Atlanta Falcons will start out 1-0 for first time since 2017

For the first time since 2017, the Atlanta Falcons should start the season off 1-0 as it was announced Wednesday that Atlanta will host the Eagles to kick off the 2021 season. 2017 was the last time the franchise made the playoffs and they started the season off by beating the Bears 23-17 at Soldier Field.

The last time the Atlanta Falcons started off the season 1-0 at home was back in 2015 when Atlanta beat the Eagles 26-24 in the Georgia Dome.

While Atlanta will attempt to find a new identity under first-year head coach Arthur Smith, the Eagles may be in an even worse position than the Falcons currently.

This offseason, the Eagles traded their franchise quarterback Carson Wentz and signed just five free agents – Anthony Harris, Joe Flacco, Eric Wilson, Andrew Adams, and Hassan Ridgeway. They also lost nine players to free agency including former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Duke Riley, who was a captain during his stint with the Eagles.

Atlanta Falcons will have the better roster

While the Atlanta Falcons have issues, especially on defense, they will unquestionably have the better roster, especially on offense.

Soon to be 36-year-old Matt Ryan is light years better than any quarterback on the Eagles roster, which includes Jalen Hurts, Joe Flacco, and rookie Jamie Newman. Yes, they have the 2020 Heisman Trophy winner in DeVonta Smith, but A.J. Terrell will be ready for the challenge like he was when the two met in the 2018 national championship game between Alabama and Clemson.

The Eagles won’t have an answer for the weapons that will join Matt Ryan on the field when these two teams kickoff to start the season – even if Julio Jones is traded in less than 30 days from now.

There is obviously a lot that will happen between now and week one of the NFL season and lots of time to dissect the individual pieces that will play in this game. The rest of the Atlanta Falcons schedule will be released at 8 pm Wednesday night.

While the Falcons won’t have the toughest schedule in 2021, depending on how it sets up, it could get easier or more difficult as they will play 17 games with just one bye-week, which will undoubtedly come the week after they play in London.

Since we know the teams and whether the game is home or away, too many consecutive road games or games in cold weather are the potential situations to watch this evening as we find out what new head coach Arthur Smith will contend with as he looks to reload and not rebuild the Falcons.