Atlanta Falcons face Pittsburgh Steelers in NFL season opener

The Atlanta Falcons travel to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers in a 1:00 PM ET kickoff on September 11, 2026. Pittsburgh enters the matchup as a 5.5-point favorite with an implied total of 23.5 points, while the Falcons are projected for 18 points. The Falcons face potential quarterback uncertainty with Tua Tagovailoa listed on the injury report, leaving Michael Penix Jr. as a possible starter. For Pittsburgh, Aaron Rodgers begins his age-42 season under head coach Mike McCarthy, leading an offense that features D.K. Metcalf as a primary receiving option. The Pittsburgh backfield remains a split between Rico Dowdle and Jaylen Warren, while Atlanta continues to feature Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts in its core offensive rotation. The game concludes the preparation period for both teams as they begin their respective 2026 campaigns.

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