Atlanta Falcons schedule: Games, dates, TV channels, predictions for 2026 season

The "Dirty Birds" answered a couple of questions early in the offseason, but several big ones still remain.

Keeping tight end Kyle Pitts around on a franchise tag answered the question of his uncertain future with the Atlanta Falcons. Drafting Zachariah Branch in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft answered the quandary of the Falcons' previous lack of receiving corps depth.

Questions that remain: who will start at quarterback for the Falcons? The incumbent Michael Penix Jr., coming off of a knee injury, or newcomer Tua Tagovailoa? And how will new head coach Kevin Stefanski's offense look in his first season with a different group of players?

Finally, how will Atlanta show it's keeping up with the competition in an ascendant NFC South? Is it keeping up with the other three teams?

Those questions will only be answered once the games begin in September. Here's what to know about the Falcons' 2026 schedule:

Atlanta Falcons schedule 2026

• Week 1: Sept. 13, at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1:00 p.m. ET, Fox
• Week 2: Sept. 20, vs. Carolina Panthers, 1:00 p.m. ET, Fox
• Week 3: Sept. 24, at Green Bay Packers, 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video ("Thursday Night Football")
• Week 4: Oct. 5, at New Orleans Saints, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN ("Monday Night Football")
• Week 5: Oct. 10, vs. Baltimore Ravens, 8:20 pm. ET, NBC ("Sunday Night Football")
• Week 6: Oct. 18, vs. Chicago Bears, 1:00 p.m. ET, Fox
• Week 7: Oct. 25, vs. San Francisco 49ers, 1:00 p.m. ET, Fox
• Week 8: Nov. 1, at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1:00 p.m. ET, Fox
• Week 9: Nov. 8, vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network (Madrid, Spain)
• Week 10: Nov. 15, vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS
• Week 11: BYE
• Week 12: Nov. 29, at Minnesota Vikings, 1:00 p.m. ET, Fox
• Week 13: Dec. 6, vs. Detroit Lions, 1:00 p.m. ET, Fox
• Week 14: Dec. 13, at Cleveland Browns, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS
• Week 15: Dec. 20, at Washington Commanders, 1:00 p.m. ET. Fox
• Week 16: Date TBD, vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Time TBD
• Week 17: Jan. 3, vs. New Orleans Saints, 1:00 p.m. ET, Fox
• Week 18: Date TBD, at Carolina Panthers, Time TBD

Falcons record prediction 2026

Record prediction: 7-10

The Falcons have a new head coach and a new general manager. Might they also have a new quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa? Or will Michael Penix Jr. return from another knee injury and keep his hold on the starting job? Were the offseason wide receiver additions (Jahan Dotson, an Olamide Zaccheaus reunion and third-round pick Zachariah Branch) enough to help out whoever wins that quarterback job? Only time will tell.

The biggest question is whether the Falcons will be able to keep up with their peers in a more competitive NFC South in 2026. The Panthers just won the division and had one of the best offseasons of any team. The Buccaneers still have a talented roster built up around quarterback Baker Mayfield. The Saints might take the biggest leap of the group in 2026 with second-year quarterback Tyler Shough and free agency addition Travis Etienne.

Falcons home opponents 2026

• Carolina Panthers
• New Orleans Saints
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Baltimore Ravens
• Chicago Bears
• Cincinnati Bengals
• Detroit Lions
• Kansas City Chiefs
• San Francisco 49ers

Falcons away opponents 2026

• Carolina Panthers
• New Orleans Saints
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Cleveland Browns
• Green Bay Packers
• Minnesota Vikings
• Pittsburgh Steelers
• Washington Commanders

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