The 2026 NFL season marks a painful anniversary for the Atlanta Falcons. It’s now been 10 seasons since their heartbreaking defeat in Super Bowl LI. In that time, the Dirty Birds have returned to the playoffs just once.In the midst of their eight-year absence from postseason football, massive sweeps in the Falcons’ front office took place. Matt Ryan, the MVP-winning quarterback from that Super Bowl runner-up 2016 team, is the president of football for the franchise. Ian Cunningham is the new general manager. Two-time NFL Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski is now in charge, and Tommy Rees is his offensive coordinator.They’ll be supported by first-team All-Pro running back Bijan Robinson, field-stretching receiver Drake London and standout tight end Kyle Pitts. But a major point of contention remains around the quarterback position, similar to the situation Stefanski had with the Cleveland Browns.Who will be Stefanski’s starter? Will it be a weathered Tua Tagovailoa, coming off one of his worst professional seasons? Or a potentially riskier, more intriguing option in Michael Penix Jr., who underwent surgery for a partially torn ACL that ended his 2025 campaign? And will Stefanski at some point this year have to turn to undrafted rookie Jack Strand?Whatever happens under center, this will be an interesting season to watch unfold in Atlanta. Unfortunately with broadcast changes and streaming exclusivity, it’s only gotten harder to tune in to the NFL. Our guide will help you catch all 17 regular-season Falcons games in 2026. And don’t forget to follow the Falcons and Georgia native Josh Kendall on The Athletic for year-round coverage.All times listed below are ET.The full 2026 Atlanta Falcons schedule Wk.MatchupDateTimeNetwork1@ Steelers Sunday, Sept. 13 1:00 p.m. Fox 2 Panthers Sunday, Sept. 20 1:00 p.m. Fox 3@ Packers Thursday, Sept. 24 8:15 p.m. Prime 4@ Saints Monday, Oct. 5 8:15 p.m. ESPN 5 Ravens Sunday, Oct. 11 8:20 p.m. NBC 6 Bears Sunday, Oct. 18 1:00 p.m. Fox 7 49ers Sunday, Oct. 25 1:00 p.m. Fox 8@ Buccaneers Sunday, Nov. 1 1:00 p.m. Fox 9 Bengals Sunday, Nov. 8Madrid 9:30 a.m. NFL Network 10 Chiefs Sunday, Nov. 15 1:00 p.m. CBS 11 BYE 12@ Vikings Sunday, Nov. 29 1:00 p.m. Fox 13 Lions Sunday, Dec. 6 1:00 p.m. CBS 14@ Browns Sunday, Dec. 13 1:00 p.m. CBS 15@ Commanders Sunday, Dec. 20 1:00 p.m. Fox 16 Buccaneers TBA 17 Saints Sunday, Jan. 3 1:00 p.m. Fox 18@ Panthers TBA Times in Eastern. Cable/satellite/streaming baseThe most expansive option for live game coverage is a multichannel plan. That includes streamers like Fubo, Sling TV and YouTube TV, or more traditional providers like DirecTV, Dish and Xfinity. We lay out cord-cutting alternatives for each NFL media partner down below, but there’s a certain peace of mind to the consolidation of pay television.Is Michael Penix Jr. the Atlanta Falcons' long-term answer at quarterback?Robert Mays and Derrik KlassenCBSMain window: Sunday afternoon (in-market fans)Playoffs: 1 wild-card game, 1 divisional game, AFC Championship GameEach week, CBS carries games across two Sunday kickoff slots: one at 1 p.m., and another at 4:05 p.m. or the national window at 4:25 p.m. There will be 10 nationwide Sunday doubleheaders this year on CBS. Broadcasts are set by region when there are multiple offerings in a spot.It’s not a clean split, but CBS is known as the primary home of the AFC. The network’s theme music is a certified slapper.Its main pregame show, “The NFL Today,” adds recent retirees Russell Wilson and Kyle Long to its studio crew. CBS announcers include Jim Nantz and Ian Eagle, while the color commentary rotation stars JJ Watt.What you’ll need to watch: A pay TV package, or an indoor TV antenna for free over-the-air viewing. Local CBS games also stream on Paramount+.FoxMain window: Sunday afternoon (in-market fans)Playoffs: 1 wild-card game, 1 divisional game, NFC Championship GameLike CBS, Fox splits Sunday afternoons between early 1 p.m. action and later 4:05/4:25 p.m. matchups. Its centerpiece is branded as “America’s Game of the Week.” Unlike CBS, Fox has a dancing robot named Cleatus. It’s the nominal network for the NFC as well.Kevin Burkhardt, Joe Davis and Adam Amin are the lead play-by-play voices. Burkhardt pairs with Tom Brady, the man who helped deliver the 28-3 comeback to crush Falcons fans everywhere. Davis calls games alongside Greg Olsen, while Amin is partnered with newcomer and recent Hall of Fame inductee Drew Brees. Some Spanish-language broadcasts are available on Fox Deportes.What you’ll need to watch: A pay TV package, or an antenna for free over-the-air viewing. Local Fox games also stream on Fox One.NFL Sunday Ticket and NFL RedZoneMain window: Sunday afternoon (out-of-market fans)These two are the access points for all non-national matchups that aren’t on regional CBS or Fox.NFL Sunday Ticket has full games. It’s exclusive to YouTube and YouTube TV. Those without a YouTube TV plan can still get NFL Sunday Ticket as a primetime channel through the standard YouTube app.RedZone is the whip-around program that jumps around the slate to cover scoring drives. This is the place for Scott Hanson, “the witching hour” and chaotic octobox split screens. It can be added to NFL Sunday Ticket, and it’s included on some high-end pay TV sports plans.RedZone also lives on NFL+ Premium, which can be bundled with the ESPN Unlimited plan.What you’ll need to watch: An NFL Sunday Ticket subscription through YouTube TV or the YouTube app; NFL RedZone access through select pay TV packages, ESPN Unlimited or NFL+ Premium.NBC and PeacockMain window: Sunday nightPlayoffs: 2 wild-card games, 1 divisional gameThis is the faithful home of “Sunday Night Football” each weekend. And because everything has to be confusing, the NBC lineup opens with a Wednesday night season premiere. At least SNF has a consistent 8:20 p.m. start time.Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth are in the booth, with Melissa Stark reporting from the sidelines. Carrie Underwood sings about waiting all day for Sunday night. NBC’s “Football Night in America” pregame show brings on longtime head coach Mike Tomlin. Telemundo has the telecasts in Spanish.The network has two extra Saturday offerings for Week 17. One is exclusive to Peacock, and both matchups will be announced later in the season. The same goes for NBC’s Week 18 regular-season finale.“Sunday Night Football” is subject to flex scheduling — games can be swapped in and out of the window twice between Weeks 5-10 and any time from Weeks 11-17. This allows executives to pick games with greater playoff implications, though it leaves the actual ticket holders in a bind.What you’ll need to watch: A pay TV package, or an antenna for free over-the-air viewing, or a Peacock account with the live sports plan.ABC and ESPNMain window: Monday nightPlayoffs: 1 wild-card game, 1 divisional game, Super Bowl LXIThe Disney networks combine to cover 17 “Monday Night Football” games. Ten of those are on both ABC and ESPN, with another seven exclusive to the latter. The Falcons appear on MNF once, in Week 4 when they visit the hated New Orleans Saints; it airs on ESPN only. The oft-maligned “Monday Night Football” doubleheader is now a thing of the past.MNF kickoffs have 8:15 p.m. starts, and their schedule flexes can happen any time in Weeks 12-17. The two Saturday ABC/ESPN matchups in Week 18 will be set as the postseason picture sharpens.ESPN is preparing for its first Super Bowl broadcast ever on Feb. 14, 2027. It will be simulcast on ABC.Joe Buck handles play-by-play for MNF. He’s joined by analyst Troy Aikman, plus the sideline duo of Lisa Salters and Laura Rutledge. Spanish-language airings can be found on ESPN Deportes. For 11 regular-season games and the Super Bowl, ESPN2 offers an alternate “ManningCast,” in which Eli and Peyton Manning watch the games with famous fans. Guests have ranged from Matt Ryan to Lil Wayne.What you’ll need to watch: A pay TV package, or an antenna for ABC, or an ESPN Unlimited account.Prime VideoMain window: Thursday nightPlayoffs: 1 wild-card gameMost weeks begin with “Thursday Night Football,” which kicks off at 8:15 p.m. Those games are behind the Prime paywall, but they’re free over the air in the participants’ home markets. Flex rules around TNF are a bit less hectic, with two allotments between Weeks 13-17.Thursdays are called by Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit, with Kaylee Hartung on sideline duty. Herbstreit loves dogs; Michaels hates vegetables. Prime has Spanish-language coverage and advanced stat broadcast options within its app. Among the pregame and postgame personalities are Falcons legend and Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez, Richard Sherman and Andrew Whitworth.What you’ll need to watch: Amazon Prime. TNF is also free on Twitch with a registered account.NFL NetworkThe league-owned media outlet is now under ESPN’s purview, thanks to a blockbuster deal that gave the NFL a 10 percent ownership stake in “The Worldwide Leader in Sports.” As of July 30, NFL Network is integrated into the ESPN Unlimited plan. It can also be accessed through NFL+ or NFL+ Premium.NFL Network has five of the international games, including the Falcons’ clash with the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid. Bob Wischusen and Louis Riddick will be on the call for that Week 9 meeting.NFLN also has a pair of Saturday matchups in Week 16 to be revealed at least two weeks prior to Dec. 26. Those two have 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. kickoffs.What you’ll need to watch: A pay TV package, or access to NFL+, NFL+ Premium or ESPN Unlimited.NetflixRemember when Netflix was shipping DVDs in red envelopes? Now, the streaming behemoth continues to expand its relationship with the NFL. It has five regular-season games in the upcoming season, including two of the three Christmas Day marquees. Like TNF on Prime, these Netflix games are over the air in their respective local markets.As reported by The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand, new Hall of Famer Luke Kuechly has been tapped as Netflix’s top NFL analyst. He and Noah Eagle (son of CBS’ Ian Eagle) are on the call for the Week 1 export at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia.What you’ll need to watch: A Netflix subscription.With that all being said, the Falcons’ full regular-season slate will run you around $40-$125 per month if you’re an in-market viewer, and $115-$200 per month if you’re an out-of-market fan. This total covers any potential schedule flexes down the road. That range also factors in average pay TV costs, NFL Sunday Ticket prices and the lowest subscription tiers for Netflix, Peacock and Prime. The final bill can be lowered a bit if you use Twitch for TNF.Official Falcons single-game franchise records(Through the 2025 season)