Atlanta Falcons 2023 schedule: Toughest stretch, opponent preview, key matchups, predictions and more

What an unmitigated catastrophe this offseason has been for the Atlanta Falcons, and it spills over from yet one more disappointing regular-season end that led to the mid-year dismissal of head coach Dan Quinn and a serious shakeup within the entrance workplace. As they give the impression of being to get again to their successful methods earlier than the inevitable decline of Matt Ryan arrives, they’ll presumably have to take action with out future Corridor of Fame broad receiver Julio Jones. Terry Fontenot, the newly-installed GM, started taking calls and presents on Jones previous to the NFL draft and has since been actively seeking to deal him, after Jones reportedly requested a commerce earlier this offseason.

And with Jones himself stating publicly he’s “outta there,” there’s no cause to consider the Falcons may have their most dynamic weapon on the sector in 2023. Meaning they’ll need to lean extra closely on Calvin Ridley and prime choose Kyle Pitts, two succesful receivers — admittedly — who’ll have their work lower out for them in terms of changing Jones’ manufacturing. After which there’s the protection, one the group hopes is improved sufficient to provide Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers some issue, together with welcoming Sam Darnold to the NFC South and making an attempt to tug down a well-known face in Jameis Winston, who’s making an attempt to exchange the now-retired Drew Brees.

The Falcons will begin their season towards the Philadelphia Eagles, coming into as 3.5-point favorites, per William Hill Sportsbook. That’s an in depth margin that accounts for the absence of Jones, in a recreation that might tilt wildly in both course. That latter level applies to the Falcons’ season on the entire now, one that may seemingly see a divorce from probably the greatest receivers to ever play the sport. 

Want a fast betting primer in your favourite NFL group for the 2023 season? Listed below are hyperlinks to schedule breakdowns for all 32 golf equipment.

Key schedule observations

• Early-season bye (Week 6)
• London recreation in Week 5
• No true two-game (Atlanta) homestand

Hardest stretch

Philadelphia Eagles

Week 1 – Sunday, Sept. 12
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Time: 1 p.m. ET

Even with out Jones, it is a recreation the Falcons can win. The Eagles are nonetheless attempting to determine their secondary and that’s the place Ridley and Pitts can shine, together with Russell Gage and Hayden Hurst. So long as Matt Ryan retains the stress on and avoids it himself, it’s a win within the dwelling opener.

Prediction: 35-20, Falcons

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

First assembly: Week 2 – Raymond James Stadium (Tampa) – Sunday, Sept. 19, 4:05 p.m. ET
Second assembly: Week 13 – Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) – Sunday, Dec. 5, 1 p.m. ET

The enjoyable gained’t be long-lived for the Falcons as a result of whereas they took their dwelling opener in Week 1, they need to face Tom Brady and the defending champs in Week 2. They want the firepower of Jones right here towards a visceral Bucs protection, however don’t have it, and so it’s not solely a loss in Week 2; but additionally in Week 13 when the Bucs return to face them in Atlanta.

Week 2 Prediction: 30-17, Bucs
Week 13 Prediction: 40-20, Bucs

Week 3 – Sunday, Sept. 26
Location: MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford)
Time: 1 p.m. ET

The primary spherical towards the NFC East went nicely with a win over the Eagles, however the Giants current a way more tough problem, having improved their protection and added Kenny Golladay to the offense. They will and can check the wherewithal of the Falcons, who gained’t be capable to match serve at MetLife.

Prediction: 27-23, Giants

Washington Soccer Workforce

Week 4 – Sunday, Oct. 3 
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Time: 1 p.m. ET

Sitting at 1-1 within the NFC East, that is the place the Falcons can get above .500 versus that division and total. Washington believes an inconsistent Ryan Fitzpatrick will get the job achieved, however in actuality it’ll be the protection that should carry the load. If the Falcons can defend Matt Ryan from the onslaught led by Chase Younger, Fitzpatrick may run out of magic in Atlanta when he can least afford to.

Prediction: 24-20, Falcons

Week 5 – Sunday, Oct. 10 
Location: Tottenham Hostpur Stadium (London)
Time: 9:30 a.m. ET

Zach Wilson has potential, sure. That’s not what’s going to win this recreation, although. It’s the actual fact he’s inexperienced and Ryan is way from it, and that offers the Falcons a determined benefit towards a Jets group that’ll seemingly be extra aggressive with new head coach Robert Saleh, but additionally one which wants to determine who it’s going ahead. It in all probability gained’t be a barnburner in London, however Ryan is aware of what it’s wish to play there — Wilson doesn’t.

Prediction: 24-10, Falcons

Week 7 – Sunday, Oct. 24
Location: Laborious Rock Stadium (Miami)
Time: 1 p.m. ET

The bye week is now within the rearview after a visit throughout the pond, giving the Falcons two weeks to organize for Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins. The absence of Julio Jones looms massive right here although, contemplating the Dolphins secondary is a formidable one. They drop this one in South Florida, and it’s as a result of they wanted yet one more TD than they might get (the one Jones seemingly would’ve gotten).

Prediction: 24-17, Dolphins

First assembly: Week 8 – Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) – Sunday, Oct. 31, 1 p.m. ET
Second assembly: Week 14 – Financial institution of America Stadium (Charlotte) – Sunday, Dec. 12, 1 p.m. ET

This can be an intriguing matchup by all accounts, with each groups having their units of query marks in a division that sees them each attempting to succeed in the extent established by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They will beat one another on any given Sunday, and so they’ll cut up their collection in 2023, with dwelling cooking feeding the outcomes.

Week 8 Prediction: 21-14, Falcons
Week 14 Prediction: 30-20, Panthers

First assembly: Week 9 – Mercedes-Benz Superdome (New Orleans) – Sunday, Nov. 7, 1 p.m. ET
Second assembly: Week 18 – Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) – Sunday, Jan. 9, 1 p.m. ET

Talking of an NFC South group with questions, and who’s attempting to get again on the Buccaneers, the Saints don’t formally know simply but who their beginning QB can be following the retirement of Drew Brees. No matter if it’s Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill come Week 9, it’ll be the Superdome followers who assist energy them to a win towards the Falcons, with Atlanta followers doing the identical within the regular-season finale.

Week 9 Prediction: 30-24, Saints
Week 18 Prediction: 35-27, Falcons

Week 10 – Sunday, Nov. 14
Location: AT&T Stadium (Arlington)
Time: 1 p.m. ET

When the Falcons had Julio Jones in Dallas final season, they misplaced on a watermelon kick. They don’t have him this time round and with Dan Quinn on the lookout for some revenge, and seeing as he is aware of Ryan’s each nuance, the Falcons are actually up towards it after they attempt to battle an improved Dallas protection and an offense that once more options Dak Prescott as QB1 — together with his beginning tackles in tow.

Prediction: 41-23, Cowboys

Week 11 – Thursday, Nov. 18
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Time: 8:20 p.m. ET

The earlier recreation began the hardest stretch of the Falcons schedule, and particularly in the event that they ship Julio Jones to one in every of his prime most well-liked touchdown spots: the Patriots. In the event that they make that mistake, they’ll need to take care of him in a revenge recreation that options Invoice Belichick towards a newly-installed Falcons head coach. And even when they don’t, the Patriots know the way to win towards Matt Ryan, except you’ve forgotten “28-3,” and Newton is not any stranger to Atlanta — his hometown.

Prediction: 31-14, Patriots

Week 12 – Sunday, Nov. 28
Location: TIAA Financial institution Discipline (Jacksonville)
Time: 1 p.m. ET

Let’s assume Trevor Lawrence wants a second to develop into the issue he’ll seemingly develop into within the NFL. The difficulty for the Falcons is that this recreation is in Week 12 and never Week 1, so he’ll no less than have a few of his bearings. That stated, Meyer nonetheless has loads to determine on each side of the ball, and Tim Tebow gained’t save him from this loss.

Prediction: 23-20, Falcons

Week 13 – Sunday, Dec. 19
Location: Levi’s Stadium (San Francisco)
Time: 4:05 p.m. ET

Touring cross nation is brutal in and of itself, however to take action for a matchup with the 49ers is just not enjoyable. Be it Jimmy Garoppolo or Trey Lance as starter in Week 13, Kyle Shanahan is the coach and George Kittle is the tight finish and the protection is getting back from damage as probably the greatest within the NFL. It’s an excessive amount of to beat for a drained Falcons group that’s additionally lacking Jones.

Prediction: 30-14, 49ers

Week 15 – Sunday, Dec. 26
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Time: 1 p.m. ET 

From cross-country journey to a cross-country hop again to Atlanta, the Falcons are despatched from Florida to California and again to Georgia in an exhaustive quantity of journey. It’s not that the Lions are a greater group than the Falcons, however moderately that the Falcons are preventing jet lag and lose steam late the fourth quarter of this recreation to permit the Lions a win.

Prediction: 21-17, Lions

Week 17 – Sunday, Jan. 2
Location: Highmark Stadium (Buffalo)
Time: 1 p.m. ET 

They gained’t get to unpack in Atlanta, now touring far north to the frozen confines of Buffalo in January. For a southern dome group, this appears like a loss of life sentence, and Allen will seemingly have his means with a Falcons group that’s already been eradicated from playoff competition.

Prediction: 45-20, Payments

Closing 2023 file: 6-11