Atlanta Falcons 2024 schedule: Arthur Smith's return kicks off challenging September (2024)

Who were the biggest winners and losers of the NFL schedule release? Jeff Howe has you covered.

Julie Cousins can start making travel plans now. The wife of new Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins spent the first part of the month just like every other NFL fan — anxiously awaiting the league’s release of its full schedule.

“It doesn’t change a whole lot for me whether I am playing teams in September or mid-October or December,” Kirk Cousins said.

Julie Cousins, though, is planning to take the couple’s two young sons to every road game for the first time this season, her husband said. Now she and every Falcons fan can start booking hotel stays after the NFL’s schedule release Wednesday night.

“I think it’s incredible that the release of the schedule generates the type of excitement that it does,” Kirk Cousins said. “It’s unbelievable. What a privilege to play in a sport where my high school friends are refreshing their computer to try to see what the schedule is. Kudos to the NFL on that.”

And for its sense of humor, which is on display in Week 1, which will feature the return of Arthur Smith to Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Just eight months after being fired as the Falcons’ head coach, Smith will be calling plays as the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the season opener for both teams.

After playing zero prime-time games last season, they surprisingly were scheduled for four this season, including three of their first five games.

Week 1 keys to victory

Smith is going to come back to Atlanta determined to prove not just that the Falcons should have retained him but also that his run-centric offensive plan is the best approach. The Los Angeles Rams were 14th in the league in rushing defense EPA (expecting points added) under Raheem Morris last year, according to TruMedia, and his new team is going to be tested there early. Only two teams ran the ball more than the Falcons under Smith last season (522 times).

ATL Streets Vol. ’24@NFL Schedule Release @NFLNetwork | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/Co46Sbhec8

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) May 16, 2024

Must-watch game: at Vikings, Week 14, Dec. 8

Cousins will be making return trips to both of his previous teams this season — at the Vikings and then at Washington in Week 17. The Vikings game is the most interesting because not only is Minnesota his most recent stop, but the game will give an early verdict on the divergent strategies of the Falcons and Vikings. While Atlanta shelled out big bucks to lure Cousins, Minnesota let him walk and decided to go the rookie quarterback route. Whether that rookie quarterback — Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy — or stopgap signee Sam Darnold will be starting opposite Cousins is unknown at this point.

Find the best deals on tickets to see your favorite teams.

Toughest stretch: Weeks 1-3

The Falcons’ schedule is one of the NFL’s easiest overall, but the first three weeks certainly aren’t. After opening against a Steelers team with the world’s most motivated offensive coordinator, the Falcons play at the Eagles on “Monday Night Football” and then return home to play Patrick Mahomes on a Sunday night. An 0-3 start would take some of the wind out of Atlanta’s sails.

Game that has gotten tougher: at Commanders, Week 17

The game will be played either on Saturday or Sunday that weekend. Whichever day it is, Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels will have had plenty of experience by then. In fact, all three rookie quarterbacks the Falcons play – Denver, Minnesota and Washington – will have had plenty of experience by the time they show up on the schedule.

One game the Falcons can’t afford to lose: vs. Saints, Week 4

When Smith was fired the day after the season, it took all the attention away from what was a truly embarrassing final game for Atlanta last season. The Saints, who had nothing to play for, beat the Falcons 48-17. The 31-point margin tied for New Orleans’ largest in series history, and the game was punctuated by the Saints offense ignoring a play call from the sideline and running in a late touchdown rather than taking a knee. Atlanta can’t take itself seriously as a division contender if it doesn’t avenge that loss at the first opportunity.

Arthur Smith appears to be dismayed pic.twitter.com/FVLRlT2eOv

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) January 7, 2024

Best offense the Falcons will face: Chiefs, Week 3

The Falcons have faced Patrick Mahomes just once since his career began in 2017. Interim Atlanta head coach Raheem Morris and the Falcons held the Chiefs to 17 points that day but still lost 17-14 in 2020. Mahomes has gotten a lot better since then. The Chiefs, who have won the last two Super Bowls and haven’t visited Atlanta since 2016, lead the NFL in offensive EPA per game and are second in points per game (27.36) in the last five seasons.

Best defense the Falcons will face: Cowboys, Week 9

Dallas was fifth in the league last year in points allowed (18.5) and hired Mike Zimmer as its new defensive coordinator after Dan Quinn left to take the Washington job. The Cowboys blitzed more than anybody in the NFL last season (44.7 percent of the time), according to TruMedia, and Zimmer is going to keep the pressure coming. Last season, Cousins was 17th in the league in EPA against five or more rushers (.04), according to TruMedia. That was one spot lower than Desmond Ridder.

Predicted record: 10-7

For the second year in a row, the Falcons have one of the easiest schedules in the league based on their opponents’ expected 2024 performance, and after investing at least $100 million in a quarterback contract, they probably will be disappointed if all they do is flip their record from last season. Still, a 10-7 record should be enough to win the NFC South, which would guarantee Atlanta its first playoff appearance since the 2017 season.

Predicted NFC South finish: First

1. Atlanta, 2. Tampa Bay, 3. New Orleans, 4. Carolina

The Falcons made the biggest offseason splash in the division by adding Cousins, which moved the betting markets into their corner. The Bucs retained Baker Mayfield and most of the core group that has won the division the last three seasons. The Saints added Chase Young, but that hardly counts as a difference-making move. Panthers first-year head coach Dave Canales is charged with jump-starting quarterback Bryce Young’s career and keeping owner David Tepper out of the headlines.

(Photo of Drake London and Bijan Robinson: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)

Josh Kendall , a Georgia native, has been following the Falcons since Jeff Van Note was the richly bearded face of the franchise. For 20 years before joining The Athletic NFL staff, he covered football in the SEC. He also covers golf for The Athletic. Follow Josh on Twitter @JoshTheAthletic