The Atlanta Falcons take an early shot at the reigning NFC South champions in Week 1, as they welcome the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for an early start Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. ET with TV coverage on FOX and streaming on-demand.
How to watch Falcons vs. Buccaneers on TV andstream the game on FOX:
When: Sunday, Sept. 7 at 1 p.m. ET
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Ga.
TV channel: FOX
FuboTV (free trial) - FuboTV scores high marks for viewer experience with a huge library of live sports; length of the free trial varies; the monthly rate after trial starts at $54.99 with a current $30 off promotional offer.
DirecTV (free trial) - DirecTV has the longest free trial in streaming with five days to try before you buy; first month after the free trial starts as low as $54.99 with current $35 off promotion.
SlingTV (low intro rate) - Sling’s half-price offer is perfect for those in the market for 1+ month of TV;.monthly plans start at just $29.99 with the introductory rate. A comparison of plans, including daily and weekly passes, can be found here.
Regional restrictions may apply.
The Falcons embrace the opportunity to let young, talented playmakers loose at the skill spots in the team’s first full season with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. guiding the offense. Atlanta spent first-round picks on Penix in 2024, running back Bijan Robinson in ‘23, wide receiver Drake London in ‘22 and tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. in ‘21, giving Penix and that attack ample firepower to repeat the upside the unit showed late in the ‘24 season. In the ‘25 draft, Atlanta added a pair of edge defenders in Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. in the first round and spent two more picks in a light draft haul on safety Xavier Watts (Round 3) and cornerback Billy Bowman Jr. (Round 4).
The Buccaneers are on a run of five straight NFC playoff appearances that began with the franchise’s first Super Bowl title in 2020. Future Hall of Famer Tom Brady led that title run in his first of three seasons with the team, before Mayfield took the torch with NFC South titles and postseason bids in the past two straight seasons. The Bucs won the NFC South Division last season and fell to the Washington Commanders (23-20) in the NFC Wild Card round.
Much of that same crew is back for 2025, led by Mayfield, Evans and Bucky Irving to anchor a balanced Bucs offense. Tampa Bay also selected Ohio State wideout Emeka Egbuka in the first round of the NFL Draft to add more depth to the team’s veteran-laden attack.
The Falcons and Buccaneers are set for a 1 p.m. ET start on FOX. Live streams are available from FuboTV (free trial), SlingTV (low intro rate) and DirecTV (free trial).
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.