The 2026 NFL regular season is almost here, and the Pittsburgh Steelers and Atlanta Falcons will waste no time delivering one of Week 1’s most intriguing matchups.
Pittsburgh will welcome Atlanta to Acrisure Stadium on Sunday, September 13, 2026, with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on FOX, giving fans an early look at two teams beginning new chapters with new coaching staffs and plenty of major storylines.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch Atlanta Falcons vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, including kickoff time, TV channel, streaming options, location and the biggest storylines heading into the season opener.
🏈 Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Atlanta Falcons — Game Information
Matchup: Atlanta Falcons at Pittsburgh Steelers
Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026
Kickoff Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Location: Acrisure Stadium — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Week: NFL Week 1
TV Channel: FOX
Streaming: FOX One, NFL+ and participating live-TV providers
Out-of-market: NFL Sunday Ticket, subject to availability and regional restrictions
The NFL’s official Week 1 schedule confirms that Pittsburgh and Atlanta will meet in the Sunday afternoon window on FOX.
📺 What TV Channel Is Steelers vs. Falcons On?
Steelers vs. Falcons will air on FOX.
Because this is a Sunday afternoon regional broadcast, the exact FOX game available in your area can depend on your local market.
Fans in the Pittsburgh and Atlanta markets should check their local FOX affiliate and television listings as kickoff approaches.
The Steelers’ official schedule also lists FOX as the broadcast network for their Week 1 home opener against Atlanta.
📱 How to Stream Steelers vs. Falcons
There are several ways to stream the game in the United States.
FOX One carries NFL games televised by FOX and can be used without a traditional cable subscription. FOX says its service carries its Sunday NFL coverage, including games broadcast on local FOX stations.
Fans can also use NFL+ to watch eligible live local games on phones and tablets. NFL+ includes live local and prime-time regular-season games on supported mobile devices, although geographical and device restrictions apply.
Viewers outside the local broadcast area can also check NFL Sunday Ticket for eligible out-of-market Sunday afternoon games.
Availability can vary by location, so fans should confirm their local FOX coverage before kickoff.
🔥 A New Era Begins in Pittsburgh
Week 1 will carry extra significance for Steelers fans.
The 2026 season marks the beginning of the Mike McCarthy era in Pittsburgh, with the veteran coach taking over one of the NFL’s most historic franchises.
It represents a major change for an organization accustomed to remarkable coaching stability.
Pittsburgh will also enter the season with Aaron Rodgers at the top of its quarterback depth chart. The Steelers kept Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and rookie Drew Allar on their initial 53-man roster, with Rodgers listed as QB1 and Rudolph behind him.
That alone makes Pittsburgh one of the most fascinating teams to watch entering Week 1.
Rodgers will have an offense featuring weapons including DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Pat Freiermuth and Jaylen Warren, giving McCarthy plenty of options as he begins building the identity of Pittsburgh’s new offense.
👀 Atlanta Has a Major Quarterback Storyline
Atlanta enters Week 1 with its own huge storyline under center.
The Falcons have spent the offseason evaluating Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa as part of their quarterback situation.
Penix has been working his way back from an ACL injury, while Tagovailoa received significant preseason opportunities.
As recently as late August, Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski had not publicly committed to a Week 1 starter. Penix had returned to full practice work, but Atlanta continued evaluating the situation heading toward the regular season.
That makes the days leading up to Steelers-Falcons especially interesting.
Whoever gets the start will immediately face a Pittsburgh defense filled with established playmakers.
💥 Pittsburgh’s Defense Could Be the Difference
The Steelers continue to possess plenty of star power defensively.
Their initial 2026 roster includes T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, Patrick Queen, Alex Highsmith, Joey Porter Jr. and Jalen Ramsey.
That combination creates challenges throughout the field.
Atlanta’s offensive line will need to handle Pittsburgh’s pass rush, while the Falcons’ quarterback must protect the football against a secondary capable of creating turnovers.
For Atlanta, establishing the running game and keeping Pittsburgh from turning obvious passing situations into opportunities for Watt and the Steelers’ edge rushers could become one of the keys to the afternoon.
🏃 Watch Bijan Robinson
One of Atlanta’s most dangerous weapons remains Bijan Robinson.
His versatility gives the Falcons the ability to attack defenses in multiple ways. He can produce as a traditional runner, catch passes out of the backfield and create mismatches against linebackers.
Against a physical Pittsburgh defense, Atlanta could look to get Robinson involved early and often.
If the Falcons can consistently create manageable second- and third-down situations, they may be able to limit Pittsburgh’s opportunities to unleash its pass rush.
🏟️ Acrisure Stadium Should Be Loud
Opening day in Pittsburgh always brings tremendous energy.
Add a new head coach, a veteran quarterback in Rodgers and a fascinating opponent, and Acrisure Stadium should provide one of the loudest environments of the Week 1 Sunday afternoon schedule.
That crowd could become an important factor for Atlanta.
Communication at the line of scrimmage, protection adjustments and avoiding false starts will all be critical when the Falcons have the football.
Pittsburgh will want to create pressure early, energize the crowd and force Atlanta to play from behind.
📚 Steelers Have Dominated the Series
History strongly favors Pittsburgh.
The Steelers entered this matchup holding a 16-2-1 all-time series advantage over Atlanta. Their most recent meeting came in the 2024 season opener, when Pittsburgh earned an 18-10 victory over the Falcons in Atlanta.
Interestingly, that means the Steelers and Falcons will open a season against each other for the second time in three years.
This time, however, both franchises look significantly different.
🔑 Keys to the Game
The first major battle will be quarterback efficiency. Week 1 games frequently come down to which offense avoids costly mistakes while adjusting to full-speed regular-season football.
Atlanta must also find a way to slow Pittsburgh’s pass rush. Allowing Watt, Highsmith and the rest of the Steelers’ front to consistently pressure the quarterback could make it extremely difficult for the Falcons to establish offensive rhythm.
For Pittsburgh, the question will be how quickly Rodgers and the new-look offense can develop chemistry. Metcalf and Pittman give the Steelers intriguing receiving options, but Week 1 will be their first opportunity to demonstrate how the pieces fit together when the games count.
Turnovers and red-zone execution could ultimately decide the matchup.
🏈 Final Word
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Atlanta Falcons may not be a prime-time matchup, but it has all the ingredients of one of the most fascinating games on the Week 1 schedule.
There’s a new coaching era in Pittsburgh under Mike McCarthy. Aaron Rodgers is positioned to lead a revamped Steelers offense. Kevin Stefanski begins his tenure in Atlanta, while the Falcons enter the season with significant intrigue surrounding their quarterback position.
Add Pittsburgh’s loaded defense, Atlanta’s explosive offensive talent and the atmosphere of a season opener at Acrisure Stadium, and there will be plenty to watch from the opening kickoff.
📅 Sunday, September 13, 2026
⏰ 1:00 p.m. ET
📺 FOX
🏟️ Acrisure Stadium — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
📱 Streaming: FOX One, NFL+ and eligible live-TV services
🔥 Steelers vs. Falcons. Week 1. A new season, new eras on both sidelines, and an immediate opportunity to make a statement.
