ESPN predicts Falcons finish 2026 season strong, sneak into playoffs

TL;DR

ESPN predicts the Atlanta Falcons will finish the 2026 season strong and make the playoffs. Key games include matchups against the Buccaneers, Bengals in Madrid, and Chiefs, with crucial NFC South rivalries at the end of the season.

Key points

ESPN predicts Falcons will sneak into playoffs in 2026
Critical mid-season games against Buccaneers, Bengals, and Chiefs
Final three games are against NFC South rivals
Home games against Buccaneers and Saints
Season ends with a road game against Panthers

Atlanta FalconsTampa Bay BuccaneersCincinnati BengalsKansas City Chiefs

ESPN predicts Falcons finish 2026 season strong, sneak into playoffs

The Atlanta Falcons' 2026 regular season schedule is out, and a few things jump out right away.

One critical stretch of games comes right in the middle of the season, beginning with a road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 8, followed by the long trip to Madrid to face the Cincinnati Bengals and finishing at home against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs with the bye week looming.

The most-important portion of the schedule doesn't come until the very end, though. The Falcons' final three games are all against their NFC South rivals, with Tampa at home in Week 16, New Orleans at home in Week 17 and ending on the road against the Carolina Panthers.

It's a tough stretch, but one insider thinks they'll go three-for-three. ESPN's Marc Raimondi has shared a prediction that the Falcons will win all three of those games to end the season and sneak into the NFL Playoffs.

"The Falcons will close out the season with three straight wins, all against their division rivals, to sneak into the playoffs after a rough start to the season. By late in the season, Atlanta players will be more up to speed on Stefanski's system and they'll be battle-tested after a tumultuous start."

While they tabbed this as a "bold prediction," it's really not even a mildly spicy take. Remember, the Falcons finished in a three-way tie with the Panthers and Buccaneers at the top of the division last year with an 8-9 record. Some modest improvements are all they need to separate themselves from the herd.