The Atlanta Falcons are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 7-9 season in which they finished behind the division-leading New Orleans Saints and tied with the Carolina Panthers in the NFC South.

The Falcons still have their main core intact with Matt Ryan under center taking snaps and looking for Julio Jones to throw to. However, the emergence of Calvin Ridley last season makes it all the more likely that he will get a lot more targets in his second season.

To get back to the playoffs, the Falcons will have to rely on their defense. The team added defensive tackle Tyeler Davison from the Saints in the offseason to bolster the defense.

Atlanta opens the season against the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 8.

Read below for more about the Falcons heading into the 2019 season.

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2019 SCHEDULE

Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn watches play against the Washington Redskins during the first half an NFL pre-season football game, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Week	Date	Time (ET)	Channel	Opponent
1	Sept. 8	1:00 pm	FOX	@ Minnesota Vikings
2	Sept. 15	8:25 pm	NBC	Philadelphia Eagles
3	Sept. 22	1:00 pm	CBS	@ Indianapolis Colts
4	Sept. 29	1:00 pm	CBS	Tennessee Titans
5	Oct. 6	1:00 pm	FOX	@ Houston Texans
6	Oct. 13	4:05 pm	FOX	@ Arizona Cardinals
7	Oct. 20	1:00 pm	FOX	Los Angeles Rams
8	Oct. 27	1:00 pm	FOX	Seattle Seahawks
9				Bye
10	Nov. 10	1:00 pm	FOX	@ New Orleans Saints
11	Nov. 17	1:00 pm	FOX	@ Carolina Panthers
12	Nov. 24	1:00 pm	FOX	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
13	Nov. 28	8:20 pm	NBC	New Orleans Saints
14	Dec. 8	1:00 pm	FOX	Carolina Panthers
15	Dec. 15	4:25 pm	FOX	@ San Francisco 49ers
16	Dec. 22	1:00 pm	FOX	Jacksonville Jaguars
17	Dec. 29	1:00 pm	FOX	@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

PLAYERS TO WATCH

FILE - In this July 22, 2019, file photo, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) throws a pass during their NFL training camp football practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)

QB: Matt Ryan
RB: Devonta Freeman
WR: Julio Jones
WR: Calvin Ridley
OL: Chris Lindstrom
DT: Tyeler Davison
DE: Takkarist McKinley

FALCONS DRAFT PICKS

Atlanta Falcons rookie offensive tackle Kaleb McGary (76) during Atlanta Falcons training camp on July 27, 2019, at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, GA. (Photo by John Adams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Round 1, Pick 14: Chris Lindstrom, G
Round 1, Pick 31: Kaleb McGary, T
Round 4, Pick 111: Kendall Sheffield, DB
Round 4, Pick 135: John Cominsky, DE
Round 5, Pick 152: Qadree Ollison, RB
Round 5, Pick 172: Jordan Miller, DB
Round 6, Pick 203: Marcus Green, WR

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