Week 1 Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Atlanta Falcons
This game is obvious in its importance to both sides to start the season. If you're Atlanta you know that you have a tough road ahead with the Eagles and Chiefs both around the corner. For the Steelers, you look at the finish to the year and understand how important week one could prove to be later in the year.
The Steelers close out the year with arguably the most brutal schedule in the league. Mike Tomlin's winning season streak is in great jeopardy if he doesn't have an incredible start. That is going to be tough to do with Arthur Smith as your OC and an aged Russell Wilson as your starting quarterback.
Which brings us to the reason that this game is going to catch so many headlines. You have the obvious story of Arthur Smith vs. Atlanta and two quarterbacks debuting for their new teams. This game is important to help set the stage for Atlanta in far tougher matchups ahead and to earn them a bit of credibility going into those games.
If Kirk Cousins struggles in this game against a good Pittsburgh defense get yourself ready for the quarterback debate to heat up even more with prime-time games ahead.
Week 3 Kansas City Chiefs vs. Atlanta Falcons
Wherever the Kansas City Chiefs go Taylor Swift and headlines are likely to follow. This works in favor of the league and in this case, the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta has a chance to host a prime-time game that will have the best quarterback in football against a young playoff hopeful. Add in the possible presence of a superstar that far transcends the popularity of the league and this game will garner plenty of headlines.
This is a great time to once again point out that much of the hate fans have directed at the Chiefs and Taylor Swift continues to be misguided. It is the league that is making the decisions of who belongs in prime-time games and who they show in the stands.
The league is a business and they understand that both Swift and the Chiefs are great for the bottom line. Atlanta will play into this as the Chiefs defend their second straight Super Bowl win and look to continue a dynasty they hope will rival Brady's greatness.
Can Kirk Cousins and a young Atlanta Falcons offense compete on the same field with one of the best teams of the last decade? We will be given the answer to that question early in the season.
Week 9 Dallas Cowboys vs. Atlanta Falcons
Another brand that gets a healthy amount of hate among fans that is great for the league. With a constantly talking owner and a nauseating amount of airtime, the Cowboys are an easy team to dislike if you are almost any other fanbase. However, much like the Chiefs the Cowboys are great for the league and are going to bring a healthy amount of media attention to Atlanta in week nine.
How Atlanta's first eight weeks go will determine how much attention this game is going to be given. With the Cowboys involved it is going to be a headline no matter Atlanta's fate. However, if the Falcons can put together a .500 record or better in a tough early season stretch this game has the ability to set the tone for the second half and announce the Falcons as NFC contenders.
Everything that happens in the regular season with Dallas swings the perception of the NFC and the team wildly. Atlanta can benefit from that if a shaky secondary can find a way to slow down Dak Prescott in week nine.
Week 14 Atlanta Falcons vs. Minnesota Vikings
This game is going to start a stretch that likely will determine the Atlanta season. The Falcons have a tough early schedule but if they survive you finish the year against the Vikings, Raiders, Commanders, Giants, and Panthers. It doesn't get any easier in this league than five teams who all have quarterback issues and are expected to be playing for top draft picks.
Why this game makes the list is simply due to Atlanta's quarterback returning to the Vikings for the first time. Kirk Cousins is going to be given a lot of attention returning to the city that he left in free agency.
The Vikings are likely going to be out of the race at this point or looking at attempting to make a run at the last wildcard spot. Still, the story is going to be about Kirk Cousins and how he deals with the emotions of returning to a franchise that had been home.
How Cousins season has gone and how he plays in this game will be put under a microscope as well heading into this game. With Michael Penix Jr. sitting behind him and J.J. McCarthy or Sam Darnold the Vikings' next answer this week will have no shortage of storylines.
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