The Atlanta Falcons opened their 2024 season at home with a disappointing 18-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Down 15-10 with 3:19 to go in the game, the Falcons got the ball back at their own 40-yard line. A touchdown drive would’ve put them ahead, potentially with very little time left for the Steelers. The first snap was a hand off to Bijan Robinson who took it 13 yards for a first down. Kirk Cousins took the next snap and stepped back, looking for his receiver downfield. The pocket quickly started to collapse on him. Larry Ogunjobi collided with him, but Cousins managed to get his pass off — and Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson was there for an all-too-easy interception.
Of the many mistakes made in the game by the Falcons, this one effectively sealed the game for the Steelers.
It was a sloppy game with plenty of turnovers for the Falcons, penalties and poor execution for both teams, but the Steelers managed to come out on top with their kicker Chris Boswell making all six field goal attempts, three of which from 50 yards or longer. TJ Watt had a huge impact for the Steelers defense, applying seemingly constant pressure on Cousins along with a fumble recovery and a sack.
Key Takeaways
Cousins’ lackluster performance
Kirk Cousins must play better going forward if the Falcons want to be successful this season. The Steelers defense is formidable, but a veteran quarterback like Cousins should still have been able to look competent and keep his head on straight. Instead, his performance on Sunday was shaky and reminiscent of Desmond Ridder last season. Cousins never looked quite comfortable in the pocket, making hasty, ill-advised decisions that ultimately cost Atlanta the game. Falcons’ head coach Raheem Morris noted Cousins’ struggles, but isn’t worried about him going forward.
“We know he has to play better. There’s no doubt about that, and I look forward to him doing that,” Morris said in the postgame press conference. “He’s played in the league for a long time, and I look forward to him bouncing back from a rough game… I’m not overly concerned with (his performance).”
Cousins completed 16-of-26 passes for 155 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions in his Falcons debut. He needs to bounce back sooner rather than later, before he risks the newly-drafted Michael Penix Jr. getting a chance at his job. The Falcons paid Cousins far too much for unreliable quarterback play.
Defense kept hopes alive
Despite all the struggles on offense, the defense held up well, forcing six field goals and allowing no touchdowns in the game. With the Falcons’ inability to score however, defense alone would not be enough.
There are some bright spots for the Falcons defense, including a stop on fourth-and-one on their own 6-yard-line (they would punt just four plays later), and two sacks on Steelers’ quarterback Justin Fields, who started the game after Russell Wilson suffered a calf injury in practice. The defense’s performance wasn’t perfect, but it was more than enough to give the offense a chance to win.
The offense runs through Bijan
It’s clear that Bijan Robinson is going to be Atlanta’s weapon of choice. He was responsible for nearly half of Atlanta’s total yardage for the day, getting 111 all-purpose yards on 23 touches. The Falcons are expected to be relying on him heavily this season to take some pressure off of Cousins, but the passing game has to improve on its own in order to sustain Robinson’s production.
Up next, the Falcons travel to Philadelphia to face the Eagles in a bird vs. bird showdown on Monday Night Football.