Atlanta Falcons Bold Predictions for Week 1 Matchup with Steelers

The NFL is back, and one of the highly anticipated Week 1 games will be a home matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Falcons enter the 2024 season with arguably the most buzz around them in a long time. Even with Matt Ryan leading the team, most pundits didn’t feel as strongly about the Falcons as some do about this year’s squad.

That’s because they got a huge upgrade at quarterback that they’ve been waiting for, with Kirk Cousins ​​joining the team this offseason. But it’s not just Cousins ​​— the pieces around him, whether they’re already there or acquired in the draft and free agency this offseason, are making Atlanta a real contender in the NFC this year.

To begin their quest to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2017, they will start with the Steelers. There are plenty of stories to tell between the two teams. First, former coach Arthur Smith, now the Steelers’ offensive coordinator, is returning to Atlanta after being fired last year following a third consecutive 7-10 season.

There’s also plenty of talk on both sides about quarterback: For the Falcons, it’s Cousins, now 36 and coming off a season-ending Achilles injury, and the rookie first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. is waiting for him. And for the Steelers, it’s Russell Wilson, released from the Broncos and signed on a shoestring to become the starter in Pittsburgh, although former Bears quarterback Justin Fields could also see the field and even take over as the starter if Wilson struggles.

This will be a great way to start the season for Atlanta and new head coach Raheem Morris. Now, with that in mind, let’s dive into the Falcons’ bold predictions against the Steelers in Week 1.

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Grady Jarrett gets knocked down in his comeback match

The Falcons’ leading pass rusher, Grady Jarrett, played in just eight games last year before tearing his ACL, ending his season. He’s entering his 10th year in the league and is looking to make a big comeback. He’ll look to be part of a rebuilt Falcons defense, with rookies Ruke Orhorhoro, Zach Harrison and Matthew Judon helping out.

That shouldn’t stop the veteran defensive lineman from getting to the Steelers’ Wilson. In fact, it should only help him. Jarrett had 1.5 sacks before the end of the season last year. He should approach that total in Week 1 against the Steelers.

Falcons offensive line keeps Kirk Cousins ​​clean

One reason Cousins ​​likely signed with Atlanta is that he saw strength in the team’s offensive line. At 36, he’ll be looking for any protection he can get in hopes of avoiding another serious injury. The Falcons enter 2024 with the sixth-best offensive line in the league after finishing with the third-best pass-blocking grade in the league last year (74.2), according to Pro Football Focus. On Sunday, though, they’ll face the fourth-best team in pass-blocking last year, the Steelers. So it could be a battle in the trenches.

It will be a tough matchup for the Falcons front office, which now faces not only TJ Watt, last year’s NFL sack leader, but also offseason acquisition Patrick Queen, not to mention veterans like Cameron Heyward and rookie Payton Wilson from NC State. That the Falcons will keep Cousins ​​clean is certainly a bold prediction.

Kirk Cousins ​​throws for 270 yards and two touchdowns

Morris and Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot haven’t forced Cousins ​​to simply pass the ball like the previous coach did with his quarterbacks. Cousins ​​is a quarterback who can get the ball down the field while also gaining passing yards. Before his season ended last year, he had just two games in which he threw for fewer than 200 yards. In eight games he’s played, he’s thrown for more than 300 yards in four of them. There’s only one game he hasn’t thrown multiple touchdowns.

Kyle Pitts, who is dealing with a hamstring problem, could definitely stifle the Falcons’ passing attack on Sunday. But there are plenty of other options at No. 1 in Drake London, Darnell Mooney and Bijan Robinson who can play deep. Cousins ​​should have a solid start to his career in Atlanta.

Falcons win at home, beat Steelers, cover the spread

As of this writing, the Falcons are 3.5-point favorites over the Steelers. Being at home at Mercedes-Benz Stadium should definitely help, even though Atlanta has just one game over .500 at home over the past three seasons (13-12), according to StatMuse. They were 5-3 last season.

But again, this is a completely different team than last year, on many fronts. That’s not to say this matchup with the Steelers won’t be a challenge — quite the opposite. Ultimately, the difference will be Pittsburgh’s struggles on offense, where even the Falcons’ defense can surprise them a bit. The Falcons win 27-13.