Falcons Falter Against Steelers in Season Kickoff at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
In the 2024 season opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Atlanta Falcons were handed a sobering defeat by the Pittsburgh Steelers, with a final score of 10-18. This early setback leaves the Falcons with an initial record of 0-1, while the Steelers kick off their season on a positive note, standing at 1-0.
The match was dominated by formidable defensive plays from both teams. The Falcons' defense made their presence felt by sacking the Steelers' quarterback twice for a total loss of 23 yards and forcing two quick three-and-out series. Grady Jarrett was particularly impressive for Atlanta, recording 1.5 sacks and two tackles for loss, playing a pivotal role in disrupting Pittsburgh's offensive rhythm.
Special teams also had its moments of brilliance for Atlanta, notably through Bradley Pinion's punting performance. Pinion punted four times, amassing an impressive total of 210 yards and achieving his longest punt at 59 yards. Despite these efforts to shift field position in their favor, Atlanta struggled to capitalize.
Offensively, consistency eluded the Falcons throughout the game. Quarterback Kirk Cousins completed just over half of his attempts (16 out of 26) for a modest tally of 155 passing yards but was hindered by two interceptions and two sacks. His efforts resulted in only one touchdown pass and left him with an underwhelming passer rating just shy of sixty percent.
Rookie running back Bijan Robinson showed promise in his first professional outing with sixty-eight rushing yards on eighteen carries but was unable to breach Pittsburgh's end zone despite averaging nearly four yards per attempt.
The receiving corps saw contributions from several players; Ray-Ray McCloud led with fifty-two receiving yards from four catches yet failed to add any touchdowns to his stat line.
Turnovers were particularly detrimental for Atlanta; they surrendered possession three times during the match including a costly fumble lost by offensive lineman Drew Dalman that led to negative yardage on recovery.
As they look forward following this initial defeat against Pittsburgh Steelers; The Atlanta Falcons are set to face Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on September sixteenth twenty-fourth year twenty-four hour clock time eight fifteen PM Eastern Daylight Time. This encounter will be broadcast live on ESPN channel two hundred six satellite ensuring fans can follow every moment as it unfolds.