Kevin Stefanski's first game at the helm with the Atlanta Falcons will be against a familiar opponent. The Falcons will travel north to Acrisure Stadium to face a familiar opponent for Stefanski: his old division rival PIttsburgh Steelers.
This is the second time in three seasons that Atlanta and Pittsburgh square off in the opener, with the Steelers winning an ugly 18-10 contest two years ago, which coincidentally came in Raheem Morris' Falcons debut.
The Falcons have struggled in Week 1 as of late, going 1-7 since 2018. Atlanta's eight-season playoff drought has involved stumbling out of the gate in the opener. Starting 2026 off with a road victory is the first step to returning to the postseason--but this is a building Atlanta has never won inside.
What are some notable matchups to watch in Week 1, and how will they help determine whether the Falcons start the season on the right foot? We'll dive right into what to watch for on Sunday afternoon.
Atlanta needs to win these three matchups to prevail in Week 1
Falcons' interior offensive line vs Cameron Heyward and Derrick Harmon
Atlanta's best path to success offensively is relying on Bijan Robinson; after all, he led the NFL in scrimmage yards and was a First-Team All-Pro for a reason. Bijan's production will heavily depend on how the Falcons' interior offensive line holds up against Pittsburgh's strong interior defensive line.
Matthew Bergeron, Ryan Neuzil, and Chris Lindstrom form one of the better guard-center-guard trios in football, but they'll have their work cut out for them against Cameron Heyward and Derrick Harmon. Heyward is entering his 16th season, but is still one of the best defensive tackles in the sport. Pittsburgh paired him up with Harmon, whom it selected 21st overall in 2025
If the Falcons can control the trenches, they can lean on their run game and win the time-of-possession battle. Taking pressure off Tua Tagovailoa in this game is critical. If Atlanta can't win up front, then it will have a hard time generating consistent offensive production.
Falcons' depleted pass rush vs Steelers' offensive line
On the flip side of the battle in the trenches, Atlanta will need to find a way to put pressure on Aaron Rodgers despite being down its top two pass rushers. Jalon Walker is out for the season with a torn ACL and James Pearce Jr. is suspended for the first eight games of 2026.
The Falcons will rely on veteran acquisition Za'Darius Smith and Samson Ebukam. Rodgers isn't particularly mobile at age 42, but he can give Atlanta problems if he has a clean pocket. DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. make up one of the stronger wide receiver tandems in the NFL, and it may be a long afternoon for the Falcons' secondary if the pass rush can't disrupt Rodgers.
Pittsburgh has a strong offensive line and a solid tackle duo of Troy Fautanu and Dylan Cook. While Rodgers may not be his former MVP self, he is still an experienced quarterback who can pick apart a defense when given time.
Drake London vs Joey Porter Jr./Jamel Dean
The most exciting matchup in this game is Drake London against whoever is tasked with covering him. Ideally for Pittsburgh, it would be Joey Porter Jr.; however, his status for Week 1 is still up in the air due to a contract dispute. If Porter doesn't play in the opener, the Steelers have another quality cornerback in Jamel Dean.
Regardless of who is asked to guard London, it should be a great matchup. The Falcons' wide receiver room is pretty thin outside of the 2022 eighth-overall pick, so they will have a hard time winning through the air if he is shut down. Even with Tua Tagovailoa starting, Atlanta's passing attack will rely heavily on their new $141 million man.
London having a strong outing will make the Falcons more versatile offensively. The Steelers won't be able to sell out to stop Robinson on the ground. If London gets shut down, then it will also hurt Atlanta's run game, and the offense will likely struggle, similar to the last time it faced Pittsburgh.
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