Atlanta Falcons 2024 Schedule – Takeaways, Predictions

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – The Atlanta Falcons’ 2024 schedule was released Wednesday along with the rest of the NFL roster.

The Falcons haven’t had a winning season since 2017, but the level of interest in Atlanta has increased exponentially since the end of last season. The team signed free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​to a $180 million contract in March, then shockingly drafted quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick a month later . This was one of the biggest stories in the NFL over the past few months.

In this way, the Falcons are a team to watch – and fans will be able to do so four times in prime time in 2024, including three times in the first five weeks. Atlanta has only been on prime time and national television twice in the last three years – once each in 2021 and 2022 and none last season. The Falcons are 0-2 in these games. This upcoming season, the team will face the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Las Vegas Raiders in prime time.

Here’s what awaits the Falcons:

Falcons 2024 regular season schedule

Week 1: September 8 vs. Pittsburgh

Week 2: September 16 in Philadelphia (MNF)

Week 3: September 22 vs. Kansas City (SNF)

Week 4: September 29 vs. New Orleans

Week 5: October 3 vs. Tampa Bay (TNF)

Week 6: October 13 at Carolina

Week 7: October 20 vs. Seattle

Week 8: October 27 at Tampa Bay

Week 9: November 3 vs. Dallas

Week 10: November 10 in New Orleans

Week 11: November 17 in Denver

Week 12: November 24 BYE

Week 13: December 1: vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Week 14: December 8 at Minnesota

Week 15: December 16 in Las Vegas (MNF)

Week 16: December 22 against the New York Giants

Week 17: December 28/29 in Washington

Week 18: January. 4/5 against Carolina

Strength of schedule: The Falcons and Saints have the easiest schedules as their opponents had a .453 winning percentage last year.

More less : 9.5

The biggest takeaway

For the first time in more than half a decade, there are expectations in Atlanta — and real scrutiny in the form of four prime-time games. All eyes will be on Cousins ​​and what could happen if he struggles and fans start calling for Penix. But aside from a possible quarterback controversy, it’s clear the league is seeing more with the Falcons than it has in some time. Skill position players Drake London, Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts are all 23 years old or younger and are potential NFL stars.

Revenge game

This one is easy. Cousins ​​will face the Vikings on December 8. Cousins ​​spent six seasons in Minnesota with some success in the regular season (50-37-1), but a 1-2 record in the playoffs. Cousins ​​tore his Achilles tendon in Week 8 last year and missed the rest of the season. He led the league in touchdown passes (18) at the time. It seems that he wants to remind his former team that at 35 years old, he can still play at the highest level. He will have this chance, in the stadium and the city where he once lived.

Bold prediction

The Falcons will have a better record on the road than at home. This has nothing to do with the friendly setting of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, it’s just that the Chiefs are in Atlanta in Week 3 and have won back-to-back Super Bowls. The Cowboys and Steelers are both among the top 15 teams in the latest ESPN NFL Power Rankings and they also visit Atlanta. Meanwhile, the Vikings, Raiders, Commanders and Broncos are currently ranked among the bottom 10 teams in the league and host the Falcons this season.