The Atlanta Falcons will see a familiar face on the opposing sideline next Sunday, that of former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. Shanahan is 36-41 as the head coach of the 49ers, but the pertinent record – this season’s record – is sitting at 7-6. Even more importantly, that’s good for sixth in the NFC, giving the 49ers the penultimate spot in the NFC Playoffs atop a heap of 6-7 teams vying to get in.
One of those teams is the Falcons, who have managed to turn their season around after looking like one of the worst teams in football to start the year. They got the job done against the Panthers last week in a 29-21 win. Cordarrelle Patterson remains the most influential player on the Falcons offense, as they try to hold off the Saints and leapfrog the Vikings, Eagles, and Washington Football Team.
Atlanta has certainly proven to have the temperament needed to so as a team. Though they’re capable of some truly horrendous losses (see: the Patriots on “Thursday Night Football”), they’re at their best when they can get an early lead and make teams claw to get back into games. Matt Ryan is still playing somewhat conservative football, but ultimately that’s been enough in recent months for Atlanta. It will have to continue to be so as the Falcons try to make one last postseason push in Arthur Smith’s debut season.
For the 49ers, Deebo Samuel should be getting a full snap count again. That is huge news for Jimmy Garappolo, who missed the star receiver when he missed time this season. Samuel has been the NFL’s most electric receiver when healthy this year, and he could create a lot of problems for the Falcons secondary in this game. A win would be huge for the 49ers’ playoff odds as well, as it would keep them above the fray and allow them to continue taking care of business to get in instead of scoreboard watching.
Here’s what you need to know to watch Falcons vs. 49ers this Sunday, including kickoff time, TV channels, and the full Week 15 NFL schedule.
MORE: Watch 49ers vs. Falcons live with fuboTV (7-day trial)
What channel is 49ers vs. Falcons on today?
- TV channel (national): CBS
- TV channel (Atlanta): WGCL
- TV channel (San Francisco): KPIX
- Live Stream: Paramount +, fuboTV
49ers vs. Falcons will be broadcast regionally on local CBS affiliate channels in Week 15. CBS has Kevin Harlan and Trent Green on the call for this game, with Melanie Collins on the sidelines. Gene Steratore has CBS’s rules analysis.
You can find the Falcons’ away broadcast on SiriusXM channel 382, while the 49ers’ home broadcast airs on channel 226.
In Canada, viewers can watch 49ers vs. Falcons with a subscription to DAZN, which includes every NFL game.
49ers vs. Falcons start time
- Date: Sunday, Dec. 19
- Kickoff: 4:05 p.m. EST, 1:05 p.m. PST
49ers vs. Falcons is scheduled to start at 4:05 p.m. ET (1:05 p.m. PT) on Sunday. This game will mostly be constrained to local markets, with Detroit, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. also getting it in the CBS late block.
49ers schedule 2021
| Week | Date | Opponent | Kickoff time | TV |
| 1 | Sept. 12 | at Lions | 1 p.m. ET | Fox |
| 2 | Sept. 19 | at Eagles | 1 p.m. ET | Fox |
| 3 | Sept. 26 | vs. Packers | 8:20 p.m. ET | NBC |
| 4 | Oct. 3 | vs. Seahawks | 4:05 p.m. ET | Fox |
| 5 | Oct. 10 | at Cardinals | 4:25 p.m. ET | Fox |
| 6 | BYE | — | — | — |
| 7 | Oct. 24 | vs. Colts | 8:20 p.m. ET | NBC |
| 8 | Oct. 31 | at Bears | 1 p.m. ET | Fox |
| 9 | Nov. 7 | vs. Cardinals | 4:25 p.m. ET | Fox |
| 10 | Nov. 15 | vs. Rams | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| 11 | Nov. 21 | at Jaguars | 1 p.m. ET | Fox |
| 12 | Nov. 28 | vs. Vikings | 4:25 p.m. ET | Fox |
| 13 | Dec. 5 | at Seahawks | 8:20 p.m. ET | NBC |
| 14 | Dec. 12 | at Bengals | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 15 | Dec. 19 | vs. Falcons | 4:05 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 16 | Dec. 23 | at Titans | 8:20 p.m. ET | NFL Network |
| 17 | Jan. 2 | vs. Texans | 4:05 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 18 | Jan. 9 | at Rams | 4:25 p.m. ET | Fox |
Falcons schedule 2021
| Week | Date | Opponent | Kickoff time | TV |
| 1 | Sept. 12 | vs. Eagles | 1 p.m. ET | Fox |
| 2 | Sept. 19 | at Bucs | 4:05 p.m. | Fox |
| 3 | Sept. 26 | at Giants | 1 p.m. | Fox |
| 4 | Oct. 3 | vs. WFT | 1 p.m. | Fox |
| 5 | Oct. 10 | vs. Jets (in London) | 9:30 a.m. | NFL Network |
| 6 | Oct. 17 | Bye | — | — |
| 7 | Oct. 24 | at Dolphins | 1 p.m. | Fox |
| 8 | Oct. 31 | vs. Panthers | 1 p.m. | Fox |
| 9 | Nov. 7 | at Saints | 1 p.m. | Fox |
| 10 | Nov. 14 | at Cowboys | 1 p.m. | Fox |
| 11 | TBD | vs. Patriots | TBD | Fox/NFLN/Amazon |
| 12 | Nov. 28 | at Jaguars | 1 p.m. | CBS |
| 13 | Dec. 5 | vs. Bucs | 1 p.m. | Fox |
| 14 | Dec. 12 | at Panthers | 1 p.m. | Fox |
| 15 | Dec. 19 | at 49ers | 4:05 p.m. | CBS |
| 16 | Dec. 26 | vs. Lions | 1 p.m. | Fox |
| 17 | Jan. 2 | at Bills | 1 p.m. | Fox |
| 18 | Jan. 9 | vs. Saints | 1 p.m. | Fox |
