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Atlanta Falcons: Previewing NFC North divisional opponents

By Deen Worley

DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 024: Tahir Whitehead #59 of the Detroit Lions during the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Ford Field on September 024, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 024: Tahir Whitehead #59 of the Detroit Lions during the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Ford Field on September 024, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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We are now just over three months until the Atlanta Falcons kick off the 2020 NFL season.

The Atlanta Falcons hope to find their “election year” magic in 2020 after back to back underperforming campaigns. The NFC South will once again match up with the NFC North for the third time since 2010. The last full division matchup up occurred in 2017 and saw the Atlanta Falcons have a 3-1 record in the divisional matchup. Since the 2017 season ended, the Falcons have been 0-2 since against NFC North opponents.

Since the 2010 season, the Atlanta Falcons possess a 9-12 record overall against teams from the NFC North. In 2014 alone, the Atlanta Falcons dropped all four matchups, including losing a 21-0 halftime lead in London against the Detroit Lions. The Lions went on to win the game 22-21.

So what does 2020 have in store for the Atlanta Falcons?

Chicago Bears – Week 3

Record since 2010: (1-2)
Key losses: Prince Amukamara, Taylor Gabriel, Trey Burton, Leonard Floyd
Key additions: Nick Foles, Jimmy Graham, Robert Quinn
Last matchup: Week 1 2017: Falcons – 23 Bears – 17

The Chicago Bears ended 2019 with a record of 8-8 and third in the NFC North. Their 2019 campaign was marred by poor quarterback play from Mitch Trubisky that prompted the team to trade for Nick Foles and his costly salary from Jacksonville. While it is rather up in the air who will be starting in Week 4 when the Bears come to Atlanta to take on the Falcons, the uncertainty may be an advantage for the Falcons this early into the season.

It is very likely that Foles ends up as the starter, however, in an offseason unlike any other, teams with high continuity will see the most benefits. Even though Foles is familiar with the style of offense run in Chicago, due to head coach Matt Nagy and Foles working together in Kansas City before Nagy left for Chicago, he still has to build chemistry amongst the players and as a perceived back up right now, this could be a difficult task and one that could divide the locker room.

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