Atlanta Falcons 2017 Schedule: Who Will They Play This NFL Season?

ATLANTA, GA — The 2017 NFL season brings a first for the Atlanta Falcons with the opening of Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the 2017 regular season on Sept. 17 against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football, a week after the team kicks off the season in Chicago. Thursday's release of the NFL schedule is the first step toward putting the nightmarish end to last season's historic Super Bowl's collapse when the Falcons blew a a 25-point lead to lose in overtime, 38-34, to the New England Patriots.

The season opener will be a rematch of January’s NFC Championship Game, which the Falcons won 44-21 to claim their second conference title in franchise history. Overall, the Falcons are 15-17 against the Packers. Like the previous two times they met, a pair of football’s best offenses are set to clash when reigning MVP Matt Ryan and Pro Bowler Aaron Rodgers lead their respective teams. The Falcons had the highest-scoring offense in 2016, while the Packers ranked fourth in that category.

SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.

Atlanta is slated to play five prime-time games this year — two at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and three on the road. The team's first nationally televised match-up is the home opener against Green Bay. The Falcons will later host the Saints on Thursday Night Football, travel to Tampa and Seattle for Monday Night games and, in a rematch of Super Bowl LI, take on New England in Foxboro, Mass.

The following is the full 2o17 schedule for the Atlanta Falcons:

• September 10 at Chicago Bears
• September 17 vs. Green Bay Packers
• September 24 at Detroit Lions
• October 1 vs. Buffalo Bills
• October 8 Bye
• October 15 vs. Miami Dolphins
• October 22 at New England Patriots
• October 29 at New York Jets
• November 5 at Carolina Panthers
• November 12 vs. Dallas Cowboys
• November 20 at Seattle Seahawks
• November 26 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• December 3 vs. Minnesota Vikings
• December 7 vs. New Orleans Saints
• December 18 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• December 24 at New Orleans Saints
• December 31 vs. Carolina Panthers

BUY TICKETS HERE: Click here to purchase tickets

DOWNLOADABLE PDF: Download and print the 2017 regular season schedule

ONLINE SCHEDULE: View the online version of the 2017 regular season schedule

YOUR TURN: Will the Atlanta Falcons bring the Super Bowl trophy home at the end of their 2017 season? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section.

photo via Patch archive