What’s the toughest game on the schedule? How good will Atlanta be in 2025?
The 2025 Atlanta Falcons schedule is out, and we have thoughts. The team is headed into a critically important season where the continued employment of front office personnel and coaches may hinge on winning, the team is trying to shake off seven straight losing years, and they’re hoping that players like Michael Penix and Jalon Walker will prove to be franchise building blocks. Does this schedule enable that?
Below, you’ll find us weighing in with early record predictions, thoughts on the easiest and hardest games, and what we’re circling on the calendar. Share yours in the comments!
Record prediction: 9-8
Hardest matchup: Week 7 @ San Francisco 49ers
Easiest matchup: Week 13 @ New York Jets
Circled on the calendar: Week 15 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This season has everything except a reasonable bye week. The Falcons will be in primetime five times for the second year in a row and play an international game in Berlin, putting more eyes on the team than ever. If there’s one thing this franchise can do, it’s entertain. Atlanta opens up with a formidable six-game stretch and has to play 13 weeks consecutively, thanks to their Week 5 bye.
The Week 7 matchup at San Francisco bookends the tough start and appears to be the hardest matchup to me. They’ll be traveling on a short week after facing the Buffalo Bills (another tough matchup), and this game will likely have playoff implications. The Falcons will have opportunities against less-established rosters like the Jets, but this schedule is not a cakewalk.
The Buccaneers are still the team to beat. Atlanta’s best shot at winning the division is sweeping them again, and I expect Week 15 to be a battle for first. —Tre’Shon Diaz
Record prediction: 10-7
Hardest matchup: Week 6 vs. Buffalo Bills
Easiest matchup: Week 13 @ New York Jets
Circled on the calendar: Week 18 vs. New Orleans
This is a straightforward schedule with plenty of primetime games, an international trip, and an early bye. The bad news is that most of the toughest matchups on paper are in the early season, but if the Falcons weather that well, they get that Week 5 bye and a month-plus of potential cupcakes highlighted by the Patriots, Jets, Colts, Saints, and Panthers. The good news is that it seems like a manageable schedule if this team is up to snuff; indeed, I was ready to count up eight or nine wins but honestly feel like 11 is well within reach if Michael Penix is for real and the Falcons realize the defensive improvement they’re targeting. I know, I know, I should know better.
The toughest matchup is likely to be an always dangerous Bills team, even if Atlanta is home for it, which will be especially true after playing the Commanders and Cardinals in back-to-back weeks before that. The easiest is a toss-up between the Jets, Patriots, Colts, and Saints, but I went with the Jets because while I like new head coach Aaron Glenn, I just don’t think they have the pieces to be more than an interesting defense and fitfully useful offense.
And finishing the season against the Saints? I don’t care how pitiful New Orleans looks—actually, I do if it makes life easier for Atlanta—that’s always the finale I’m angling for. —Dave Choate
Record Prediction: 10-7
Hardest matchup: Week 6 vs. Buffalo Bills
Easiest matchup: Week 13 @ New York Jets
Circled on the calendar: Week 15 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Five prime time games and six standalone time slots (counting the Berlin game) tells you all about how the NFL views the Falcons, as at the very least a very entertaining team coming into this season. The Falcons will have a chance to really showcase themselves in the early going with three of their first six games either on Sunday Night Football or Monday Night Football.
It’s that very early part of the season which will really test Atlanta’s mettle, especially that three game stretch of Washington, Buffalo and San Francisco from weeks 4-7. I would caution against any panic if the record isn’t stellar in the first part of the season — honestly, if this team makes it out of Week 8 at 3-4 they will be right on track with the middle part of the schedule easing up significantly (on paper).
This division seems destined to be yet another two horse race between the Falcons and Buccaneers and that Week 15 game on Thursday night could prove to be the most pivotal in the campaign when it comes to which side the scales will be tipped in favor of.
No super cold weather games (depending on what you think of New York in late November) and having the international trip count as a “road game” are two quirks in this year’s schedule will are in the Falcons’ favor. —Adnan Ikic
Record prediction: 10-7
Hardest matchup: Week 6 @ Buffalo Bills
Easiest matchup: Week 13 @ New York Jets
Circled on the calendar: Week 17 vs. Los Angeles Rams
Growing up, my dad always told me, when it was time for projects and other non-fun school things, to do the most difficult parts first. That way, the rest of the project/homework/whatever looks and feels easier in comparison. The Atlanta Falcons have four straight games at the beginning of the season (yes, even the Carolina road game) to test their mettle. Coming out of that stretch and into the bye week at .500 or better would be a great sign for the season to come.
Especially since after the bye, is probably their toughest matchup against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football. Having to play Josh Allen and that Bills roster, who is apparently the only team to be favored in all 17 games post-schedule release, the bye week may be necessary.
After that, there’s a stretch of games from week seven to week 14, where the Falcons can pick up a little steam and get ready for what looks to be a brutal final stretch with games in Tampa and Arizona, before another blockbuster Monday Night Football game against the Los Angeles Rams. With storylines galore and a possible playoff spot/seeding on the line, head coach Raheem Morris’ reunion may be even more important than it feels like it is now.
Then, to enter week 18 with a likely possibility to sweep the Saints at home…I mean it doesn’t get much better than that. —Saivion Mixson