Atlanta Falcons 2020 NFL schedule: 5 must-win games
By John Buhler
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Home. 3. player. Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Chicago Bears. 57
It’s pretty clear given the daunting road slate that the Falcons need to take care of business at home. As fate would have it, the two easiest games of their NFC North slate will be at home. While the Dirty Birds should be the Detroit Lions at home no problem, it is crucial they hand the Monsters of the Midway an L when they venture into Uncle Arthur’s Spaceship.
The Bears have a great defense and we all know that, but what makes this game a must-win for Atlanta is the quarterbacking advantage the Dirty Birds will have. Nick Foles may have beaten Matt Ryan in a playoff game a few years ago, but that was a home game for him with the Philadelphia Eagles. Ryan is better than him, and he cannot lose at home to Mitchell Trubisky.
As with the Seattle Seahawks, if this one were at Soldier Field, then maybe the Falcons don’t win on the road. If it’s in bad weather, it will only serve the team with the worse quarterback, which would be Chicago. Add in how both teams will be vying for similar playoff spot positioning next year and this is a gotta-have-it game for the Dirty Birds. A loss here means Jeff Fisher 7-9 B.S.
With a win, maybe it propels Atlanta to have enough confidence to steal one of its two NFC North road dates vs. the Green Bay Packers or the Minnesota Vikings. Winning at either road venue will be tough, but Chicago could be the best team in that division next year for all we know. A home win over the Bears should be a quality pelt on the Falcons’ wall for their postseason quest.