Steelers GameDay Cheat Sheet: Week 1 vs the Atlanta Falcons

Steelers GameDay Cheat Sheet is a weekly series featuring a quick glance at the upcoming Steelers game, including odds, records, things to watch for, and how to watch/listen to the game.

Series Notes

  • All-Time Steelers lead, 15-2-1
    • Last: Steelers Win, 19-16 (Dec. 4, 2022)
  • Home Steelers lead, 7-0-1
    • Last: Steelers Win, 41-17 (Oct. 7, 2018)
  • Away Steelers lead, 8-2
    • Last: Steelers Win, 19-16 (Dec. 4, 2022)

The Coaches

  • Steelers: Mike Tomlin
    • At Franchise: 173-100-2 (18)
    • Overall: 173-100-2 (18)
    • Versus Opponent: 4-0
  • Falcons: Raheem Morris
    • At Franchise: 0-0 (1)
    • Overall: 21-38 (4)
    • Versus Opponent: 0-1

Gameday Information

  • Date: Sunday, September 8th
    Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
  • Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
    Atlanta, GA
    Capacity 71,000 // FieldTurf
  • TV: FOX Locally WPGH-TV (Check listings below for affiliates)
    • Joe Davis (play-by-play)
    • Greg Olsen (analysis)
    • Pam Oliver (field reporter)
  • Satellite Radio
  • Radio: Steelers Radio Network
    Locally: 102.5 WDVE-FM (Pittsburgh) & 970 WBGG-AM (Pittsburgh)
    (48 affiliates – see below)

  • Referee: Brad Rogers

SCU Steelers News & Notes


Team Leaders

Pittsburgh Steelers 2023 Leaders
Kenny Pickett 201/324, 2070 yds, 6 TDs
George Pickens 63 rec, 1140 yds, 5 TDs
Najee Harris 255 rush, 1035 yds, 8 TDs
Atlanta Falcons 2023 Leaders
Desmond Ridder 249/388, 2836 yds, 12 TDs
Drake London 69 rec, 905 yds, 2 TDs
Bijan Robinson 214 rush, 976 yds, 4 TDs

Team Rankings

PIT ATL
Home Record 5-4-0 5-3-0
Away Record 5-3-0 2-7-0
Record vs. Spread 10-7-0 5-12-0
Points Scored/Game 17.9 (28th) 18.9 (26th)
Points Allowed/Game 19.1 (6th) 21.9 (18th)
Takeaway Diff. +11 (3rd) -12 (30th)
Pass Yds/Game 186 (25th) 207 (22nd)
Rush Yds/Game 118 (13th) 127 (9th)
Def. Pass Yds/Game 227 (17th) 202 (8th)
Def. Rush Yds/Game 115 (19th) 118 (20th)

Steelers Notes

  • QB RUSSELL WILSON makes Pit. debut. Passed for 3,070 yards & 26 TDs for 98 rating with Den. in 2023. Can join HOFer Peyton Manning as only players ever with 3,000+ pass yards in each of their 1st 13 seasons. Has 11 TDs (10 pass, 1 rush) vs. INT for 114.6 rating in 5 career starts vs. Atl.
  • RB NAJEE HARRIS had 1,205 scrimmage yards (1,035 rush, 170 rec.) & 8 rush TDs in 2023. Is only player with 1,000+ rush yards in each of past 3 seasons. Is 1 of 4 RBs with 7+ rush TDs in each of past 3 seasons.
  • RB JAYLEN WARREN had 1,154 scrimmage yards (784 rush, 370 rec.) & 4 rush TDs in 2023. Harris & Warren were 1 of 2 pairs of RB teammates each with 1,000+ scrimmage yards last season.
  • RB/KR CORDARRELLE PATTERSON makes Pit. debut. Had 2,202 scrimmage yards & 20 TDs (14 rush, 6 rec.) in 3 seasons (2021-23) with Atl. Has NFLrecord 9 KR-TDs.
  • WR GEORGE PICKENSset career highs in catches (63), rec. yards (1,140) & rec. TDs (5) last season. Since 2022, leads NFL with 16.9 yards per catch (min. 100 receptions).
  • LB T.J. WATT led NFL with 19 sacks in 2023 & became 1st player since 1982 to lead league in sacks in 3 different seasons. Has 96.5 career sacks & can become 4th player since 1982 with 100+ sacks in his 1st 8 seasons.
  • LB PATRICK QUEEN makes Pit. debut. Had career-high 133 tackles with Bal. in 2023. Is 1 of 2 (Demario Davis) with 95+ tackles & 9+ TFL in each of past 4 seasons.
  • LB ALEX HIGHSMITH aims for his 4th straight season with 6+ sacks.
  • DT CAMERON HEYWARD has 80.5 career sacks, 8th-most among active players.
  • CB JOEY PORTER JR. had 10 PD as rookie in 2023.
  • S MINKAH FITZPATRICK has 60+ tackles in each of his 1st 6 career seasons. Had INT in last meeting.

Falcons Notes

  • QB KIRK COUSINS makes Atl. debut. Has 39,471 pass yards & 270 TD passes with 98.2 rating in 150 career games (145 starts). Passed for 2,331 yards (291.4 per game) & 18 TDs vs. 5 INTs for 103.8 rating in 8 starts with Min. last season. Needs 529 pass yards in his 1st 2 games to tie Drew Brees (152) as 3rd-fastest QB ever to 40,000 career pass yards.
  • RB BIJAN ROBINSON ranked 2nd among rookies & 6th in NFL with 1,463 scrimmage yards (976 rush, 487 rec.) in 2023 & had 8 TDs (4 rush, 4 rec.). Has 50+ scrimmage yards in 15 of 17 career games.
  • WR DRAKE LONDON had 69 receptions & career-high 905 rec. yards in 2023. Has 5+ catches in 8 of his past 10 home games.
  • TE KYLE PITTS had 53 receptions for 667 yards & 3 rec. TDs last season. Aims for his 3rd in row at home with rec. TD.
  • LB MATTHEW JUDON makes Atl. debut. Had 4 sacks in 5 games with NE in 2023 & has 66.5 sacks & 87 TFL in 114 career games. Has sack in 3 of his past 5 games vs. Pit.
  • LB KADEN ELLISS had career highs in tackles (122) & TFL (11) in 2023.
  • LB NATE LANDMAN had career highs in tackles (110) & TFL (7) last season.
  • CB A.J. TERRELL had 11 PD last season. Had 2 PD in last meeting.
  • S JESSIE BATES led team & ranked 2nd among DBs with career-high 132 tackles last season. Ranked 3rd in NFL with career-high 6 INTs in 2023. Is 1 of 3 DBs with 100+ tackles in 4 of past 6 seasons.
  • S JUSTIN SIMMONS makes Atl. debut. Had 592 tackles, 64 PD & 30 INTs in 8 seasons (2016-23) with Den. & is 1 of 5 active players with 30+ career INTs. Is only player with 3+ INTs in each of past 6 seasons.
  • S RICHIE GRANT is 1 of 6 DBs with 100+ tackles in each of past 2 seasons.

Steelers TV Coverage

This week’s game will be broadcast on nationally on FOX (Pittsburgh local affiliate WPGH).

Regional broadcast image courtesy of 506sports.comSteelers coverage in RED.

Week 1 NFL Coverage - FOX


Steelers Radio Coverage

Flagship Stations

  • WDVE-FM (102.5)
  • WBGG-AM (970)

Pennsylvania Affiliates

  • Altoona-WVAM (1430)
  • Altoona-WRKY (104.9)
  • Beaver Falls-WBVP (1230)
  • Beaver Falls-WMBA (1460)
  • Bedford-WBVE (107.5)
  • Butler-WISR (680)
  • Chambersburg-WCHA (800)
  • Clarendon-WKNB (104.3)
  • Clarion-WCCR (92.7)
  • Cooperstown-WUUZ (107.7)
  • DuBois-WIFT (102.1)
  • DuBois-WKFT (101.3)
  • Erie-WRKT (104.9)
  • Johnstown-WNTJ (1490)
  • Johnstown-WRKW (99.1)
  • Latrobe-WCNS (1480)
  • Milton-WVLY (100.9)
  • Saegertown-WUZZ (94.3)
  • Somerset-WNTI (990)
  • Starview-WONN (92.7)
  • State College-WQWK (1450)
  • Uniontown-WMBS (590)
  • Washington-WJPA (1450)
  • Williamsport-WCXR (99.3)
  • Williamsport-WZXR (103.7)

Maryland Affiliates

  • Cumberland-WRQE (106.1)
  • Hagerstown-WHAG (1410)

Ohio Affiliates

  • Fremont-WOHF (92.1)
  • Marietta-WJAW (630)
  • Youngstown-WNIO (1390)

Virginia Affiliates

  • Vienna-WDMX (100.1)

West Virginia Affiliates

  • Fairmont-WRLF (94.3)
  • Fairmont-WMMN (920)
  • New Martinsville-WXCR (92.3)

Steelers Nation Radio

Steelers Nation Radio is a 24-hour/day HD radio station dedicated specifically to the Pittsburgh Steelers. It can be heard on www.steelers.com, the official Steelers app or the iHeart app on your smartphone, and at 102.5 WDVE HD2.

 

Statistics and game information courtesy of the Pittsburgh Steelers and/or National Football League.


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