The Atlanta Falcons won’t be able to navigate through their 2022 NFL schedule without at least a little bit of drama at the all-important quarterback position.
With Matt Ryan off to the Indianapolis Colts and 28-year-old Marcus Mariota aboard as the uninspiring presumptive starter, they’ll be hearing plenty of calls from the fan base to elevate third-round rookie Desmond Ridder into the lead role. The backup quarterback, after all, is often the most popular player on a bad team, and the Falcons aren’t exactly expected to win many games as they enter a full-fledged rebuild.
Calvin Ridley won’t be playing in 2022 as he serves a gambling-related suspension, but Atlanta can at least get excited about the prospect of draft class-headliner Drake London catching balls from whoever is taking snaps. Plus, Kyle Pitts should only get better after debuting at tight end with 1,026 yards and a Pro Bowl appearance in 2021.
Atlanta mustered up seven victories during Ryan’s final season at the helm, and even that might be a lofty goal for a team relying on so many unproven and inexperienced contributors. As general manager Terry Fontenot put it, per NFL.com‘s Cameron Wolfe, “There may be short-term pain. But I see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
At least the youngsters should provide plenty of excitement and have opportunities to grow — or, in some cases, continue growing — on the job. The tunnel doesn’t have to be totally dark along the way.
2022 Atlanta Falcons Schedule
| Week | Game | Date | Time | Channel |
| 1 | vs. New Orleans Saints | Sunday, Sept. 11 | 1:00 p.m. ET | FOX |
| 2 | @ Los Angeles Rams | Sunday, Sept. 18 | 4:05 p.m. ET | FOX |
| 3 | @ Seattle Seahawks | Sunday, Sept. 25 | 4:25 p.m. ET | FOX |
| 4 | vs. Cleveland Browns | Sunday, Oct. 2 | 1:00 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 5 | @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Sunday, Oct. 9 | 1:00 p.m. ET | FOX |
| 6 | vs. San Francisco 49ers | Sunday, Oct. 16 | 1:00 p.m. ET | FOX |
| 7 | @ Cincinnati Bengals | Sunday, Oct. 23 | 1:00 p.m. ET | FOX |
| 8 | vs. Carolina Panthers | Sunday, Oct. 30 | 1:00 p.m. ET | FOX |
| 9 | vs. Los Angeles Chargers | Sunday, Nov. 6 | 1:00 p.m. ET | FOX |
| 10 | @ Carolina Panthers | Thursday, Nov. 10 | 8:15 p.m. ET | Prime Video |
| 11 | vs. Chicago Bears | Sunday, Nov. 20 | 1:00 p.m. ET | FOX |
| 12 | @ Washington Commanders | Sunday, Nov. 27 | 1:00 p.m. ET | FOX |
| 13 | vs. Pittsburgh Steelers | Sunday, Dec. 4 | 1:00 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 14 | Bye Week | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 15 | @ New Orleans Saints | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 16 | @ Baltimore Ravens | Saturday, Dec. 24 | 1:00 p.m. ET | FOX |
| 17 | vs. Arizona Cardinals | Sunday, Jan. 1 | 1:00 p.m. ET | FOX |
| 18 | vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | TBD | TBD | TBD |
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