viewed by an average of 498,000 homes each week. Their Sunday night game against Chicago at the Georgia Dome reached their largest single-game audience (642,000 homes).

About the Author

Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.

Follow D. Orlando Ledbetter on facebookFollow D. Orlando Ledbetter on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Falcons linebacker Deangelo Malone (right center) — pictured celebrating his game-clinching interception against the Bills on Oct. 13 — is headed to injured reserve with a broken ankle. (Colin Hubbard/AP)

Credit: AP

Falcons’ DeAngelo Malone headed to injured reserve

Atlanta linebacker DeAngelo Malone, a key special-teams player, broke his ankle in the loss to the Colts.

3 intriguing Falcons prop bets vs. Carolina

The Atlanta Falcons face the Carolina Panthers on Sunday as 3.5-point favorites. Here are three intriguing prop bets to consider.

Falcons-Colts ranks in top 5 for viewers of NFL Network International Games

More than 6 million watched Atlanta and Indianapolis play early Sunday morning in Berlin, peaking with about 9 million for the final 20 minutes of the game.

The Latest

Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (left) and Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. meet on the field following a game on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. This Sunday's game brings the Panthers to Atlanta. (Jacob Kupferman/AP)

Credit: AP

3 intriguing Falcons prop bets vs. Carolina

Falcons-Colts ranks in top 5 for viewers of NFL Network International Games

Falcons’ DeAngelo Malone headed to injured reserve

Featured

U.S. Rep. Mike Collins' Senate campaign used Sen. Jon Ossoff's Senate portrait (center) to create an AI-generated video of Ossoff talking about his vote not to end the government shutdown. The video was reposted to Collins' campaign account on X (left). (Screenshot)

Credit: Screenshot

OPINON

Murphy: Jon Ossoff warned about deepfakes. Now he is one.

A Mike Collins campaign video uses AI to make Sen. Jon Ossoff say outlandish things. A proposed state law would rein in such uses of AI in campaigns.

President of Atlanta Fed Raphael Bostic announces retirement

Atlanta Fed President and CEO Raphael Bostic has served in the role since 2017 and is the first Black and openly gay chief executive of a regional Fed bank.

Savannah ditched 2 marathons. Can shorter race find Peachtree-like success?

Savannah is an attractive destination for those whose idea of a fun weekend getaway is a road race. But two marathons have left town. Will Saturday's shorter race be a keeper?