Dirty Bird Fever has began in earnest right now. That’s because the new Atlanta Falcons football schedule has been released. The squad will begin their second campaign in the still-new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where they look to be playing at home during the Super Bowl.

Atlanta Falcons 2018 Football Schedule

Falcons owner Arthur Blank has invested heavily in the team’s offense by choosing to give quarterback Matt Ryan largely what he wants in salary negotiations. The team has also shored up defensive and offensive lines, which both struggled at times last season.

Julio Jones, Muhammad Sanu and Devante Freeman will all be back and looking to reignite the firepower that was No. 1 in the league two season s ago. This year, the Falcons open the season against the Super Bowl champs Philadelphia Eagles on the road. On Thanksgiving, the Falcons will play division rival the New Orleans Saints in what will likely be crucial game for the crown.

3 big Falcons game to watch in 2018

This season, the Birds play their first Monday night game at home against the New York Football Giants on Oct. 22. Because it’s in the NFC, this will be an extraordinarily big game. Furthermore, this will raise the profile of the Falcons tremendously if they can get the W.

Don’t get it twisted, there is no game bigger than the Thanksgiving showdown against the Saints in the Big Easy. Not only are the teams holders of the biggest rivalry in the NFL, but the game may well determine the division champion.

The previous week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys will be a similarly high-profile matchup that will have enormous implications for the NFC. Last year the Falcons disposed of the Cowboys, who were without their star running back Ezekial Elliott. This year promises to be a different game.

Here is the Atlanta Falcons 2018 schedule.

PRESEASON

• Friday, Aug. 10: at Jets, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Friday, Aug. 17: Chiefs, 7 p.m. ET
• Saturday, Aug. 25: at Jaguars, 7 p.m. ET
• Thursday, Aug. 30: Dolphins, 7 p.m. ET