You've probably woken up, grabbed your coffee, and started looking for the kickoff time. It's a habit. But if you’re searching for an Atlanta Falcons game today, January 16, 2026, I have to be the one to break the news: the season is actually over.
The Falcons played their final game of the 2025 season back on January 4th. It was a 19-17 nail-biter win against the New Orleans Saints. Honestly, it was a weird way to end the year. They finished with an 8-9 record, which technically put them in a three-way tie for the top of the NFC South. But because of how the tiebreakers shook out, they ended up in third place. No playoffs. No game today. Just the start of a very long offseason in Flowery Branch.
What Happened to the 2025 Season?
It was a rollercoaster, basically. One week you’re thinking Kirk Cousins has finally found his rhythm, and the next, the offense stalls out. Cousins finished the year with 1,721 passing yards and 10 touchdowns in the 10 games he played. He wasn't the "savior" some fans hoped for, but he wasn't a total disaster either. His 84.8 passer rating tells the story of a veteran trying to manage a system that was often missing key pieces.
Speaking of missing pieces, the offensive line was held together with duct tape at times. Kaleb McGary went down before the season even started. Then his backup, Storm Norton, got hurt too. Elijah Wilkinson ended up playing every single snap on the blind side. It’s kinda impressive he survived the whole season, but the lack of depth really limited what the play-callers could do.
The bright spot? Bijan Robinson.
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The kid is a flat-out superstar. He racked up 1,478 rushing yards this season. That’s a 5.15 average per carry, which is elite by any standard. He’s already 10th in franchise history for rushing yards, and he’s only been in the league for three years. If you’re looking for a reason to stay optimistic while there’s no Atlanta Falcons game today, Bijan is it.
The Playoff Heartbreak
It really came down to the wire. Entering Week 18, the NFC South was a mess. If the Falcons had lost to the Saints, Tampa Bay would have taken the crown. By winning, Atlanta actually helped the Carolina Panthers win the division. Talk about a bittersweet victory.
The Falcons were officially eliminated from the postseason way back in Week 14 after a brutal 37-9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. That loss extended a seven-year playoff drought. It’s tough. Fans are restless. Raheem Morris finished his second season at the helm with the same 8-9 record the team had the year before.
2025 Key Performers
- Bijan Robinson (RB): 1,478 yards, 7 touchdowns, First-team All-Pro.
- Chris Lindstrom (OG): Another Pro Bowl year, literally the anchor of the line.
- Jessie Bates (FS): Finished as a Second-team All-Pro, still the best ball-hawk in the secondary.
- Kyle Pitts (TE): 928 receiving yards, showing signs of that rookie-year magic again.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Schedule
Since there is no Atlanta Falcons game today, we might as well look at who they’ll be facing when September rolls around. The NFL has already finalized the 2026 opponents.
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Atlanta is going to play a heavy schedule against the NFC North and AFC North. That means games against the Lions, Bears, Ravens, and Bengals at home. They also have a date with the Kansas City Chiefs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. On the road, they’ll travel to places like Green Bay, Pittsburgh, and Minnesota.
Oh, and there’s an international game on the horizon. The Falcons are set to host one game abroad in 2026. Whether that’s London, Munich, or somewhere else hasn't been confirmed yet, but keep your passport ready.
The Offseason Checklist
What does the team do now? Well, the front office has a lot of work. The coaching staff is under a microscope after failing to improve on last year’s record. There's also the "President of Football" situation with Matt Ryan coming back to the organization in a leadership role. That’s a huge move that has fans talking more than the actual games did toward the end of the season.
If you're a die-hard fan, here is what you should be watching for over the next few months:
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- The NFL Draft: Atlanta will likely have a mid-first-round pick. Do they go for more defensive line help or look for a long-term successor to Cousins?
- Free Agency: They need tackle depth. Badly. Watching Elijah Wilkinson play 1,000+ snaps was gutsy, but it’s not a sustainable winning strategy.
- Coaching Staff Changes: Does Raheem Morris make changes to the defensive side of the ball? The unit allowed over 400 points this season.
It’s a bummer there isn't an Atlanta Falcons game today, especially with the playoffs heating up for everyone else. But that’s the reality of an 8-9 season. The "Dirty Birds" are officially grounded until the preseason in August.
If you want to stay busy, you can re-watch the Week 18 highlights of that win over the Saints. It doesn't fix the season, but seeing New Orleans lose in Atlanta is always a decent consolation prize.
Actionable Next Steps for Falcons Fans
- Check the Draft Order: Monitor the NFL standings as the playoffs progress to see exactly where the Falcons will pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
- Follow Matt Ryan’s New Role: Keep an eye on team press releases regarding "President of Football" Matt Ryan to see how much influence he’ll have over roster construction.
- Plan for International Travel: Once the NFL announces the 2026 international schedule (usually in May), look into ticket packages if you want to follow the team overseas.
The 2025 season is in the books. It was a year of "what ifs" and "almosts," but the foundation with players like Bijan Robinson and Drake London is clearly there. Now, we just wait for the schedule release.