Page "Atlanta Falcons" Paragraph 37

The Falcons made a surprise trade up with the Cleveland Browns in the 2011 NFL Draft to select Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones sixth overall.

In exchange, the Falcons gave up their first -, second-and fourth-round draft picks in 2011, and their first and fourth draft picks in 2012.

On August 30, 2011, Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King, who correctly predicted the 2011 Super Bowl, made his predictions for the 2011 season and picked the Falcons to defeat the San Diego Chargers in the 2012 Super Bowl.

The Falcons finished the season at 10-6, securing the fifth seed after a Week 17 beatdown of Tampa Bay in which the Falcons pulled their starters after leading 42-0 just twenty-three minutes into the game.