NFL Game Preview: Atlanta Falcons (0-0-0) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (0-0-0)

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Pittsburgh Steelers logo

Acrisure Stadium | Referee: Brad Rogers

Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 PM ET

FOX: Joe Davis, Greg Olsen, Pam Oliver (field reporter)

Regular Season: PIT leads series, 16-2-1 (PIT won past 5)

Last meeting: 9/8/24: PIT 18 at ATL 10

Kevin Stefanski (ATL) vs. Opp. (incl. postseason): 6-7 Reg. Season: 45-56 (.446)

Mike McCarthy (PIT) vs. Opp. (incl. postseason): 6-6 Reg. Season: 174-112-2 (.608)

FALCONS NOTES

• QB TUA TAGOVAILOA totaled 2,660 pass yards & 20 TD passes in 2025 with Mia. Led NFL with 4,624 pass yards in 2023 (w/ Mia.). Aims for 3rd in row vs. Pit with 250+ pass yards & TD. Can make Atl. debut. • QB MICHAEL PENIX JR. passed for career-high 1,982 yards & 9 TDs last season. Had TD pass in 5 of his last 6 games in 2025. • RB BIJAN ROBINSON led NFL with career-high 2,298 scrimmage yards (1,478 rush, 820 rec.) in 2025 & ranked 2nd among RBs with 79 receptions. Has 5,648 scrimmage yards, most by player under age of 24 in NFL history. Can become 5th player ever with 1,800+ scrimmage yards in 3 of his 1st 4 career seasons. Can become 4th RB with 50+ receptions in each of his first four career seasons. • WR DRAKE LONDON totaled 68 receptions for 919 yards & 7 TD catches in 2025. Has 850+ rec. yards in all 4 career seasons. • WR ZACHARIAH BRANCH can make NFL debut after being selected in 3rd round in 2026 NFL Draft. • TE KYLE PITTS set career-highs in receptions (88) & TD catches (5) in 2025 & ranked 2nd among TEs with 928 rec. yards. Ranks 4th among TEs with 3,579 rec. yards since entering the NFL in 2021. Had 50+ rec. yards in 5 of his last 6 games in 2025. Had TD catch in last meeting. • LB DIVINE DEABLO recorded career-high 5 TFL last season & had 73 tackles & FR. Had sack in last game vs. Pit. (10/13/24 w/ LV). • CB A.J. TERRELL had 68 tackles, 12 PD & 2 FFs in 2025. Had PD in 5 of his last 6 games. • S XAVIER WATTS ranked tied-2nd in NFL with 5 INTs & tied-1st among rookies with 11 PD in 2025. • S JESSIE BATES had 98 tackles, 6 PD & FF in 2025 & became 4th DB since 2000 with 3+ INTs in 7 of his 1st 8 career seasons. Has 54 tackles, FR & 7 PD in 11 career games vs. Pit.

STEELERS NOTES

• QB AARON RODGERS ranks 4th in NFL all-time in TD passes (527) & 5th in completions (5,696) & pass yards (66,274). Totaled 3,322 pass yards & 25 TDs (24 pass, 1 rush) in 2025. Has 220+ pass yards & TD pass in 4 of his past 5 games. Completed 27 of 33 atts. (81.8 pct.) for 327 yards & 4 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 147.5 rating in his last game vs. Atl. (10/5/20 w/ GB). • RB JAYLEN WARREN led team with career-high 1,291 scrimmage yards (958 rush, 333 rec.) & had career-high 8 scrimmage TDs (6 rush, 2 rec.) in 2025. Has 95+ scrimmage yards in 2 of his past 3. • WR DK METCALF led team in rec. yards (850) & rec. TDs (6) & had 59 receptions last season. Has TD catch in each of his 4 career games vs. Atl. Had 4 catches for 99 yards & TD in his last game vs. Atl. (10/20/24 w/ Sea.). • WR MICHAEL PITTMAN JR. can make Pit. debut after totaling 80 receptions for 784 yards & career-high 7 TDs with Ind. in 2025. • RB RICO DOWDLE had 1,373 scrimmage yards (1,076 rush, 297 rec.) in 2025, his 2nd consecutive season with 1,000+ rush yards. Can make PIT debut. • LB T.J. WATT totaled 55 tackles, 10 TFL, 8 PD, 7 sacks, 3 FFs, 2 FRs & 2 INTs in 2025. Since entering NFL in 2017, leads all players in FF (36) & ranks 2nd in sacks (115) & TFL (136). Has sack in 2 of his 3 career games vs. Atl. • DT CAMERON HEYWARD led all DL with 78 tackles last season. Has 5+ tackles in 5 of his past 6. • LB PATRICK QUEEN led team with 120 tackles in 2025, 5th-career season with 100+ tackles. Has 5+ tackles in 10 of his past 11, incl. playoffs. • LB ALEX HIGHSMITH had 9.5 sacks, 15 TFL & FF in 2025. • CB JOEY PORTER JR. led team with career-high 14 PD last season. • CB JALEN RAMSEY had 88 tackles, 8 PD, 4 TFL, career-high 3 sacks & INT in 2025. Has PD in 2 of his past 3. Had 2 tackles, 2 PD & INT in his last game vs. Atl. (9/18/22 w/ LAR).

Game Odds

Atlanta Falcons                 41.5

Pittsburgh Steelers         – 3

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Saturday, September 12, 2026

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