Falcons schedule: 3 games Atlanta can’t afford to lose to make the playoffs
By John Buhler
Week 2: vs. Green Bay Packers (Sunday, Sept. 17)
Don’t kid yourselves. This is one of the most important early-season litmus test games for both parties. Whoever wins at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sept. 17 between the Falcons and the Green Bay Packers could emerge as a playoff team. It features two middle-of-the-pack NFC teams with unproven quarterbacks under center. This is a massive stage for Desmond Ridder and Jordan Love.
We are not only looking at a potential tiebreaker if these two teams were to be in line for a Wild Card berth, but as with the Chicago game, in-conference record matters! The Falcons may have the better roster entering Week 2. I don’t know if they have the better quarterback, but we’ll find out. Even more importantly, this game is at home, albeit vs. a fan base that should travel very well.
Ultimately, the Falcons are going to want to build some momentum before taking on presumably some of the better teams on their schedule, whether that be the Detroit Lions in Week 3, the Jacksonville Jaguars in London in Week 4 or home vs. the Minnesota Vikings in Week 9. If you go 3-3 in-division, that only leaves three or four games you can drop to have a double-digit win season.
It is hard to see the Falcons getting to roughly 10 wins if they do not take care of the Packers early.