Atlanta’s First 3 Matches, Primetime Matchup Revealed

The 2024 NFL schedule will be officially released Wednesday night, but the Atlanta Falcons’ first three matchups appear finalized.

The Falcons are set to open the season at home for the fourth consecutive season, welcoming former head coach Arthur Smith and the Pittsburgh Steelers to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Smith, who was fired Jan. 8 after three seasons at the helm, and a quartet of former Falcons — running back Cordarrelle Patterson, tight end MyCole Pruitt and receivers Scotty Miller and Van Jefferson — will return to Atlanta on September 8.

Thereafter, the immediate road becomes increasingly difficult for the Falcons.

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Atlanta is scheduled to travel to Philadelphia for a prime-time matchup with the Eagles on Monday Night Football on September 16 before returning home to face Patrick Mahomes’ defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs , on September 22, according to WSB Ch. 2.

Kansas City game scheduled to take place on Sunday Night Football, according to Maria Martin from 11Alive. This is Atlanta’s first such game since 2019, while its appearance on Monday Night Football will be its first since 2020. The team did not play a prime-time game last season.

The Falcons have the easiest schedule based on projected win totals, according to Sharp Football Analysis, but they don’t see such a preview of how easy it will be to start Raheem Morris’ first season on the sidelines.

Morris said Tuesday, however, that he wasn’t particularly concerned about releasing the schedule.

“It’s probably a little less exciting for the coaches because we’re always playing one game at a time anyway,” Morris said. “But it’s still exciting just for the National Football League in general. We found a way to have another event and I know it’s exciting for you guys and it’s exciting for us to come out and to do these things and exciting for our community, most importantly, and all of our guys.”

The Falcons’ full 17-game schedule will be announced Wednesday at 8 p.m.