The Atlanta Falcons will kick off the 2020 NFL season by hosting the Seattle Seahawks in the first ever home-opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Even though rosters change significantly each year and we don’t always know which teams will break out or underachieve, these three matchups figure to be the most difficult for Atlanta.
Week 4: @ Green Bay Packers
The Falcons have two primetime games this season, but their Week 4 matchup with the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football is arguably the biggest game on their schedule. After making it to the NFC Championship game last season, the Packers figure to be back in the mix in 2020. Atlanta and Green Bay have split their previous two meetings since the Falcons defeated the Packers to advance to the Super Bowl in 2016.
Aaron Rodgers is currently getting the Brett Favre treatment, as Green Bay traded up to select quarterback Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 draft, despite the fact that Rodgers is under contract for three more seasons. On Monday night at historic Lambeau Field, this figures to be a great early-season test for an Atlanta team trying to get back to the playoffs.
Week 16: @ Kansas City Chiefs
The defending Super Bowl champions host the Falcons in Week 16 during what is sure to be a tough final stretch. Kansas City’s offense is nearly unstoppable, as evident by the two games the team overcame double-digit deficits in last year’s playoffs. Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback in the league, and doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon while playing in Andy Reid’s system.
This game isn’t just about seeing how Atlanta can stack up against the best team in the NFL, though. The Falcons have a easy early-season schedule, but their final three games are extremely tough and could be the difference in making or missing the playoffs this season.
Week 17: @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Atlanta Falcons don’t get to see the new-look Buccaneers led by Tom Brady until Week 15. The two teams play twice over the final three weeks, but this Week 17 matchup between the Falcons and Buccaneers could potentially decide the NFC South division title.
Tampa Bay’s bandwagon is filling up quickly, while NFL analysts seem to be writing off Atlanta. At this point in their respective careers, Matt Ryan is arguably the better quarterback than Brady, who turns 43 in August. Could this be the year Ryan reasserts himself as one of the league’s elite passers? Beating possibly the greatest quarterback of all time to clinch a playoff spot could validate the Falcons’ decision to retain GM Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Dan Quinn.
