The Atlanta Falcons are turning to their 2025 rookie class right away, with Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman Jr. named starters and James Pearce Jr. and Jalon Walker set for key roles in Week 1 against the Buccaneers.

The Falcons and Panthers split the season series in 2024, as they have in each of the last five seasons. Panthers quarterback Bryce Young outdueled Penix in a 44-38 OT thriller to close the 2024 campaign. This one will be another difficult divisional game against an upstart opponent, but the Falcons get right with a win in Week 3.

The Cowboys arrival around two hours before kickoff includes the one and only Micah Parsons, embroiled in a contract dispute with Jerry Jones which has hovered over the NFL landscape for the last month, just like Jones loves.

The Falcons last won the division in 2016 and finished second last season after kicking away a three-game lead. With Michael Penix Jr. taking over at quarterback and a major overhaul on the defense, the Falcons are considered the top contender to dethrone the Buccaneers, who have won four consecutive NFC South titles.

Bijan Robinson revealed that he and the rest of the Falcons have embraced a new mindset that could help them avoid the same pitfalls in 2025.

Bishop Kearney graduate Nathan Carter made the Atlanta Falcons' 53-man roster, beating the odds as one of few undrafted rookies to survive NFL cutdown day.

The Tennessee Titans defeated the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2 of preseason action, and tight end Gunnar Helm earned Player of the Game honors.