Atlanta will return in Week 6 to host the Buffalo Bills.
After going 2-2 through the first four games of the season, the Atlanta Falcons have the week off. The NFL schedule-makers gave the team the earliest possible bye. The Falcons are one of four teams — along with the Chicago Bears, the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers — with a bye in Week 5.
For Atlanta, it may actually be a good time for a week off. The team has a brutal schedule coming up, starting in Week 6 when the Buffalo Bills come to town. The Falcons will host the undefeated Bills on ESPN’s Monday Night Football when they return on October 13.
After that, Atlanta will jet off to San Francisco to play the first-place 49ers on NBC’s Sunday Night Football in Week 7. Check out the Falcons’ remaining schedule below, and make sure to read our weekly predictions for all 13 games.
Falcons remaining NFL scheduleWeek 5: BYE WEEKWeek 6: Buffalo Bills (MNF)Week 7: At San Francisco 49ers (SNF)Week 8: Miami DolphinsWeek 9: At New England PatriotsWeek 10: At Indianapolis Colts (Germany)Week 11: Carolina PanthersWeek 12: At New Orleans SaintsWeek 13: At New York JetsWeek 14: Seattle SeahawksWeek 15: At Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TNF)Week 16: At Arizona CardinalsWeek 17: Los Angeles Rams (MNF)Week 18: New Orleans Saints
In other Falcons-related news, Desmond Ridder was released by the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday. The former third-round pick was signed by the team in Week 2 after quarterback J.J. McCarthy suffered an ankle injury against Atlanta. Ridder served as a backup with McCarthy out, but the second-year QB is close to a return.