For as crazy as it sounds, the Atlanta Falcons will play regular season football this week for the first time since the first week of January. And we're just days away from seeing this team answer many questions about what we'll see in 2026, starting with Sunday's opener vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers.
And since Week 1 is right around the corner, right now is the perfect time to start a series where I will speak to experts of the Falcons' 2026 opponents so we can get insight on what to expect. Our first litmus test of the Kevin Stefanski era will come in Week 1 at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
And in line with this new series, I spoke to a Steelers expert in order to determine what Atlanta will go up against to kick off 2026. The Steelers seem to be a favorable matchup for the Falcons because of Stefanski's time spent in the AFC North, but they have also never beat the Steelers on the road.
Let's dive into our conversation with Still Curtain site expert Tommy Jaggi, who enlightened us the Steelers' playoff hopes after replacing Mike Tomlin with Mike McCarthy, how much Aaron Rodgers has left, and we bonded over our mutual disdain for Arthur Smith.
Pittsburgh Steelers expert gave Falcons fans another precursor to Week 1
Q: The Steelers made the playoffs last season, but it was another early exit. What is your current confidence level in this team after firing Mike Tomlin?
A: Mike Tomlin always did one thing well—raise his team's floor. But the Steelers need to raise their ceiling, and it was time for a change. Mike McCarthy is an established NFL coach who will call the offense, and it's hard to imagine his offensive play-calling looking worse than the last eight combined years of Arthur Smith, Matt Canada, and Randy Fichtner.
I'm not confident the Steelers are suddenly a contender, but there is hope they will have a higher offensive ceiling in 2026, which could make them more threatening.
Q: The big storyline of the Steelers’ offseason is reuniting Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers. How much do you think Rodgers has left in the tank, and do you think McCarthy will help him turn back the clock?
A: If this were another year of Aaron Rodgers and Arthur Smith, we wouldn't have much reason for confidence. Advanced metrics showed just how timid Rodgers was in 2025. However, the reunion could spark something that's been missing in the aging QB since 2021.
Rodgers won't suddenly play at a Pro Bowl level again, but he's still got arm talent. Despite entering his age-43 season, Rodgers could see a slight uptick in production and efficiency, thanks to a McCarthy-led offense.
Q: Falcons fans are plenty aware of what an Arthur Smith offense entails. How will this offense change with McCarthy taking over?
A: Historically, McCarthy has run more 11 personnel groupings than Smith, but it's more than that. McCarthy is a wizard when it comes to getting his best football players the ball and exploiting the soft spots of the defense. He should do a much better job of recognizing the talent and skill set of his players and putting them to good use.
Though the Steelers still plan to run the football often with Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle, Pittsburgh will be more pass-oriented than they've been perhaps in any season since 2018.
Q: As a Steelers fan, you're plenty familiar with Kevin Stefanski from his time in Cleveland. Are Steelers fans excited to face a familiar opponent to start the season?
A: Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers' historical dominance against the Cleveland Browns, they have an all-time record of just 6-6 against Kevin Stefanski (including an ugly playoff loss in January 2021). Meanwhile, McCarthy brought in an almost entirely new coaching staff, so this team will need to figure out Coach Stefanski all over again.
The reunion against the former AFC North coach in Week 1 will be fun for fans, but the Steelers didn't exactly have him figured out.
Q: What would you consider the biggest or most impactful move the Steelers made this offseason?
A: The return of Rodgers was a swift indication that the Steelers are all in to avoid a ten-year drought without a playoff win. Outside of Rodgers' return, the trade acquisition of Michael Pittman Jr. should give the Steelers a more respectable WR2 than they've had in several years. Second-round pick Germie Bernard could also help.
Unfortunately, the Steelers will have to be patient with their rookie draft, as first-round pick and projected right tackle Max Iheanachor will go through some growing pains, while third-round picks Drew Allar and Daylen Everette won't be ready to help the team right away.
Q: What were the biggest training camp storylines for the Steelers, and who are the biggest standouts to monitor in Week 1?
A: The Steelers had a relatively quiet training camp, with no live tackling and three practices cut short due to weather. But the slot receiver battle drew buzz as 2024 third-round pick Roman Wilson and 2026 sixth-round pick Germie Bernard battled for slot duties. Both players will find themselves in this role at times in Week 1 and will look to make the most of their opportunities.
Falcons fans should also keep an eye out for Steelers linebacker Payton Wilson, who had an excellent summer. Meanwhile, cornerback Asante Samuel Jr.—who may have been the overall star of training camp—may be stepping into a big role in Week 1 with Joey Porter Jr's status up in the air.
Q: What is the Steelers’ greatest weakness the Falcons could potentially take advantage of?
A: The middle of the defense was a sieve last season, and after choosing to run it back with the same off-ball linebackers, the Steelers could struggle in this area once again.
Patrick Queen is coming off a disastrous season. , he allowed 74 of 93 receptions for 829 yards and three touchdowns to go with a 114.6 passer rating surrendered. He was also credited with 32 missed tackles in 2025 (20.3% missed-tackle rate). This is the weakest spot on the roster.
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