Week 1: Rodgers and McCarthy Reunite as Falcons Visit Pittsburgh
The Atlanta Falcons open at the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, September 13, in Mike McCarthy's first game as Pittsburgh's head coach and Aaron Rodgers' announced final season. Atlanta named Tua Tagovailoa its starter on Sept. 7, with Michael Penix Jr. inactive as he works back from his torn ACL and Cooper Rush as the backup. The Falcons also open without both starting edge rushers, with Jalon Walker out for the year and James Pearce Jr. suspended eight games, while Pittsburgh's DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. both say they are ready after missing time in camp.
Tagovailoa gets the start, one week at a time
Kevin Stefanski said he has "the blinders on" beyond Week 1, and Penix said he is "really close" but not ready, so the job is Tagovailoa's for now rather than for the season.
Pittsburgh's new coach and an old partnership
McCarthy and Rodgers spent 13 seasons together in Green Bay and won a Super Bowl. Rodgers, 42, has said this is his last year.
The Falcons' pass rush is gutted
Of the eight Atlanta players who generated 25 or more pressures last season, only one is healthy and on the roster.
AI Prediction
Falcons 
Steelers Atlanta cannot pressure Rodgers
Without Walker and Pearce, the Falcons lack the edge rush that made their defense work last year, and Rodgers with time is still accurate.
Tagovailoa's first real start for Atlanta comes on the road
He went 3 of 5 in his preseason debut and 7 of 8 in the finale, a small sample either way, and now faces T.J. Watt at Acrisure Stadium behind a line he has barely played with.
Pittsburgh's own transition limits the margin
A new head coach, a new play-caller and receivers who missed camp time keep the projected margin under a touchdown.
The pick is driven by Atlanta's missing pass rushers. It was built to hold regardless of which Falcons quarterback started, and Tagovailoa being named does not change it.
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