Who Are the Atlanta Falcons Playing Next? A Local Fan’s Guide

If you’re in Atlanta, Georgia and asking, “Who are the Atlanta Falcons playing?”, you’re usually trying to do one of three things:

• Plan a game-day trip to Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• Decide where to watch the game in Atlanta
• Understand the Falcons schedule and opponents so you can follow the season

Because NFL schedules and opponents change every week, the exact next opponent and date can’t be guaranteed in real time here. But you can still use this guide to quickly figure out who the Falcons are playing now or soon, and how to make the most of game day in Atlanta.

How to Quickly Find Who the Falcons Are Playing This Week

To know the current or upcoming opponent, most Atlanta fans rely on a few consistent options:

1. Check the Falcons’ Official Schedule

For the most accurate, up-to-date information about:

• Next opponent
• Home or away status
• Kickoff time
• Preseason, regular season, or postseason

Look for the official Atlanta Falcons schedule through:

• The team’s official website (search “Atlanta Falcons schedule”)
• The official Atlanta Falcons mobile app
• Major sports apps that update NFL schedules automatically

These sources update if games are flexed to different times or if there are schedule changes.

2. Use Local Atlanta TV Listings

If you’re watching from home or a hotel in Atlanta:

• Look at local TV listings for channels that typically carry:
  • NFL on FOX
  • NFL on CBS
  • Sunday Night Football
  • Monday Night Football
  • Thursday Night Football

In Atlanta, Falcons games are commonly shown on major broadcast stations and regional sports channels. Listings usually show both who the Falcons are playing and what time coverage starts.

3. Ask Your Smart Speaker or Phone

Many Atlanta fans simply say something like:

• “Who do the Atlanta Falcons play this week?”
• “What time is the Falcons game in Atlanta?”

Voice assistants generally answer with the opponent, time, and whether it’s home or away.

Understanding the Falcons Schedule in Atlanta

Even if you don’t know the exact opponent yet, it helps to understand how the Falcons’ season is structured so you know what to expect throughout the year.

Regular Season Basics

The NFL regular season typically runs from early September through early January. During this time, the Falcons:

• Play 17 regular-season games
• Usually have:
  • 8 or 9 home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
  • 8 or 9 away games in other cities
• Play opponents from:
  • Their own division: NFC South
  • Another NFC division
  • One AFC division
  • A few additional conference matchups

Division Rivals You’ll See Often

If you live in Atlanta, you’ll regularly see the Falcons playing these NFC South rivals every season, home and away:

• New Orleans Saints
• Carolina Panthers
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers

When you hear someone in Atlanta say, “Big game this weekend,” it’s often because the Falcons are playing one of these division opponents.

Home vs. Away: What That Means in Atlanta

When you look up who the Falcons are playing, you’ll see either “vs.” or “@” next to the opponent:

• “vs. [Team]” – The Falcons are playing at home in Atlanta
• “@ [Team]” – The Falcons are playing away, in the other team’s city

Home Games in Atlanta

Home games are played at:

Mercedes-Benz Stadium
1 AMB Drive NW
Atlanta, GA 30313

When the schedule shows something like “Atlanta Falcons vs. [Opponent]”, that means:

• The game is in Atlanta
• You can attend in person, subject to ticket availability
• Downtown and nearby neighborhoods (like Castleberry Hill and parts of Downtown Atlanta) often see increased traffic and crowds on game days

Away Games

If the schedule shows “@ [Opponent]”, the Falcons are:

• Traveling to another city
• Usually watched by Atlanta fans on TV, at home, or at sports bars around the metro area

Sample Falcons Schedule Layout (How to Read It)

Falcons schedules are usually presented in a consistent format. Here’s a simple example of what a portion of a schedule might look like:

To answer “Who are the Atlanta Falcons playing?” for a given week, you’d:

1. Find the current week number or date
2. Look across that row to see:
   • Opponent name
   • Whether it’s Home (vs.) or Away (@)
   • Day/time, if listed

How Atlanta Fans Typically Watch Falcons Games

Once you know who the Falcons are playing, the next question is often “Where should I watch?” if you’re in Atlanta.

1. At Mercedes-Benz Stadium

If the schedule shows a home game, you can:

• Buy tickets through official ticketing platforms or verified resellers
• Take MARTA to GWCC/CNN Center Station or Vine City Station to avoid parking hassles
• Expect pre-game activity in and around:
  • The Home Depot Backyard
  • Nearby areas like Centennial Olympic Park and State Farm Arena

Key things locals think about:

• Kickoff time (morning, afternoon, or night)
• Whether they need to arrive early for security checks and lines
• Bag policies at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (these are usually posted on the official site and can change)

2. At Home in Atlanta

If the Falcons are playing on national TV or on local broadcast, many Atlanta residents:

• Watch via cable or satellite TV
• Stream through legal streaming services that carry NFL broadcasts
• Sync up with friends or family for small watch parties

Knowing who the Falcons are playing helps you figure out:

• Which network is likely to air the game
• Whether you might need a special channel (for example, some Thursday night games are on streaming-only platforms)

3. At Sports Bars and Restaurants

Across Midtown, Buckhead, Downtown, and suburban areas like Sandy Springs, Decatur, and Marietta, many sports bars:

• Highlight Falcons games on multiple screens
• Put up signs or chalkboards listing this week’s opponent and kickoff time
• Offer game-day food and drink specials

When calling ahead, it’s helpful to ask:

• “Are you showing the Falcons vs. [Opponent] game?”
• “Do I need a reservation for game time?”

Game Day Logistics in Atlanta When the Falcons Play at Home

If today’s answer to “Who are the Falcons playing?” involves a home game, a few Atlanta-specific details matter.

Traffic & Transportation

On Falcons home game days:

• Expect heavy traffic on:
  • Northside Drive NW
  • Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd
  • Around the Georgia World Congress Center
• Many locals prefer:
  • MARTA rail (aim for GWCC/CNN Center or Vine City stations)
  • Rideshares, dropped off away from the most congested blocks

Parking

Parking near Mercedes-Benz Stadium is usually:

• Available in official lots and decks around the stadium and GWCC
• Often priced higher on game days
• Easier if you purchase parking in advance through official channels

Preseason, Regular Season, and Postseason: Who They Might Be Playing

When you hear someone in Atlanta ask who the Falcons are playing, the answer depends on the part of the NFL calendar.

Preseason (August)

• Matchups vary each year
• Games don’t count toward the regular-season record
• Often used to evaluate players and rosters
• You’ll still see home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but with a slightly different atmosphere than regular-season games

Regular Season (September–Early January)

• This is when most Atlanta residents follow the Falcons most closely
• Common opponents include:
  • NFC South rivals (Saints, Panthers, Buccaneers)
  • Teams from an assigned NFC division
  • Teams from an assigned AFC division
• If you ask, “Who are the Falcons playing this Sunday?” during this time, you’re almost always asking about a regular-season game

Postseason (Playoffs)

If the Falcons qualify:

• They could play wild card, divisional, or conference championship games
• Opponents depend on seeding and results of other games
• Games may be home or away, depending on how the team finished in the standings

How Atlanta Fans Keep Track of Opponents All Season

To avoid asking “Who are the Falcons playing?” every week, many Atlantans:

• Save the schedule on their phone
• Print it out and keep it on the fridge or at their workspace
• Use calendar apps to:
  • Enter each opponent
  • Mark home vs. away
  • Add kickoff times and alerts

Some season-long tips:

• Mark division games (Saints, Panthers, Buccaneers) as extra important
• Note primetime games (Thursday, Sunday night, Monday) since traffic and viewing plans may differ
• Pay attention to bye week (when the Falcons don’t play at all)

Putting It All Together: Answering Your Question Today

To know exactly who the Atlanta Falcons are playing right now or next, if you’re in or around Atlanta:

1. Look up the official Atlanta Falcons schedule for the current season.
2. Find today’s date or the upcoming Sunday/Monday/Thursday.
3. Read the listing to see:
   • The opponent (for example, “vs. New Orleans Saints” or “@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers”)
   • Home or away status
   • Kickoff time in Eastern Time

From there, you can decide whether to:

• Head to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a home game
• Watch from home in Atlanta
• Join friends at a local sports bar around the city

That process will reliably answer “Who are the Atlanta Falcons playing?” for any week of the season, right here in Atlanta.