ATLANTA _ The Falcons' 2020 schedule features nationally televised games on a Monday and a Thursday night and a closing stretch that include the final three games against Tampa Bay, Kansas City and Tampa Bay.
If the Falcons are in position to make the playoffs, they likely will have to beat Tom Brady and/or Patrick Mahomes down the streak.
The NFC South games are spread over the schedule, but the Falcons do face the Saints twice within three weeks in weeks 11 and 13. The Week 11 game will come the week after the bye week.
With the arrival of Brady in the division, the NFC South now boast three quarterbacks in the league's all-time top 10 passing list in Brady, Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.
Teddy Bridgewater, who was Brees' backup for the past two seasons, takes over for Cam Newton in Charlotte.
"Tom Brady is Tom Brady," Falcons safety Ricardo Allen said. "Just being able to play against him two times a year, guaranteed, that, just to me, naturally brings up the level of the playing field. You know going into that game that it's not a walk in the park. To me, I like that. For me, I feed off of that."
Of course, Brady led the Patriots to a Super Bowl victory after the Falcons held a 28-3 lead. After playing 20 seasons in New England, he signed with the Buccaneers this offseason.
"I think if you believe in who you are and the work that you put in, you know that when the competition comes around, it's time to stand up," Allen said. "For me, I look forward to it. I like that kind of stuff.
To be able to play against some of the greatest quarterbacks of all time in our division, at least four games a year, I don't think that anybody who wants to be a true competitor will every shy away from this."
Also, the Falcons, who have struggled against AFC teams (2-10) over the past three years, will play the AFC West, including the defending Super Bowl-champion Chiefs.
"It's not very many pushover in here," Allen said of the 2020 opponents. "If we have to play six games in our division, and then we've already got the Super Bowl champs in there, we've got a fight already ahead of ourselves.
"This is not going to be an easy walk-in-the-park of a season at all. I've never played down there (in Kansas City). I know Pat. He's good. He can get it done. We better be ready. We better be working. It's going to be an exciting season. Another good one, though."
The Falcons' opponents for their four exhibition games were released earlier. They will play home games against the Dolphins (Aug. 13-17) and Bengals (Aug. 28) and road games against the Bills (Aug. 20-24) and Jaguars (Sept. 3 or Sept. 4).
