Falcons game-by-game predictions after 2024 NFL schedule release

Week 1 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Fans in Atlanta get to see all kinds of intriguing storylines play out with the Falcons home schedule, starting with the very first game. Firstly, it will be former head coach Arthur Smith returning to Atlanta as the offensive coordinator for Pittsburgh. Secondly, this will also be Russell Wilson’s first game as a Steeler. What a Week 1 opener for the Dirty Birds. However, this is still a very talented Steelers team that could give the Falcons some major fits. Pittsburgh steals one in Atlanta. LOSS

Record: 0-1

Week 2 at Philadelphia Eagles (Monday Night Football)

Will the Eagles finally have regained their form from two seasons ago, or will the tensions increase once again in Philadelphia this upcoming season? Going to Philly is never an easy place to play for any team, especially being that it’s their home opener and Monday Night Football. The Falcons will have their work cut out for them here in what could be a potential NFC playoff matchup later on. Plus, this is Cousins in primetime, who is 12-20 overall in that spot in his career. LOSS

Record: 0-2

Week 3 vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday Night Football)

It will be back-to-back primetime games for the Falcons. For this one, they get to welcome the Super Bowl champs to Atlanta. This will actually be Patrick Mahomes’ first visit to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a regular season game. Since joining the league, Mahomes has faced the Falcons just once back in 2022, with Atlanta losing 17-14. A similar fate is likely. The Morris era is not off to a great start. LOSS

Record: 0-3

Week 4 vs. New Orleans Saints

Having Cousins will really start to show its weight in gold once he’s able to start putting down division opponents, like here with the Saints at home. This should at least help alleviate the pain from three straight losses with a win over a division rival. WIN

Record: 1-3

Week 5 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Thursday Night Football)

A familiar theme with the Falcons over the last several seasons has been their inability to stop blowing leads. Atlanta took a late fourth-quarter lead in last year’s contest at home to go up 25-22, then lost the lead and the game just moments later, 29-25. Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts scored in that game. Maybe they can do the same this upcoming season except this time for a Falcons victory. Falcons win on Thursday Night Football. WIN

Record: 2-3

Week 6 at Carolina Panthers

The Falcons will look to take advantage of what is still likely to be a feeble Panthers team in 2024. However, the past two years, trips to Charlotte haven’t gone Atlanta’s way, not to mention points being scarce. That should change this upcoming season. WIN

Record: 3-3

Week 7 vs. Seattle Seahawks

The last two times that the Falcons hosted the Seahawks, they lost both times. They’ve actually had better luck in Seattle, going 3-1 in their last four trips. This will be a much different Seahawks team post Pete Carroll, and one that Atlanta should take care of business with. WIN

Record: 4-3

Week 8 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Falcons’ biggest division competition will no doubt be last year’s division winners in the Buccaneers. Before last year’s 16-13 win, Atlanta hadn’t won in Tampa since 2019. Both of their matchups with the Bucs will be big for the NFC South this year. The Falcons lose on the road here. LOSS

Record: 4-4

Week 9 vs. Dallas Cowboys

The three times the Falcons and Cowboys have met up, Atlanta has been downright embarrassed. In 2018, it was a late field goal by Dallas’ Brett Maher. In 2020, the Falcons once again collapsed and blew a 19-point halftime lead to lose by one at the very end. Finally, in 2021, the Falcons were just trounced, 43-3. While the Cowboys could still be good, they lost a lot to free agency and are now having to adjust a roster due to cap space reasons. Dak Prescott owns Cousins; however, with a 5-1 record, per StatHead. Cousins might improve his record here, though. WIN

Record: 5-4

Week 10 at New Orleans Saints

Last time the Falcons were in New Orleans, they were bidding farewell to then-head coach Arthur Smith shortly after their 48-17 loss. The Falcons haven’t won at New Orleans since 2021 and have only beaten the Saints once in their last five tries. Having no reliable quarterback play will do that to a team. Atlanta goes into the Superdome to beat their arch-rival. WIN

Record: 6-4

Week 11 at Denver Broncos

What exactly will the Broncos look like in Year 3 with Sean Payton? Will first-round pick Bo Nix be the man behind center? Tons of questions circle this team this season whereas the Falcons have more or less solved a majority of theirs. The Falcons have won the last three matchups, including their last visit to Denver. Atlanta walks away with a W here. WIN

Record: 7-4

Week 12 – BYE

Week 13 vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Falcons fans get to perhaps look in envy at what could have been their new head coach in the Chargers Jim Harbaugh. Who knows how real the discussions were for Harbaugh to come to Atlanta but he was interviewed. No doubt that he and the Chargers and quarterback Justin Herbert will draw a crowd. But a win? This feels like it could go either way, in what could be a Cousins, Herbert shootout. Atlanta barely squeaks by with a win. WIN

Record: 8-4

Week 14 at Minnesota Vikings

It’s hard to forget about the utter collapse that the Falcons had against the Vikings last year at home. The thing is, Cousins wasn’t even playing. Minnesota was left to resort to traded for Josh Dobbs who had barely even gotten his parking spot picked out, much less learned the playbook. This year, Cousins will visit his old team, and hopefully fully healthy. But head coach Kevin O’Connell could have something up his sleeve awaiting the Falcons defense. Whether that’s Sam Darnold or JJ McCarthy at quarterback remains to be seen, but either one will have enough playmakers to beat Atlanta on this day. LOSS

Record: 8-5

Week 15 at Las Vegas Raiders (Monday Night Football)

Las Vegas is likely not happy with the Falcons for their first round draft selection of Michael Penix Jr., who would be have been drafted by the Raiders later. The Cousins effect gives Atlanta two Monday Night Football games in one season. Falcons get the win in their first visit to Las Vegas and Allegiant Stadium. WIN

Record: 9-5

Week 16 vs. New York Giants

If you’ve watched the Falcons long enough, you’ll know that upsets are always just around the corner. The Giants shouldn’t be a contending team in 2024 but they still could be fairly well-coached under Brian Daboll. Would it shock anyone if this is Malik Nabers breakout game? The Falcons secondary is still one in question, after all. LOSS

Record: 9-6

Week 17 at Washington Commanders

Morris will face off against the man who hired him to be the Falcons’ defensive coordinator back in 2020 in new Commanders head coach Dan Quinn. The Commanders are obviously in a huge transition phase with a lot of new moving parts, including their rookie quarterback. We’ll see if Jayden Daniels has gotten into a rhythm by then and is starting for Washington. But Cousins will get the victory over at least one of his former teams. WIN

Record: 10-6

Week 18 vs. Carolina Panthers

Atlanta was able to start off 2-0 last year beginning with a victory over the Panthers. This team still has a lot to make up for with plenty of holes that need to be filled. Typically, the Falcons play well at home and they should here against a lesser talented team. This would give them their eleventh win, not to mention a trip back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2016 season. WIN

Record: 11-6