The first full day of NFL football in 2024 is finally here, and the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1 action.
Here’s everything you need to know about the game today.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Atlanta Falcons
- Start time: Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, 1 p.m. ET
- Channel: Fox
- Live stream options: Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, FOX NOW
- Radio Stations: WDVE 102.5 FM, 92.9 The Game
- Starting QBs: Russell Wilson, Kirk Cousins
- Betting lines:
- Spread: ATL -3
- Total: 41
- Moneyline: ATL -155, PIT +130
Fans were forced to wait a bit, but on Wednesday, Aug. 28, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin finally announced that Russell Wilson would be the starting QB for Pittsburgh’s Week 1 showdown.
After a fierce attempt to take the starting job in the preseason, fellow newcomer Justin Fields fell just short of the starting spot, getting edged out by Wilson. However, in his announcement, Tomlin was vocal about having packages to get the former Chicago Bears QB on the field. Tomlin told Rich Eisen, “My friend Raheem Morris better be ready for a Justin Fields package … there’s too much talent to be sitting around watching.”
George Pickens returns as the de facto WR1, but no matter who lines up under center, they will need one of Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, or Scotty Miller to step up behind Pickens. Having the RB duo of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren and TE Pat Freiermuth can ease that concern, but a lack of reliable receiving options isn’t going to do this offense many favors.
The defense will likely be a better unit than last season with the offseason acquisitions. However, Pittsburgh needs to see a vast improvement in its offense to give the defense a little more breathing room. Playing close games in the NFL isn’t easy, especially when your offense can’t score.
As for Atlanta, the Falcons, too, get a massive change under center after a horrible offensive output in 2023. QB Desmond Ridder got traded to the Cardinals (and cut after a rough preseason), and veteran bag chaser Kirk Cousins was brought in on a four-year, $180 million contract to become the new signal-caller.
The Falcons’ offense is about to undergo a radical transformation. After having a quarterback they were hesitant to let pass the ball, Cousins will likely get the opposite treatment. While still recovering from an Achilles injury, Cousins played some of the best football of his career before the injury last season.
Cousins completed 69.5% of his passes in eight games for 2,331 yards, 18 TDs, and five INTs. If he can bounce back from last season’s injury, Cousins is set up to have one of the better seasons in his career with a plethora of weapons at his disposal. The Falcons are also thrilled to finally put those weapons to use.
RB Bijan Robinson should only get better with a solid presence under center. Not only will the ground game between himself and Tyler Allgeier alleviate pressure on Cousins, but his new QB will also offer Robinson more opportunities for targets out of the backfield as a dynamic and explosive playmaker.
On the perimeter, WRs Drake London and Darnell Mooney should see an increase in production, as should TE Kyle Pitts, with a better arm throwing passes. Atlanta did lose all three preseason matchups, but many of the players just mentioned never even got snaps.
Steelers at Falcons Betting Preview
There seems to be little doubt that Cousins will be full-go in Week 1 and we now know it will be Russell Wilson against him. What we saw from the Steelers at times this preseason was alarming, but caveated by the fact it is only preseason.
However, we are not expecting their offense to put up huge numbers, and the Falcons should be more than capable of getting to 20 points.
For more betting analysis, make sure to check out PFN’s Week 1 picks and predictions.