The NFL released the 2022 schedule last week, and the Falcons are set to have a difficult season. Atlanta will match up against both participants from last year’s Super Bowl while drawing the NFC West, one of the toughest divisions in football. Below is the complete 2022 Falcons schedule and the biggest storylines fans have to look forward to:
- Week 1, Sept. 11:Â vs. New Orleans
- Week 2, Sept. 18: at Los Angeles Rams
- Week 3, Sept. 25:Â at Seattle
- Week 4, Oct. 2:Â vs. Cleveland
- Week 5, Oct. 9:Â at Tampa Bay
- Week 6, Oct. 16:Â vs. San Francisco
- Week 7, Oct. 23:Â at Cincinnati
- Week 8, Oct. 30:Â vs. Carolina
- Week 9, Nov. 6: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
- Week 10, Nov. 10Â at Carolina (TNF)
- Week 11, Nov. 20:Â vs. Chicago
- Week 12, Nov. 27:Â vs. Washington
- Week 13, Dec. 4: vs. Pittsburgh
- Week 14, Dec. 11:Â Bye
- Week 15, Dec. 17/18:Â at New Orleans
- Week 16, Dec. 24:Â at Baltimore
- Week 17, Jan. 1:Â vs. Arizona
- Week 18, Jan. 7/8:Â vs. Tampa Bay
First Saints matchup in a post-Sean Payton world
Atlanta will open the season hosting New Orleans for the first time since 2006, facing a Sean Payton-less Saints team. Obviously, Payton was infamously suspended for the 2012 season, but this will be the start of a new era in the rivalry. Arthur Smith and Dennis Allen will now head one of the most hate-filled feuds in football.
Matchups versus 2022 Super Bowl participants
Joe Burrow and Matthew Stafford are star-studded quarterbacks who just reached the pinnacle of the sport a year ago. The Falcons will face both participants of last season’s Super Bowl, and in each matchup, the Falcons will be away from Atlanta.
The Deshaun Watson Game
Even though the league hasn’t handed down any sort of punishment to Deshaun Watson, the build-up for the game will be big. It isn’t a revenge game by any means, but the storylines will undoubtedly be there. The Falcons famously failed in their pursuit of Watson, and for the Week 4 matchup, the headlines are writing themselves.
Tom Brady‘s last regular-season game?
The Goat retired then quickly rescinded the news, announcing he will return for the 2022 season. After news broke that Brady would be joining Fox following his playing days, I eagerly searched for the Bucs Week 18 matchup, and guess who it is? The Falcons. Atlanta hosts Tampa in the regular-season finale, which has the potential to be Tom Brady’s last regular-season game of his career. Ticket prices will surely reflect this fact.
Week 13 battle of the rookie QBs?
The Steelers made Kenny Pickett the highest drafted signal caller in last month’s draft, and even though the Falcons quickly signed Marcus Mariota as the team’s stopgap, Atlanta also selected Desmond Ridder. If the Cincinnati product can somehow win the starting job from Mariota, Week 13 will make for a great matchup among rookie quarterbacks. Quarterback prospects in the same draft class will always be compared, and this could be the first matchup of a decade-long battle.
Christmas Eve in Baltimore
These next two are self-explanatory. Merry Christmas! Everyone loves football on Saint Nick’s day. Falcons fans will be able to celebrate whatever their annual Christmas tradition is with their families, then be able to watch Lamar Jackson and the Ravens host our Falcons. It could be a white Christmas up in Baltimore too!
New Year’s Day versus Kyler Murray and Cardinals
The Falcons are going to kick off 2023 against the Kyler Murray-led Cardinals. It will be a difficult matchup, but for Falcons fans, seeing a high-profile quarterback in Atlanta is an exciting opportunity.
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What are you most looking forward to?
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