Falcons were TV darlings in 2009

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).