You don’t necessarily need a long explanation before figuring out how to watch the Falcons. Start here.
5 Things to Know Before the Falcons Kick Off
- Who are the Falcons playing? Check the complete 2026 schedule below for the opponent, kickoff time and broadcaster.
- What channel is the game on? Most Falcons games are on FOX or CBS, but Atlanta also has games on Amazon Prime Video, ESPN, NBC and NFL Network in 2026.
- What if you’re outside Atlanta? Sunday afternoon NFL broadcasts can be regional. Your local FOX or CBS station may show another team even when Atlanta is playing on that network.
- What if you’re traveling? Your normal streaming service may behave differently based on your location. If you’re traveling and location restrictions are preventing you from accessing a service you normally use, a VPN may help.
- Already know you need a VPN? We use ExpressVPN when traveling.
That’s the viewing side. But there’s another reason we’ve rebuilt this guide for 2026: These aren’t the same Falcons fans were watching a year ago. Atlanta has a new head coach, a fascinating quarterback situation and one of football’s most dangerous offensive players in Bijan Robinson. There’s even a completely new look on Sundays, with the Falcons returning to red as their primary home jersey as part of new uniforms for 2026. A lot has changed.
What Changed in Atlanta?
Instead of another long offseason recap, here’s the transformation at a glance.
| Entering 2025 | Entering 2026 |
|---|---|
| Raheem Morris leading Atlanta | Kevin Stefanski takes over as head coach |
| Michael Penix Jr. entering his first season as QB1 | Penix returning from injury with Tua Tagovailoa added to the QB room |
| Bijan Robinson emerging as a star | Robinson enters 2026 after leading the NFL in scrimmage yards |
| Young defensive talent beginning to develop | Atlanta needs that young defense to take another step |
| Black primary home uniforms | Red becomes Atlanta’s primary home jersey |
Perhaps the most interesting change is quarterback. Michael Penix Jr. entered training camp still working toward full medical clearance, while Atlanta added Tua Tagovailoa to the equation. The Falcons entered camp evaluating their options rather than pretending the position was already settled. By August, Tua was taking the first-team work and was selected to start Atlanta’s preseason opener while Penix continued his recovery. And there’s a new coach deciding how all of this fits together. Kevin Stefanski takes over a roster that isn’t short on offensive talent. Which brings us to the number that might best explain why Atlanta remains intriguing.
The Number: No. 1
Forget the quarterback situation for a minute. If you want one reason to watch the Falcons in 2026, start with Bijan Robinson. Robinson enters the season coming off a career year in which he led all NFL players in scrimmage yards. That’s not: “one of the best running backs.” That’s not: “one of the NFC’s most productive players.” No NFL player produced more yards from scrimmage. And that’s what makes Atlanta’s offensive situation so interesting. The Falcons don’t need to build an offense from nothing. They already have Robinson. They have Drake London. Kyle Pitts is still part of the offense.
The bigger question is whether Atlanta can create enough stability at quarterback and along the rest of the offense to maximize those weapons. Robinson gives Stefanski something every coach would love to inherit: a player who can affect the game without requiring the offense to work one specific way. Run him. Throw to him. Move him around. Force defenses to account for him before the ball is even snapped. Who ultimately settles the quarterback question will obviously matter. But the identity of Atlanta’s offense doesn’t have to begin with the quarterback. It can begin with No. 7.
Atlanta Falcons 2026 Schedule & TV Guide
Atlanta’s schedule has an unusual shape this year. The Falcons have three consecutive primetime games from Weeks 3–5, play an international game in Madrid and finish the season with three consecutive NFC South matchups.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV / Streaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sept. 13 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 2 | Sept. 20 | vs. Carolina Panthers | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 3 | Sept. 24 | at Green Bay Packers | 8:15 PM | Prime Video |
| 4 | Oct. 5 | at New Orleans Saints | 8:15 PM | ESPN |
| 5 | Oct. 11 | vs. Baltimore Ravens | 8:20 PM | NBC |
| 6 | Oct. 18 | vs. Chicago Bears | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 7 | Oct. 25 | vs. San Francisco 49ers | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 8 | Nov. 1 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 9 | Nov. 8 | vs. Cincinnati Bengals — Madrid | 9:30 AM | NFL Network |
| 10 | Nov. 15 | vs. Kansas City Chiefs | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 11 | — | BYE | — | — |
| 12 | Nov. 29 | at Minnesota Vikings | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 13 | Dec. 6 | vs. Detroit Lions | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 14 | Dec. 13 | at Cleveland Browns | 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 15 | Dec. 20 | at Washington Commanders | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 16 | TBD | vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | TBD | TBD |
| 17 | Jan. 3 | vs. New Orleans Saints | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| 18 | TBD | at Carolina Panthers | TBD | TBD |
Week 16 and Week 18 remain TBD, and eligible games can also move through the NFL’s flexible scheduling system.
Circle It, Star It or Put a Question Mark Beside It
Not every interesting game is interesting for the same reason.
Circle It — Week 4 at New Orleans
Falcons-Saints doesn’t need much help becoming important. But this one gets Monday Night Football, and it comes during Atlanta’s stretch of three consecutive primetime games. Division game. National audience. New coaching era. Circle it.
Star It — Week 9 vs. Cincinnati in Madrid
This isn’t a normal Falcons home game. Atlanta and Cincinnati will play at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, on November 8.
It’s Atlanta’s sixth regular-season game outside the United States and its fourth European trip in six seasons. The 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff also means Falcons fans need to adjust their normal Sunday routine.
Question Mark — Week 10 vs. Kansas City
Atlanta returns from Madrid and immediately gets Kansas City. How does this Falcons team measure up against one of the league’s most recognizable measuring sticks? That’s the kind of game that can tell us more than the final score.
Star It — Week 16 vs. Tampa Bay
This is where the schedule gets particularly interesting. Atlanta’s final three games are all against NFC South opponents: Tampa Bay, New Orleans and Carolina. If the Falcons are in the division race, the schedule gives them an opportunity to settle it themselves.
Where You Are Changes How You Watch the Falcons
Two Falcons fans can try to watch the exact same game and have completely different experiences. Location matters.
Watching in Atlanta or Georgia
Start with the broadcaster listed in our schedule. Most regular Sunday afternoon games will be available through the appropriate local FOX or CBS affiliate. National games work differently. Atlanta’s three-game primetime stretch, for example, moves from Prime Video to ESPN to NBC in consecutive weeks.
Watching Somewhere Else in the United States
This is where out-of-market coverage becomes important. Your local FOX station doesn’t automatically show Atlanta simply because FOX owns the broadcast. The affiliate in your area may receive another matchup. For eligible Sunday afternoon games that aren’t carried locally, NFL Sunday Ticket is the primary U.S. out-of-market option.
Traveling
This is a different problem. Suppose you normally have access to the service carrying Atlanta but travel somewhere and discover that your stream is unavailable because of your current location. A VPN may help in that situation by changing the IP address associated with your connection.
Traveling Outside the United States
Broadcasting rights vary by country. If you live outside the U.S., check the NFL viewing options available where you live. If you’re temporarily abroad and a service you normally use becomes unavailable because of your location, a VPN may help unblock your normal streaming service. You’ll still need the appropriate subscription.
Falcons Blackouts: What People Mean vs. What’s Actually Happening
“Blackout” has become a catch-all term for almost any situation where someone can’t find an NFL game. But the actual problem matters.
“FOX is showing another team. The Falcons must be blacked out.”
Not necessarily. You may simply be outside the regional area receiving the Falcons game. That’s an out-of-market issue. Check Sunday Ticket eligibility for qualifying Sunday afternoon games.
“A VPN will give me every Falcons game.”
Not alone. A VPN changes the IP address associated with your connection. It doesn’t give you NFL Sunday Ticket, Prime Video, ESPN, NFL Network or another subscription.
“A VPN can help me unblock a Falcons stream while traveling.”
Potentially, yes. If you normally have access to a streaming service and your temporary location is what’s preventing you from using it, connecting to an appropriate VPN server may help restore access.
“I have FOX, so I’ll get every Falcons game listed on FOX.”
Not necessarily. Sunday afternoon NFL broadcasts are frequently regional. Always check your local listing before kickoff.
The Falcons VPN Setup We Use
We keep this simple. Before traveling, install ExpressVPN and make sure you’re already signed into the streaming services you use for NFL games. If your normal service becomes location-restricted while you’re away, open ExpressVPN, connect to an appropriate server and then reopen the streaming service. If location was causing the restriction, changing your IP address may help unblock your normal stream. You’ll still need access to whichever broadcaster carries that week’s Falcons game.
Affiliate Disclosure: VPNForSports may earn a commission if you purchase through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.
What Would a Successful Falcons Season Actually Look Like?
This is where Atlanta becomes difficult to judge. There’s enough talent on the roster that another season without meaningful progress would be disappointing. At the same time, Atlanta has a new head coach and legitimate uncertainty at the most important position in football. So instead of giving the Falcons one arbitrary win total, let’s create three levels.
The Minimum
Atlanta establishes direction. By January, there shouldn’t still be confusion about what Stefanski’s Falcons are supposed to become. The quarterback situation needs greater clarity. The young defensive players need to develop. And an offense featuring Robinson and London needs to consistently look like an offense built around high-end talent.
A Good Season
The Falcons are playing meaningful NFC South football in late December. The schedule practically invites this test. Atlanta finishes with Tampa Bay, New Orleans and Carolina. If those games matter to the division race, the Falcons will have put themselves in position to make 2026 meaningful.
The Dream Scenario
Everything clicks faster than expected. Stefanski gets the offense functioning. The quarterback situation produces a clear answer. Robinson remains one of the NFL’s most productive offensive weapons. Atlanta’s young pass rush takes another step. And the Falcons turn a wide-open divisional race into a postseason appearance. That’s the upside.
One More Change You’ll Notice Immediately: Atlanta Is Red Again
Not every offseason change needs to involve a trade, draft pick or coaching hire. Sometimes you can literally see it. The Falcons introduced new primary uniforms for 2026, and red has returned as the team’s primary home jersey. It’s a deliberate connection to Atlanta’s history. The uniforms incorporate red, black, white and silver, with silver inspired in part by the organization’s original 1966 look. The Falcons retained their black helmet while adding a silver facemask. This isn’t why Atlanta will win or lose football games. But it fits the larger theme surrounding the franchise entering 2026. New coach. Changing quarterback room. New uniforms. A new season. Atlanta isn’t simply running back what fans watched a year ago.
Atlanta’s Next Game
Before kickoff, check back here for the latest network and viewing information—particularly later in the season when flex scheduling can change kickoff times and broadcasters. The viewing options may change from week to week. The reason to watch Atlanta is already pretty clear: we don’t know exactly what these new Falcons are going to become yet.
