Falcons Schedule: What's 'Toughest Stretch' This Season?

Why should Atlanta Falcons fans be optimistic when the team faces its toughest stretch of football in 2023?

The Atlanta Falcons hold postseason aspirations entering 2023, but for those dreams to become a reality, they must first prove themselves across a challenging regular season slate.

“If there’s a tough stretch, it’s after the bye week,” SI writes. “Atlanta will emerge to face the Saints in Week 12 at home before traveling to take on Aaron Rodgers and the Jets. Then it’s a home date with Tampa Bay before a trip to Carolina. Again, an easy slate awaits Atlanta.”

While it’s hard to ignore the challenge, Rodgers' Jets could potentially pose for an up-and-coming Falcons squad, all three of Atlanta's divisional matchups as winnable so long as the Falcons are healthy and focused on making the postseason.

Following a disappointing stretch last season where Atlanta lost four straight games from weeks 12 through 16, the team lost its divisional lead but bounced back and won their final two matches to close out the regular season.

Perhaps losing the division last year, but finishing strong to close out the regular season, will serve as the moment when things seemingly changed in a positive direction for the Falcons' future.

Memories of the team’s collapse in Week 12 of last season should be enough to help this roster lockdown and focus on securing a playoff birth in 2023, especially since half of the teams mentioned by SI will be facing Atlanta for a second time during the alleged difficult stretch.

As long as Desmond Ridder continues the improvement he displayed during his final two starts, the Falcons and their young talent should be able to compete with any opposition this upcoming season.

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