Instant predictions for Falcons' 2026 slate

"With a fairly well-balanced schedule that gets easier late after a rough, primetime-heavy opening stretch, the Falcons have a slate that they can manage if they're good enough to do so. There's no super-early bye week or cross-country travel repeatedly over the course of a month to gripe about here, so the fortunes of the 2026 team won't be chalked up to the schedule."

"This year we have a new general manager, a new head coach and offensive coaching staff, and a roster that has heavily churned with draft picks and free agents on short-term deals. We also have a quarterback battle between two players who have been crushed by injuries throughout their careers; all that adds up to a degree of uncertainty that makes this guesswork even more speculative than usual."

"The Falcons don't have history on their side here, as they're just 2-16-1 against Pittsburgh all-time. The Steelers increasingly look like a shell of their once-proud selves and they don't have Mike Tomlin around to drag them to the playoffs, but in Week 1 with so many unknowns and their ongoing difficulties against Pittsburgh and especially at Pittsburgh, right now I'm saying a loss."

"Am I going to talk myself into the Falcons winning this game, especially when Aaron Rodgers looks 52 years old this summer and Drew Allar throws the worst interception you've ever seen in a preseason game? Yeah, probably. We're likely in for a profoundly dumb game, because the"

The 2026 Falcons schedule is described as fairly balanced, with a rough primetime-heavy opening stretch followed by a late period that gets easier. There is no super-early bye week or repeated cross-country travel that would heavily influence outcomes. Predicting results is considered more speculative than usual because the team has a new general manager, a new head coach, and a new offensive coaching staff, along with a roster that has churned through draft picks and short-term free-agent deals. A quarterback battle between two injury-prone players adds further uncertainty. The Falcons also face a difficult matchup history against Pittsburgh, and the Steelers’ current form and lack of Mike Tomlin are cited as reasons to expect a Falcons loss in Week 1, though the possibility of a Falcons win is acknowledged.

Read at The Falcoholic