The Atlanta Falcons announced late Thursday afternoon that they will play in the NFL’s international series over in London at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this October. With the NFL officially adding a 17th game this season, some teams will get an extra home game.
That’s not the case for the Falcons, though, and to make it worse, this London matchup with an unnamed opponent will count as a home game for Atlanta, even though it isn’t one. Let’s see how Falcons Twitter reacted to Thursday’s news.
Part of the advantage for home games in sports in my opinion is player familiarity and comfortablity (sleeping in their own beds, in their own house with their family) with no travel.
Having to travel to another country and sleep in a hotel is dubbed as an away game imo.
— Falcons Kingdom (@FalconsKingdom) April 2, 2021
THIS IS THE BEST NEWS THAT COULD HAVE COME OUT TODAY!
YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE THERE.
CAN NOT WAIT TO SEE THE LADS ON THE FIELD IN LONDON.
LETS GET IT! 🔴⚫🔴⚫ https://t.co/l2Oj2RWd40
— 🇬🇧 Atlanta Falcons 🔴⚫ (@ATLFalconsUK) April 1, 2021
With the NFL transitioning to a 17 game and the #Falcons set to serve as the home team in an international game, Atlanta will have 9 true road games, 7 true home games and 1 game across the pond in 2021. pic.twitter.com/XGSyL6eP1x
— Matt Karoly (@mattkaroly) April 1, 2021
CATCH US U.K FANS LIKE!!!@AtlantaFalcons 🔴⚫🔴⚫🔴⚫ pic.twitter.com/b9oiB9orpV
— 🇬🇧 Atlanta Falcons 🔴⚫ (@ATLFalconsUK) April 1, 2021
Keep Jose Mourinho away from Arthur Smith please https://t.co/9oWppcoT8w
— Allen Strk (@allenstrk) April 1, 2021
Let’s take a team that already is losing a home game cuz of the 17 game schedule and make them lose another !
— Ben Steinberg (@Beersteine22) April 1, 2021
I'm surprised they aren't taking home games from AFC teams since they are getting 9 home games this year.
— Hail to the Burgh (@h2theburgh) April 1, 2021
Let's just hope it's not on the 28th of October and a 3pm kick off 🙃
— Polar Bear! (@joe_illston) April 1, 2021
Falcons had London game canceled in 2020 for obvious reasons so this isn't a surprise. On a related note, @tori_mcelhaney is very excited. https://t.co/pngrdIjGvp
— Jeff Schultz (@JeffSchultzATL) April 1, 2021
NFL returning to London this year is looking hopeful 🤞🏼🤞🏼 get me back to sub-standard match-ups, I’ll take anything this year 🙌🏼 https://t.co/AE2sGUl1lq
— Katie (@KatieTalksPens) April 1, 2021
