Atlanta Falcons schedule benefits greatly from lack of prime-time games

The NFL schedule was released Thursday night and the Atlanta Falcons schedule only includes two primetime night games this upcoming season against the Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers.

While fans might be upset about the lack of prime-time games, however, this is a blessing in disguise for the Falcons.

During the 2016 NFL season when the Atlanta Falcons went to the Super Bowl, they only played in two-night games; Monday Night Football against the Saints in New Orleans and Thursday Night Football against the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay.

For the 2020 NFL season, the Atlanta Falcons schedule has them playing the Packers on Monday Night Football in Green Bay. The Falcons are also playing the Carolina Panthers on the road for Thursday Night Football.

The Atlanta Falcons have not played well during night games. With Dan Quinn as head coach, the Falcons are 7-6 in night games but have been 1-4 the last two NFL seasons. The only time they went undefeated in night games during a season was in 2016.

For the Atlanta Falcons, the 2016 and 2020 NFL season schedule has a lot of similarities. In both schedules, the Falcons are scheduled to play two road playoff games and had difficult schedules entering the season.

Going into the 2016 schedule the Falcons faced a daunting task by having the 15-1 Carolina Panthers in their division and playing the Denver Broncos coming off a Super Bowl victory. To start the year in 2016 Vegas gave the Falcons the hardest schedule going into the season. Fast forward to today and Vegas has given the Falcons the fifth hardest schedule going into the 2020 NFL Season.

While every media outlet is writing off the Falcons going into the 2020 NFL season, this schedule is perfect for the Atlanta Falcons. They have some tough games ahead but expect a major improvement for the Falcons. Last year they started 1-7 but this time around they will start 7-1.