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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Atlanta. Written by Kristal Dixon and Thomas Wheatley.

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This season for the Atlanta Falcons is going to be ... fun. 

Driving the news: The Falcons won their first of three preseason games Friday night, beating the Miami Dolphins 19-3.

Of note: It's just the preseason, so we should be skeptical of results, especially because a number of Dolphins starters also sat out.

Improved defense: No projected starters played Friday night, but they still managed to force four turnovers (three interceptions and one fumble). One interception was returned for a touchdown. 

If the backups were flying around the field as such, imagine what the starters could accomplish. Fans aren't asking for the '85 Bears, just an average product. 

Offensive balance: The Falcons are going to be a run-first team as long as Arthur Smith is at the helm. But they displayed a little more balance. Passing 23 times and rushing 26. 

If this trend continues into week one, we could see Smith ask second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder to take more shots downfield, opening more running lanes for a stacked running back rotation. 

Cause for concern: Kicker Younghoe Koo struggled, making just one of his three extra point attempts. (He attempted zero field goals.)

Koo has established himself as one of the most clutch players in the NFL, so hopefully we can just chalk this up to preseason yips. 

What's next: The Falcons play the Bengals at 7:30pm Friday at home. 

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to note that Friday's Falcons vs. Bengals game is at 7:30pm (not 7pm).

What we learned in the Falcons preseason debut

This season for the Atlanta Falcons is going to be ... fun.

Falcons head coach Arthur Smith coaching against the Miami Dolphins. Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images

Football

This season for the Atlanta Falcons is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="going to be ... fun" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/AtlantaFalcons/status/1690195836204941312?s=20" data-vars-content-id="32a52843-d218-403d-9d70-151d33b7ac85" data-vars-headline="What we learned in the Falcons preseason debut" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/AtlantaFalcons/status/1690195836204941312?s=20" target="_blank">going to be ... fun</a>. Driving the news: The Falcons won their first of three preseason games Friday night, beating the Miami Dolphins 19-3.

Sports

The Atlanta Hawks' journey to their second ever NBA championship starts on Oct. 25 against the Charlotte Hornets.

Driving the news: The NBA released the 2023-24 schedule Thursday afternoon.

Here are five games we're looking forward to watching:

vs. New York Knicks (Oct. 27): The Hawks' home opener comes against their newly minted Eastern Conference rival.

Any time Atlanta plays New York, expect mentions of Trae Young's epic playoff run against them in 2021 when he took a bow at half court after closing them out in five.

at Boston Celtics (Nov. 26): Speaking of the playoffs, rematch anyone? The Celtics sent Atlanta home in six games during the first round last year.

But in game five, Young hit a deep game winner in The Garden.

vs. Denver Nuggets (Dec. 11): The defending NBA champions will be in the A for the only time in the regular season. Fans will get a chance to see Finals MPV Nikola Jokic in the flesh.

vs. Lakers (Jan. 30): He's entering the 21st year of his career, but he's still must-watch TV: LeBron James, the NBA's all time leading scorer, makes his lone appearance during the regular season in Atlanta.

at Mavericks (April 5): Trae vs. Luka Doncic. The two will forever be linked after the 2018 draft night trade that brought Young to Atlanta.

Ross' thought bubble: The Hawks will get their first full year under head coach Quin Snyder. They should win about 50 games this season and make the playoffs without needing the play-in tournament.

Five must-see games for the Atlanta Hawks' 2023 season

Atlanta's journey to their second ever NBA championship starts on Oct. 25 against the Hornets.

A man wearing a basketball uniform and pointing

Trae Young during game six against the Boston Celtics. Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images

National Basketball Association (NBA)

The Atlanta Hawks&#x27; journey to their second ever NBA championship starts on Oct. 25 against the Charlotte Hornets.Driving the news: The NBA released the 2023-24 schedule Thursday afternoon.Here are five games we&#x27;re looking forward to watching:

It might be hard to picture the fall right now with this Georgia heat. But the Braves have one heck of a chance to still be playing for their second championship banner in three years.

Driving the news: Atlanta returns to play on Friday for the second half of the MLB season. They capped the first half with 60 wins, the best record in the majors and eight All-Stars on the roster.

The Braves currently hold an 8.5-game lead over the second-place Marlins.

What we're watching: Just how hot can this team stay? On May 31, Atlanta had a 33-23 record. They went 27-4 over their next 31 games leading up to the all-star break.

Between the lines: Regular season success has rarely translated to championship banners for the Braves.

Despite winning the NL East each year from 2018-2022, they only have one World Series trophy to show for it.

They also won their division 14 out of 15 years from 1991-2005, making it to the World Series five times — but only winning once.

Yes, but: Barring a major collapse like many fans witnessed in the 2011 season, playoff baseball will return to Truist Park once again.

What's next: The Braves play a three-game home series against the Chicago White Sox before the Arizona Diamondbacks come to town for a three-game set.

The first pitch against Chicago is Friday at 7:20pm.

The Atlanta Braves look World Series ready

However, the Braves' regular season success has rarely translated to championship banners.

Three Atlanta Braves baseball players celebrate with their arms around each other and in the air as they run toward the dugout

Raisel Iglesias, Ozzie Albies, and Orlando Arcia celebrate after a walk off three-run home run against the New York Mets in June. Photo: Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images

Baseball

It might be hard to picture the fall right now <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="with this Georgia heat" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2023/06/12/atlanta-summer-temperature" data-vars-content-id="952e6cc7-6f7a-4897-aaec-210e31b6cde8" data-vars-headline="The Atlanta Braves look World Series ready" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2023/06/12/atlanta-summer-temperature" target="_self">with this Georgia heat</a>. But the Braves have one heck of a chance to still be playing for their second championship banner in three years.Driving the news: Atlanta returns to play on Friday for the second half of the MLB season. They capped the first half with 60 wins, the best record in the majors and eight All-Stars on the roster.

The Atlanta Dream are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

Driving the news: Game 1 in their best-of-three series versus the Dallas Wings tips off Friday at 9:30 on ESPN2.

Catch up quick: Atlanta started and ended its season with losses against Dallas, including a 94-77 drubbing in the finale.

The Wings also got the best of Atlanta in a late-June matchup.

Context: After a seven-game winning streak to close out the first half of the season, the Dream have been a sub .500 team going 7-13 to close out the year.

Yes, but: It's the playoffs and time for the stars to shine. Atlanta has a star player in guard Rhyne Howard, the 2022 Rookie of the Year. Howard has made the All-Star team her first two seasons, and this year she led the team in points and assists per game, 17.5 and 3.5 respectively.

Plus: Howard's backcourt running mate, Allisha Gray, has been stellar. In her first year with Atlanta (she spent six seasons in Dallas beforehand), Gray has poured in an average of 17.1 points per game with 3.1 assists.

What to watch: The Dream's hope for success lies with those two. If they get going early, the five-seed Atlanta could pull off the upset in Game 1.

The four-seed Wings are 6.5-point favorites.

What's next: Game 2 is Sept. 19 at 9pm. Game 3, if necessary, will be on Sept. 22 in Atlanta, time TBD.

It's playoff time for the Atlanta Dream for the first time in five years

Game 1 in their best-of-three series versus the Dallas Wings tips off Friday night at 9:30 on ESPN2.

A woman in a basketball jersey dribbles past a defender in a white uniform 

Rhyne Howard of the Atlanta Dream dribbles the ball during the game against the Dallas Wings on Monday at Gateway Center Arena in College Park. Photo: Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images 

WNBA

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Atlanta Dream" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2023/05/18/atlanta-dream-wnba-2023-rhyne-howard" data-vars-content-id="98c9eb4d-7098-40be-9947-d13ae7585030" data-vars-headline="It&#x27;s playoff time for the Atlanta Dream for the first time in five years" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2023/05/18/atlanta-dream-wnba-2023-rhyne-howard" target="_self">Atlanta Dream</a> are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2018.Driving the news: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Game 1" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wnba.com/playoffs/2023" data-vars-content-id="98c9eb4d-7098-40be-9947-d13ae7585030" data-vars-headline="It&#x27;s playoff time for the Atlanta Dream for the first time in five years" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wnba.com/playoffs/2023" target="_blank">Game 1</a> in their best-of-three series versus the Dallas Wings tips off Friday at 9:30 on ESPN2.

The Atlanta Falcons' season has arrived. Let us rejoice.

Driving the news: Atlanta takes on a familiar foe — the Carolina Panthers — at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday at 1pm.

What we're watching: Whether Desmond Ridder is the Falcons franchise quarterback.

The 24-year-old is entering his second year and after limited playing time last year, the team handed him the keys to the offense.

Yes, but: He is surrounded by playmakers at every skill position. Tight end Kyle Pitts is returning from a knee injury, Drake London is entering his second year as receiver and rookie Bijan Robinson arrives from Texas to join an already talented running back room.

So, even if the passing game falters, which it shouldn't, Ridder can just lean on the Falcons' rushing attack.

State of play: The Falcons finally had money to spend this offseason and used the bulk of it to improve their defense, which was in dire need of a rebuild.

Meanwhile, the Panthers are rolling with a rookie quarterback in Bryce Young. While he was dominant in college at the University of Alabama, this is a different game.

The intrigue: The Falcons haven't had a winning record since going 10-6 in the 2017-18 season. They also haven't won a season opener since that year.

In fact, a win on Sunday would put them above the .500 mark (an apparent glass ceiling for this team) for the first time in five years.

Ross' prediction: The Falcons win with relative ease. The offense lives up to the hype and the new defense makes Young look like the rookie he is.

The Falcons hope to open season with a win for the first time since 2017

The offense lives up to the hype and the new look defense — and makes Panthers QB Bryce Young look like the rookie he is.

Atlanta Falcons Desmond Ridder, wearing a black uniform, prepares to throw the football 

Desmond Ridder. Photo: Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

National Football League (NFL)

The Atlanta Falcons&#x27; season has arrived. Let us rejoice.Driving the news: Atlanta takes on a familiar foe — the Carolina Panthers — at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday at 1pm.

Ross Terrell

Featured stories

It's playoff time for the Atlanta Dream for the first time in five years

The Falcons hope to open season with a win for the first time since 2017

Five must-see games for the Atlanta Hawks' 2023 season

What we learned in the Falcons preseason debut

The Atlanta Braves look World Series ready