So, you’re looking for the kickoff time. You’ve got the snacks ready, the jersey is out of the closet, and you're asking what time do the falcons play tomorrow, January 15, 2026.
Well, I’ve got some news that might sting a bit: the Atlanta Falcons are not playing tomorrow.
Actually, they aren't playing for quite a while.
The 2025-2026 regular season wrapped up on Sunday, January 4, 2026, with a nail-biting 19-17 win over the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. While it’s always sweet to beat the Saints—honestly, it’s basically a holiday in Georgia whenever that happens—the win wasn't enough to propel Atlanta into the postseason.
Raheem Morris and Kirk Cousins finished the year with an 8-9 record. In the weird world of the NFC South, that was good enough for third place, but not good enough for a Wild Card spot. Because the Falcons didn’t make the playoffs, their season is officially over.
The Current State of the NFL Playoffs
If you’re still itching for some football tomorrow (Thursday, January 15), you’re going to find the schedule empty across the whole league. The NFL doesn't typically run playoff games on Thursdays. We just finished up Wild Card Weekend, which saw teams like the Panthers and Bears move forward.
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The next slate of actual games doesn't start until Saturday, January 17, 2026. That’s when the Divisional Round kicks off.
Who is actually playing this weekend?
Since the Falcons are heading to the golf course instead of the gridiron, here is what the actual playoff schedule looks like for the coming days:
- Saturday, Jan 17: Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos (4:30 PM ET)
- Saturday, Jan 17: San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (8:00 PM ET)
- Sunday, Jan 18: Houston Texans at New England Patriots (3:00 PM ET)
- Sunday, Jan 18: Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (6:30 PM ET)
It's a bummer not seeing the Red and Black in that mix. Kirk Cousins had some bright spots this year, especially that Week 17 win against the Rams, but the consistency just wasn't there to survive the mid-season slump where the team dropped games to the Dolphins and Patriots.
Why What Time Do the Falcons Play Tomorrow is a Common Search
People ask this because the NFL schedule is confusing. Between Thursday Night Football, Saturday triple-headers in December, and the Monday night playoff games, it’s easy to lose track of who is still standing.
Plus, there’s always the hope.
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Falcons fans are used to the emotional rollercoaster. We saw Drake London haul in a gorgeous 15-yard touchdown in the finale, and Zane Gonzalez was basically a human cheat code, hitting four field goals to seal that last win. When a team finishes strong like that, your brain naturally wants to know when the next one is.
But for now, the "next one" won't happen until the 2026 preseason in August.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Opponents are Set
Even though there’s no game tomorrow, we actually do know who the Falcons will be facing next season. The NFL's scheduling formula is based on divisional finish, so that third-place spot in the NFC South determined the "rotating" games for 2026.
Atlanta is slated to play the AFC North and the NFC North next year.
2026 Home Matchups
Mercedes-Benz Stadium will host some heavy hitters. Expect to see the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals come to town. We’re also getting the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions.
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The big one, though? The Kansas City Chiefs are coming to Atlanta in 2026.
2026 Away Matchups
The road schedule looks pretty brutal. The Falcons have to travel to Green Bay to face the Packers and head into the "Loud City" to play the Minnesota Vikings. They also have road dates with the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers.
And, of course, the usual suspects: two games each against the Saints, Panthers, and Bucs.
What to Do While the Falcons are Off
Since you aren't watching a game tomorrow, it’s a good time to look at the offseason priorities. The 8-9 finish means the Falcons will likely be picking somewhere in the middle of the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The defense showed flashes of brilliance under Morris, but the pass rush still feels like it’s missing that one "game-wrecker" on the edge. While Kirk Cousins is under contract, the front office will likely be looking for more young depth to surround Bijan Robinson, who remains the absolute heart of this offense.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Cancel your Sunday ticket or sports packages if you were only keeping them to watch the Falcons, as the season is finished.
- Track the Divisional Round this weekend to see how the NFC South's rival, the Carolina Panthers, fares against the Rams.
- Keep an eye on the NFL Draft order, which will be finalized as the playoffs progress, to see exactly where Atlanta's first-round pick lands.
- Check for International Game announcements; the NFL has already confirmed the Falcons will play an international home game in 2026, likely in Munich, Germany.
The wait for the 2026 season officially starts now. It's a long road to September, but at least we ended the year by sending the Saints home with a loss.