2024 Falcons schedule release: key dates, matchups and storylines  

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – After months of waiting and speculating, the 2024 schedule has dropped.

You can view the Falcons schedule in its entity here, but to keep things fresh, below are a few themes for you to ponder as you work through the 2024 schedule.

RETURN TO THE BENZ: The Atlanta Falcons’ home opener is always a game to mark on the calendars. But this year? It probably means just a little bit more for a number of reasons. For starters, a new-look Pittsburgh Steelers are coming to town with a bunch of new faces – and a new quarterback (or two) in tow. Speaking of quarterbacks, it’ll be the first chance for anyone to see Kirk Cousins not just in full action but in a Falcons game-day uniform. That in itself is reason enough for excitement among the fan base. However, that’s not all: The Sept. 8 matchup will also see the return of former head coach Arthur Smith to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, this time as the Steelers’ offensive coordinator. Oh, and running back Cordarrelle Patterson… and wide receiver Scotty Miller… and tight end MyCole Pruitt. Basically, there will be a lot of name recognition on the field to start the 2024 season.

IN THE PRIME TIME, PEOPLE: For the first time since 2022, the Falcons will have a prime-time game. Well, technically, they’ll have four. Yes, four. The last time the Falcons were in a prime-time slot, it was a cold, rainy and simply put dreary evening in Charlotte, North Carolina. I won’t rehash that experience here. We’re looking ahead to new horizons. So, here’s the breakdown, which includes two Monday Night Football matchups, one Thursday night bout on Amazon Prime and, for the first time in a long time, a Sunday with the lights on:

• Monday, Sept. 16: Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles, 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN
• Sunday, Sept. 22: Atlanta Falcons vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC
• Thursday, Oct. 3: Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video
• Monday, Dec. 16: Atlanta Falcons at Las Vegas Raiders, 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

The Falcons haven’t had a Monday Night Football game since losing to the Green Bay Packers in 2020.

Atlanta is the only winless team in prime-time games since 2021. Quarterback Kirk Cousins is 12-19 in career prime-time games.