Atlanta Falcons: Full 2021 schedule, analysis & win totals

The Atlanta Falcons will be looking to rebound during the 2021 season following a disappointing bout in 2020 that left the franchise with more questions than answers.

The NFL Network unveiled every single schedule for this upcoming fall Wednesday evening as the league moves to a 17-game and 18-week regular season for the first time in its history.

Here’s a look at the Atlanta Falcons’ full schedule:

• Sunday, Sept. 12: vs. Philadelphia Eagles (1 p.m. FOX)
• Sunday, Sept. 19: @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4:05 p.m. FOX)
• Sunday, Sept 26: @ New York Giants (1 p.m. FOX)
• Sunday, Oct. 3: vs. Washington Football Team (1 p.m. FOX)
• Sunday, Oct. 10: vs. New York Jets (London)- (9:30 a.m. NFLN/ FOX 5)
• BYE WEEK
• Sunday, Oct. 24: @ Miami Dolphins (1 p.m. FOX)
• Sunday, Oct. 31: vs. Carolina Panthers (1 p.m. FOX)
• Sunday, Nov 7: @ New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. FOX)
• Sunday, Nov. 14: @ Dallas Cowboys (1 p.m. FOX)
• Thursday, Nov. 18: vs. New England Patriots (8:20 p.m. FOX/NFLN/Amazon)
• Sunday, Nov. 28: @ Jacksonville Jaguars (1 p.m. CBS)
• Sunday, Dec. 5: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 p.m. FOX)
• Sunday, Dec. 12: @ Carolina Panthers (1 p.m. FOX)
• Sunday, Dec. 19: @ San Francisco 49ers (1 p.m. CBS)
• Sunday, Dec. 26: vs. Detroit Lions (1 p.m. FOX)
• Sunday, Jan. 2: @ Buffalo Bills (1 p.m. FOX)
• Sunday, Jan. 9: vs. New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. FOX)

The Atlanta Falcons are going to have to improve if they want to beat their win total

The most common win total set for the Falcons is seven, but the truth of the matter is that when you look at this schedule, we see many games that are absolutely winnable for this team.

The Falcons had one of the league’s most difficult schedules last season, but this year is much more manageable.

Just look at the first two months of the season if you want an example. The Falcons should be able to compete with the Eagles, Giants, Jets, Washington and Dolphins no doubt. If they somehow went 3-2 with those teams, they would be .500 (an assumed loss to the Bucs) through the first six games of the season.

After that, you still get the Panthers twice- in which the Falcons might very well be favored- and have manageable games against the Cowboys, Jaguars and Bills.

Is seven wins a guarantee? It’s honestly too early to tell. But there’s definitely room for upward mobility following an abysmal 4-12 season and the relative ‘ease’ of this schedule- at least in terms of the amount of teams who will finish .500 or below- is something that should have Falcons fans feeling a little optimistic as we head into the offseason.