The Raiders selected quarterback Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 overall last month. But Las Vegas also has Kirk Cousins , who is — at this point — expected to begin the season as the club's QB1. As a veteran quarterback who's familiar with the offensive system, Cousins is showing command at the position, with the Raiders getting their OTAs started this week. “Yeah, he's a professional. He's played a lot of football. He's a leader that we're counting on right now,” Kubiak told reporters on Wednesday. “You see that side of him when it gets competitive, that was fun to get that move the ball period and get guys off of scripts and see how they respond, and you see the fire come out, and that's what I want from our guys.” Given that it’s still May, Kubiak has not yet officially named a starting quarterback. But he noted that the players will be the ones to really make that decision. “It’s going to reveal itself, especially in training camp,” Kubiak said. “But it’s going to reveal itself here in these next how many do we have? Eight OTAs, these minicamp practices. But yeah, we definitely would [like to name a QB], but [we’ll] let the players figure that out for us with their tape.” With Atlanta last season, Cousins completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 1,721 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions
The Raiders selected quarterback Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 overall last month. But Las Vegas also has Kirk Cousins, who is — at this point — expected to begin the season as the club’s QB1. As a veteran quarterback who’s familiar with the offensive system, Cousins is showing command at the position, with the Raiders getting their OTAs started this week. “Yeah, he’s a professional. He’s played a lot of football. He’s a leader that we’re counting on right now,” Kubiak told reporters on Wednesday. “You see that side of him when it gets competitive, that was fun to get that move the ball period and get guys off of scripts and see how they respond, and you see the fire come out, and that’s what I want from our guys.” Given that it’s still May, Kubiak has not yet officially named a starting quarterback. But he noted that the players will be the ones to really make that decision. “It’s going to reveal itself, especially in training camp,” Kubiak said. “But it’s going to reveal itself here in these next how many do we have? Eight OTAs, these minicamp practices. But yeah, we definitely would [like to name a QB], but [we’ll] let the players figure that out for us with their tape.” With Atlanta last season, Cousins completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 1,721 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions
During Wednesday's OTA practice, Mendoza worked behind Kirk Cousins and Aidan O'Connell, and mostly with rookies during competitive periods of the session, per Sam Warren of The Athletic. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update
The Raiders drafted Fernando Mendoza to be their quarterback of the future. The No. 1 overall pick has been “as advertised” thus far, coach Klint Kubiak said Wednesday. "[He has] not disappointed,” Kubiak said, via Ryan McFadden of ESPN. “He’s working his tail off. It’s very important to him that he asks a lot of great questions when he gets on the field. He’s no B.S.; he’s all ball .” The Raiders are easing Mendoza into the offense, with Kirk Cousins taking first-team reps, followed by Aidan O’Connell and then Mendoza. Kubiak has repeatedly said he would prefer that a rookie quarterback not start Day 1, and the sportsbooks like Cousins to start Week 1. But the Raiders are giving Mendoza every chance to win the job. Mendoza is going the extra mile, putting in the work, asking questions and taking notes. “Anything that you put in front of him, he’s going to attack it,” Kubiak said. “Anything new, he spends extra time on. You can tell he fixes things from one day to the next.”
The Raiders drafted Fernando Mendoza to be their quarterback of the future. The No. 1 overall pick has been "as advertised" thus far, coach Klint Kubiak said Wednesday. "[He has] not disappointed," Kubiak said, via Ryan McFadden of ESPN. "He's working his tail off. It's very important to him that he asks a lot of great questions when he gets on the field. He's no B.S.; he’s all ball ." The Raiders are easing Mendoza into the offense, with Kirk Cousins taking first-team reps, followed by Aidan O'Connell and then Mendoza. Kubiak has repeatedly said he would prefer that a rookie quarterback not start Day 1, and the sportsbooks like Cousins to start Week 1. But the Raiders are giving Mendoza every chance to win the job. Mendoza is going the extra mile, putting in the work, asking questions and taking notes. "Anything that you put in front of him, he's going to attack it," Kubiak said. "Anything new, he spends extra time on. You can tell he fixes things from one day to the next."
The Las Vegas Raiders began their OTA sessions this week and new head coach Klint Kubiak spoke to the media on Wednesday. As expected, veteran addition Kirk C0usins was working with the first-team offense Wednesday. Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall draft pick, was working mostly with rookies, which is expected. Expect Mendoza’s time with the veterans to increase, perhaps in the June mandatory minicamp and certainly in training camp. Kubiak said he has no timeline set for naming a starting quarterback, but he noted training camp will be vital. As he always has been, Kubiak was complimentary of Mendoza and his work ethic. He said the Heisman Trophy winner “is as advertised.” Meanwhile, Kubiak delivered an doozy of a quote on super start tight end Brock Bowers , calling him a “football robot from heaven.” I’ve been around coaches talking about players for many year and that is one hell of a quote. It’s going to be so fun watching Kubiak designed plays for Bowers. In other Raiders’ OTA news based on reports from the session: Rookie cornerback Jermod McCoy was participating in more drills than he was doing at the rookie minicamp two weeks ago. Kubiak said McCoy “is progressing nicely” and the team has a plan to get him prepared for training camp. So, at the moment, things look good for him trying to play this season. The Raiders’ offensive line Wednesday was Kolton Miller (left tackle), Spencer Burford (left guard), Tyler Linderbaum (center), Jackson Powers-Johnson (right guard) and DJ Glaze (right tackle). This makes sense in May, but there will be competitions everywhere but left tackle and center with young players Trey Zuhn, Caleb Rogers and Charles Grant all in the mix as well. Zuhn, who is expected to compete at guard, was at right tackle Wednesday. Kubiak said Zuhn was drafted to play multiple positions. Taron Johnson was not present. He reportedly is sitting out the voluntary sessions because he wants a contract adjustment. The Raiders have not been practicing with their helmet shield. Kubiak said the team will earn the shield as a whole when its ready. As expected, star defensive end Maxx Crosby will present but not participating. He is expected to be ready to practice during training camp and Kubiak said he wouldn’t be surprised if Crosby was ahead of schedule. Free-agent addition Nakobe Dean wasn’t seen by reporters Wednesday. The reason was unknown. According to reports, in addition to Johnson and Dean, the other players who were not seen Wednesday were kicker Matt Gay defensive tackle Benito Jones and wide receiver Jalen Nailor . The Athletic reported that Dean and Nailor’s absence were family related. Linebacker Tommy Eichenberg was working on the side Wednesday. Kubiak said the team is not coaching accountability or effort with the rookies because general manager John Spytek and his staff did a good job of getting people
Kirk Cousins is reportedly the first quarterback on the field during Las Vegas Raiders OTAs, ahead of Aidan O'Connell and rookie Fernando Mendoza. Head coach Klint Kubiak has not named a starter, but Cousins is expected to begin the season as the starter due to his experience and familiarity with Kubiak's offense
What the 2026 NFL Draft class lacked in quarterback talent, the 2027 crop of prospects promises to make up for . With Arch Manning, Dante Moore and a host of other exciting arms set to make the leap from college next spring, NFL teams in need of a franchise signal-caller should view next year's draft as the jackpot. Only the Las Vegas Raiders took a potential plug-and-play starter in the 2026 NFL Draft, and even then, Fernando Mendoza might have to wait at least a few games behind Kirk Cousins . Next year, more than just a couple of teams could have starting jobs available for rookies. Some of those squads may already have the answer to their problems on their roster. The Miami Dolphins , for instance, could be set for the foreseeable future with Malik Willis on board as a breakout candidate. Others are in for a long year on offense and will enter the draft in desperate search of a cornerstone around which to build their rosters in 2027 and beyond. Here are seven teams that might be in the market for a quarterback in the 2027 draft, where they could pick in the draft order and which player on their roster has a chance to shake up those plans. The situation: The gap between the Cardinals and the rest of football's best division is so wide that moving on from Kyler Murray made all the sense in the world. This is the right time for Arizona to embrace a rebuild. The team reportedly informed Jacoby Brissett that he will handle starting duties, but he wants to be paid as such and continues to skip voluntary workouts in search of a new contract. Given that Arizona may be the likeliest team to hunt for a new quarterback in the next draft and already has a potential next man up in 2026 draftee Carson Beck , it would behoove the franchise to avoid paying Brissett starter money beyond this fall. The floor and ceiling: Brissett started 12 games last year and went 1-11, albeit with respectable stats. Given that he just oversaw such a miserable season and that the NFC West should be just as tough in 2026, both the floor and ceiling are tremendously low for Arizona. This team might be the safest bet to land the No. 1 pick. The veteran who could change the plan: Neither Brissett nor Gardner Minshew has secured a long-term starting job at any previous stop. It is Brissett's role for now, though, and to his credit, he has been serviceable before. Believe it or not, he actually stands as the NFL's all-time career leader in interception percentage at a minuscule 1.4%. However, that will not be enough to convince Arizona he is anything more than a short-term bridge to whomever it selects early in the draft. The situation: The revolving door spins back around this year with the chance of another shake-up in the starting group. Deshaun Watson will get a shot at the job and only has to beat out a couple of second-year players who struggled to latch onto the role in their rookie seasons: Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel . Taylen Green arrived via the draft as a sixth-round pick and is the only fresh face in the room -- one whose athleticism is tantalizing but likely not enough on its own to reasonably fight for a spot in the lineup unless things truly go haywire. The floor and ceiling: The defense is ready to compete for a playoff berth, so all the Browns need from their offense is competence. If Watson revitalizes his career following a season lost to a torn Achilles, or if one of Sanders and Gabriel takes the next step, this will be a respectable team. That's a major "if," however. Another year of mediocre quarterbacking likely leaves Cleveland at the bottom of the AFC North and searching for a franchise quarterback inside the top 10 yet again. The veteran who could change the plan: Watson is not guaranteed to land the job, but he will get every chance to return to the top of the depth chart and make his contract look slightly less atrocious. It has been six years, an Achilles tear and an off-field scandal since Watson last played a [... truncated ...]
Las Vegas Raiders new head coach Klint Kubiak is excited to get to work with tight end Brock Bowers, whom he called a "football robot from heaven," according to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN. Bowers, the 13th overall pick in 2024 out of Georgia, didn't disappoint in his first year in the NFL, catching 112 of his 153 targets for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games to finish as the No. 1 TE in fantasy. The 23-year-old battled a knee injury in his sophomore season, though, which limited him to just 12 games, and he finished with a disappointing 64 catches for 680 yards and seven touchdowns on 86 targets, which put him at the TE10 mark when all was said and done. Now past his knee injury and set to work with quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza (the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft), Bowers is the top dynasty TE and should also be considered one of the top targets at the position in redraft fantasy leagues in 2026. Kubiak figures to make Bowers a huge part of the passing game in his first year in Vegas, especially since the Raiders' top receivers are Tre Tucker and Jalen Nailor
When the Raiders signed Kirk Cousins as a free agent, they added a veteran quarterback with experience playing for head coach Klint Kubiak and offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko from their time in Minnesota. Fernando Mendoza does not share that background. The first overall pick has been getting to know the offense over the course of the offseason and Janocko said that the fresh eyes have been beneficial to all involved. Janocko called Mendoza “a sponge” who “wants to know the whys of everything, the story behind everything” that the team is doing. “He’s asking questions that you might not have thought about in a couple of years ,” Janocko said, via the team’s website. “It also makes you evaluate everything. ‘I know we’ve had some success doing it one way, but we could do it another way and be even better.’” It remains to be seen if Cousins or Mendoza is on the field against the Dolphins in Week 1, but Mendoza is the long-term answer for the franchise and anything he does now to create a fit for himself in the offense will pay dividends for the Raiders whenever he’s under center
When the Raiders signed Kirk Cousins as a free agent, they added a veteran quarterback with experience playing for head coach Klint Kubiak and offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko from their time in Minnesota. Fernando Mendoza does not share that background. The first overall pick has been getting to know the offense over the course of the offseason and Janocko said that the fresh eyes have been beneficial to all involved. Janocko called Mendoza "a sponge" who "wants to know the whys of everything, the story behind everything" that the team is doing. "He's asking questions that you might not have thought about in a couple of years ," Janocko said, via the team's website. "It also makes you evaluate everything. 'I know we've had some success doing it one way, but we could do it another way and be even better.'" It remains to be seen if Cousins or Mendoza is on the field against the Dolphins in Week 1, but Mendoza is the long-term answer for the franchise and anything he does now to create a fit for himself in the offense will pay dividends for the Raiders whenever he's under center
The Texans will have joint practices with two teams this summer. Their joint practice with the Panthers before the final preseason game on Aug. 28 was previously reported on Monday. The Texans also will hold a joint practice with the Raiders ahead of the Aug. 20 preseason game in Houston, Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports. New Raiders coach Klint Kubiak is the son of Gary Kubiak, who was the Texans' head coach from 2006-13. It will give Raiders quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza a chance to take snaps against one of the league's top defenses
The Texans will have joint practices with two teams this summer. Their joint practice with the Panthers before the final preseason game on Aug. 28 was previously reported on Monday. The Texans also will hold a joint practice with the Raiders ahead of the Aug. 20 preseason game in Houston, Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports. New Raiders coach Klint Kubiak is the son of Gary Kubiak, who was the Texans’ head coach from 2006-13. It will give Raiders quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza a chance to take snaps against one of the league’s top defenses
The Vikings will only have one home preseason game this summer, but they'll get more than one day of work against their opponents that week. The team announced that they will have two days of joint practices with the Ravens . They are set to work with the AFC North team on August 19 and 20 with the preseason game between the teams scheduled for August 22. Joint practices have been a regular occurrence during Vikings' camp in recent years. They have also worked with the Patriots, Browns , Titans, and Cardinals in recent seasons. The Vikings will visit the Giants and Broncos in their first and third preseason games this summer. The Ravens will be hosting the Eagles and Commanders
The Tennessee Titans unveiled their complete 2026 season schedule on Thursday . The Robert Saleh era will begin by hosting the New York Jets in Week 1. They’ll then play the Philadelphia Eagles at Nissan Stadium in Week 2. The rebuilding Titans are attempting to take a progressive step forward in 2026. The sophomore Cam Ward year should yield more than three victories in a season for the first time since 2023. If the Titans are to be more competitive this coming campaign, they’ll need to take advantage of easier stretches on the schedule. We’ve identified the easiest three-game stretch on the schedule. The Titans will host the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15. It will be the divisional rematch after visiting Indianapolis in Week 6. The Colts are sorting through uncertainty with starter Daniel Jones returning from a devastating season-ending Achilles injury. The Titans need to start contending with an average Colts team in the AFC South. Will the Las Vegas Raiders be starting rookie No. 1 overall quarterback Fernando Mendoza by the time they visit Tennessee in Week 16? Probably. There are rumors that Kirk Cousins may begin their season as the starter, but surely Mendoza will get into the lineup eventually. Teams that start rookie quarterbacks typically struggle. The Titans learned that the hard way last season. The final home game at the current iteration at Nissan Stadium will be against Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17. The Rodgers-Saleh sidebar adds another intriguing layer to this pivotal moment in franchise history. The Steelers were awfully average with Rodgers in 2025 and it’d be surprising if they were significantly better in 2026. The Titans should take advantage of a favorable matchup at Old Nissan Stadium
This article analyzes the NFL's worst quarterback rooms entering the 2026 season, providing Week 1 starting predictions. It highlights players like Daniel Jones, Anthony Richardson, Riley Leonard, and Seth Henigan as examples of teams with potentially weaker QB situations, contrasting them with top-tier talent like Patrick Mahomes and Drake Maye
The Los Angeles Chargers have their 17 games laid out on a platter for the 2026 season and it’s going to be a challenge to qualify for the playoffs for the third year in a row. However, given where the team stands and how the schedule played out, there is a chance the team could be back in the postseason conversation for the AFC. Here’s a look at all 17 games and predictions for each matchup: The Chargers are given a gift to start the season in arguably their easiest matchup against the Cardinals at home. This should give the Chargers a chance to establish themselves early with a win at home. Chargers 27, Cardinals 13 Once again, the Chargers are given an easy matchup early in the season at home. This could be the Chargers’ first meeting against No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza if he earns the starting job over Kirk Cousins . This should give the Chargers a prime opportunity to start 2-0. Chargers 28, Raiders 17 After arguably the easiest two home games of the season, the Chargers face one of their most difficult matchups on the road against Josh Allen and the Bills. The Chargers will have a shot in this one, but playing on the east coast this early in the year is never easy for west coast teams, especially when the Bills have a rest advantage after playing on Thursday Night Football in Week 2. Bills 31, Chargers 24 The Chargers will be tested heavily in their Week 4 contest against the defending champion Seahawks at Lumen Field. The Seahawks defense will swarm Justin Herbert , so the offensive line has to be ready to protect him. Ultimately, the Seahawks should have too much firepower against the Chargers. Seahawks 22, Chargers 14 Another tough matchup for the Chargers comes in Week 5 when the Broncos come to town. The top seed in the AFC last season will be hungry to repeat, and the Chargers could be one of their biggest obstacles in the way of that happening. The Chargers won this game a year ago and they should come out on top again with the home crowd at SoFi Stadium on the Bolts’ side. Chargers 24, Broncos 20 The Chargers face off against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs for the first time since the former league MVP tore his ACL against them back in December. Mahomes definitely has this game circled on his calendar, so the Chargers will have to play their A-game if they want to come out on top against their division rival. Chiefs 28, Chargers 19 The Chargers get a Week 7 bye, and they won’t have to travel too far for their Week 8 matchup against their cross-town rival Rams. The rest should help the Chargers, but the Rams might be the best team in football, making it tough for the Bolts to come out on top. Rams 26, Chargers 17 Once again, the Chargers are given another tough matchup at home, this time against the Texans, who beat them at SoFi Stadium last season in a crucial December contest. The Texans might have the best defense in football, which will make the Chargers sweat another one out. Texans 17, Chargers 13 This game marks Jesse Minter’s return to the Chargers and it comes in primetime on Monday Night Football. This game brings a specific challenge as Minter is extremely knowledgable of the Chargers’ personnel, making it a difficult matchup for the Bolts. If Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry are both healthy, that will only make things tougher for the Chargers. Ravens 30, Chargers 21 At 3-6, the Chargers need a “get right” game, which they get against the Jets. Games like this are considered must-win for the Chargers regardless of where they are in the season because it is one of their easier matchups. When the standings could come down to tiebreakers, games like this just matter more. Chargers 37, Jets 14 Another primetime matchup comes with the Patriots traveling to LA. The Chargers will want revenge after the Pats beat them in the Wild Card round back in January, so this is an all-important contest for the Bolts. Despite only scoring three points in the playoffs, the Chargers will show [... truncated ...]
The Las Vegas Raiders have been crystal clear about their quarterback room all offseason long. Yes, they signed four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins to what's essentially a one-year, fully guaranteed $11.3 million contract in April, but the 38-year-old knew he was agreeing to join the Fernando Mendoza show weeks before Las Vegas officially selected the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner first overall. "I do think Fernando is going to be a great addition to our team, and I think he's going to have a great future in the league," Cousins said on NFL Network's "Good Morning Football" in April. "I have no problem being a voice in the room to kind of help him to the degree that I can. He's going to have great support all around him from the coaching staff to the degree that he'll be able to watch a veteran quarterback go through his habits and routines. I think that can be a great asset for him, and he was here yesterday on his draft day visit. We were able to watch film together. I think he'll be a great addition to the [QB] room." The understood dynamic of Cousins as the veteran mentor and Mendoza as the future face of the franchise allowed for a fun schedule release video for the Raiders in which the two passers played off this dynamic while parodying "Step Brothers." Did we just become best friends? 📺 Tune in to the Schedule Release Show on NFL Network pic.twitter.com/2XPvFhXx4s However, that doesn't mean Cousins is going to roll over and allow Mendoza to start in Week 1 just because he's the No. 1 overall draft pick. The 14-year veteran has every intention of fighting to begin the 2026 season as Las Vegas' starting quarterback. "I don't want to start unless I'm the best option. I told [head coach] Klint [Kubiak] that the best player should play," Cousins said. "Certainly as long as that's the case, I have no qualms with however that [the quarterback competition] plays out." So now that the 2026 schedule is released, let's take a look at when Mendoza could start for Las Vegas, plus his rookie of the year chances. 1 vs. Dolphins 4:25 p.m. Fox 2 at Chargers 4:05 p.m. CBS 3 at Saints 4:25 p.m. CBS 4 vs. Chiefs 4:25 p.m. CBS 5 at Patriots 1 p.m. CBS 6 vs. Bills 4:25 p.m. CBS 7 vs. Rams 4:25 p.m. Fox 8 at Jets 1 p.m. Fox 9 at 49ers 4:05 p.m. CBS 10 vs. Seahawks 4:05 p.m. CBS 11 at Broncos 4:25 p.m. CBS 12 at Browns 1 p.m. Fox 13 BYE N/A N/A 14 vs. Chargers 4:05 p.m. CBS 15 vs. Broncos 4:25 p.m. CBS 16 vs. Titans 4:05 p.m. Fox 17 at Cardinals 4:05 p.m. CBS 18 at Chiefs TBD TBD Mendoza leading college football in passing touchdowns (41) and total touchdowns (48) helped power the Indiana Hoosiers to their first football national championship, but the game is much, much faster at the NFL level. That's why the Raiders signed Cousins: to provide a mentor for Mendoza to learn from while giving him time to acclimate to the pace of the game at the highest level. That's why whenever Mendoza does make his first start, it would make sense for him to face another rebuilding squad's defense to get his feet wet before facing some of the NFL's best. There are a few different opportunities for him to do just that based on the Raiders' now-revealed schedule. Should Mendoza truly prove he's well ahead of Cousins in training camp, Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins -- a team with a new head coach (Jeff Hafley), general manager (Jon-Eric Sullivan) and quarterback ( Malik Willis ) -- could make some sense. If not Week 1, then the next earliest time to unleash Mendoza could be Week 3 at the New Orleans Saints -- a team with a quarterback in just his second season ( Tyler Shough ) and three potential starters in the secondary who entered the league in 2024 or later (cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry , cornerback Quincy Riley and safety Jonas Sanker ). After that, waiting until Week 8 at the New York Jets could be ideal. The 2025 Jets became the first team in NFL history to fail to [... truncated ...]
Every year, the NFL schedule bring upon something new for the Detroit Lions. This year, it’s a trip to Germany, a rare “Sunday Night Football” game at Carolina, and an early bye week. Oh wait, scratch that last one. It happens all that time. Another constant on the Lions’ schedule is their divisional opponents. Like every other team, Detroit’s six divisional games make up over a third of their entire schedule. That means Detroit’s record within the NFC North will likely be crucial toward their regular season success. And with all three of their road divisional games crammed into the final four weeks of the season, how Detroit fares in those contests will almost certainly decide where they land in the postseason picture. Last year, Detroit was swept by both the Vikings and Packers , and even though they ended up sweeping the division-winning Chicago Bears, it wasn’t enough to punch their ticket to the playoffs. So today’s Question of the Day is: My answer: I’m going with three. First off, let’s get this straight. There is no universe where getting swept by the Vikings again in 2026 is acceptable. I understand their defense is a very tough matchup for an offense-heavy team like the Lions, but Minnesota ’s roster just doesn’t compare to the rest of the division right now—especially with the questions at quarterback. Because the Vikings still always play the Lions tough, I’ll give them a split of the series. And I’m going to be boring with the other two teams, too. I expect a split with each series. I think Ben Johnson will have a chip on his shoulder after getting swept by Dan Campbell last year and find a way to win one of those games. And while I’m really tempted to predict a sweep of the Packers, I’m just having a hard time seeing it given how well they tend to play against Detroit. The Lions will have the benefit of the bye week going into their first matchup, but a Week 18 game in Lambeau will be tough, even if the Lions managed to beat them in that exact scenario during the 2022 season. How many division wins do you think the Lions pick up this year? Vote in the poll below and share your reasoning in the comment section
SeatGeek is the official NFL Ticketing Partner of the New York Post. We may receive revenue from this partnership for sharing this content and/or when you make a purchase. Featured pricing is subject to change. The NFC South almost belonged to the Atlanta Falcons in 2025. To end the season, Kirk Cousins stepped up in Michael Penix Jr.’s absence and helped the club cobble together a four-game win streak to tie the Panthers and Buccaneers at 8-9. Unfortunately, due to a tiebreaker, Carolina won the division and sent Atlanta packing for the offseason. Once the season officially wrapped, the franchise went into rebuild mode and dumped head coach Raheem Morris for former Browns field general Kevin Stefanski. Stefanski, 44, joins Falcons nucleus members Michael Penix Jr., Bijan Robinson , Chris Lindstrom , Drake London and Jesse Bates III along with head-turning offseason acquisitions Brian Robinson Jr. , Tua Tagovailoa , Jahan Dotson , Jake Bailey and Austin Hooper as well as standout second round draft pick Avieon Terrell. And, while they look great on paper and have the fifth-easiest schedule of any NFL team in ’26 (based on last year’s winning percentages), don’t start daydreaming of a playoff berth banner hanging from the rafters just yet. Penix Jr. and the Dirty Birds will really have to show up this year given how many perennial contenders — and 2025 under-performers but often great teams — are heading to Mercedes-Benz Stadium come September. Thanks to the NFL schedule rollout, we know the club will have to face Lamar Jackson ’s Baltimore Ravens (Oct. 11), Caleb Williams Chicago Bears (Oct. 18), Brock Purdy ’s San Francisco 49ers (Oct. 25), Patrick Mahomes ’ Kansas City Chiefs (Nov. 15) and Jared Goff ’s Detroit Lions (Dec. 6) at home. Of course, they’ll meet up with the Bryce Young’s Carolina Panthers (Sept. 20) and Baker Mayfield ’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Dec. 27), too. Thus, Stefanski’s squad will need all the help it can get from the Falcons faithful. If you want to root yourself hoarse for the Dirty Birds live, tickets are available for all eight Atlanta Falcons 2026 home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on SeatGeek. SeatGeek is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. Not familiar with SeatGeek? They offer a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event. For those who prefer to pick and choose which home games make the most sense for you to attend, we’re here for you, too. Below, you’ll find a list of all upcoming Atlanta Falcons home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, including dates, start times and opponents. Atlanta Falcons home game dates Panthers vs. Falcons Sunday, Sept. 20 at 1 p.m. Ravens vs. Falcons Sunday, Oct. 11 at 8:20 p.m. Bears vs. Falcons Sunday, Oct. 18 at 1 p.m. 49ers vs. Falcons Sunday, Oct. 25 at 1 p.m. Chiefs vs. Falcons Sunday, Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. Lions vs. Falcons Sunday, Dec. 6 at 1 p.m. Buccaneers vs. Falcons Sunday, Dec. 27 at TBD Saints vs. Falcons Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027 at 1 p.m. If you think you might find yourself traveling with the Falcons this year, here’s where you can find them on the road once the 2026 season begins. There is no shortage of ways to watch Falcons games live from the comfort of your own home this season. You can find Stefanski’s stacked squad on ABC, CBS, ESPN, Fox, NBC and NFL Network on select dates. Through the regular season, most NFC games will be broadcast on FOX. For specialty games, “Sunday Night Football” can be found on NBC along with Peacock, “Monday Night Football” is reserved for ESPN and “Thursday Night Football” streams on Amazon Prime Video. Before the Falcons officially kick off the season (and a little after), many of the biggest stars in music will be playing at arenas and stadiums all over The Gate City. Here are just five of the concerts we’re most excited about coming [... truncated ...]
Data comes from cached Sleeper and KTC snapshots. Values update when the sync jobs run.
