Cheat Sheet: Steelers at Falcons

HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN

• TV coverage: Broadcast nationally on the FOX Network (WPGH-TV locally in Pittsburgh).
• Steelers Radio Network - Game coverage begins at 1 p.m. ET; Pregame programming begins at 11 a.m.; Postgame coverage starts immediately following the game.
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INJURY UPDATE

The Steelers will travel to Atlanta to take on the Falcons at Mercedes Benz Stadium.
Check out the most updated Injury Report: Click here >>>

SERIES HISTORY

This series began in 1966 with Pittsburgh winning the only two meetings that took place in the '60s. The upcoming decades weren't any kinder to Atlanta, as the Steelers were 2-1 in the '70s, 3-0 in the '80s, and 4-0 in the '90s. In the 2000s, Pittsburgh is 4-1-1 against the Falcons, but the Steelers have won four in a row. Overall, the Steelers lead this series 15-2-1, and, of course, the Falcons and Steelers have never met in the postseason. Mike Tomlin is 4-0 against the Falcons. However, both of the Steelers' losses against this franchise have come in Atlanta.

MATCHUP OVERVIEW

• Last year, the Falcons finished with a 7-10 record in third place in the NFC South. Pittsburgh finished with a 10-7 record, which was also third in the AFC North. The Steelers were outscored by 20 points, while Atlanta was outscored by 52. Pittsburgh finished the 2024 season on a three-game winning streak and was 5-3 away from home during the regular season. Only four teams had a better road record. The Falcons were 5-3 at home but lost their final two games in 2023.
• The Steelers' .818 winning percentage (9-2) in one-score games (eight points or less) was the best in the league. Cleveland was second with a .750 winning percentage in such outcomes. For his career, Mike Tomlin has a .615 winning percentage in such games, best in the NFL.
• Pittsburgh was 8-5 against teams that ended up with a winning record in 2023.
• Pittsburgh's plus-11 turnover differential was better than every team except the Ravens and Giants. The Texans were the only team with fewer turnovers than the Steelers (16). Over the past two seasons, the Steelers are 17-4 in games in which they did not throw an interception. In 2023, that record was 9-2. Only three teams threw fewer interceptions than Pittsburgh.
• Meanwhile, Atlanta's minus-12 turnover differential was only better than the Commanders last season. The Falcons' eight interceptions were only more than Tennessee and Green Bay. The Falcons' 17 interceptions thrown were the seventh-most.
• If you take turnover ratio a step further and count a missed field goal and a failed fourth-down attempt as a turnover, the Steelers go to plus-14, as they had an equal number of failed fourth-down attempts and were plus-3 in missed field goal ratio. The Falcons missed five field goals. Their opponents missed just two. Atlanta failed on fourth down 11 times, and their opponents failed on 12 occasions. Being minus-3 in field goals and plus-1 on fourth downs brings the Falcons 2023 turnover ratio to minus-14.
• Over the past three seasons, the Steelers are 28-7 when they won or tied the traditional turnover battle. Pittsburgh is 0-15-1 when it lost that turnover battle over that stretch.
• The Steelers produced 20 more rushing first downs than their opponents last season, but 33 fewer passing first downs. Pittsburgh's opponents threw for 10 more touchdowns than the Steelers last year as well, but the Steelers had seven more rushing scores than what they have allowed.
• Pittsburgh (29:28) and Atlanta (29:09) finished 20^th and 23^rd in time of possession in 2023. The Steelers were the fifth-best time of possession team on the road at 31:19.
• Pittsburgh was plus-11 in sack differential.
• Russell Wilson and Kirk Cousins were drafted 75^th and 102^nd in the 2012 draft. Wilson has played in 188 games, has completed 64.7% of his career passes for a 7.7 average and a 334/106 TD-INT ratio. Wilson has thrown for 43,653 yards in his career and currently ranks 19^th all time. Cousins has played in 150 games, has completed 66.9% of his career passes for a 7.6 average and a 270/110 TD-INT ratio. Cousins has thrown for 39,471 yards in his career and currently ranks 24^th all time.
• 22 of the 53 players at final roster cuts on Aug. 27 were not with the Steelers in 2023.
• Tomlin broke a tie with Bill Cowher for the most 10-plus win seasons by a Steelers head coach. 2023 was Tomlin's 10^th such campaign.
• During new Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's three-year tenure as the Falcons head coach and in control of Atlanta's offense, the Falcons 30.1% drop back rate out of three-receiver sets was the lowest in the NFL by a whopping 17.9%. League average was 70.8%.
• Smith's Titans offense from 2019-2020 finished 31^st and 30^th in pass attempts. With the Falcons, Smith's offenses finished 19^th, 31^st, and 25^th in pass attempts.
• From 2021 to 2023, the Falcons used play-action at the second-highest rate (32%) with Smith as the head coach. The Steelers have ranked in the bottom five in play-action rate nine years in a row, including the third-lowest rate (16%) last season.
• Atlanta had 500-plus running back touches in each of the past two seasons under Smith and his offenses have ranked in the top three in rush attempts in three of the past four seasons. Over the past five seasons, Smith's offenses have averaged 484.2 backfield touches.
• In Atlanta last year, Smith's offense ranked first in its usage of 12 Personnel (1 RB, 2 TE) at 41.8%; first in 22 Personnel (2 RB, 2 TE) at 10%; third in 13 Personnel (1 RB, 3 TE) at 7.8%; fourth in 20 Personnel (2 RB, 0 TE) at 1.5%. The Falcons ranked 32^nd in the usage of 11 Personnel (1 RB, 3 WR) at 15.5%. League average usage of 11 Personnel last season was 62.5%. The Steelers were in 11 Personnel for 73.1% of their snaps last year, which was the sixth-highest rate.
• No wide receiver in an Arthur Smith offense has ever exceeded 72 receptions (Drake London in 2022) in a season.
• The Falcons average depth of pass target was the 10^th-highest in the league at 8.26 yards downfield last year.
• No group of tight ends caught more passes than the Falcons last year. Smith's offenses have finished top five in tight end target share in four of the last five seasons. Over his past three seasons in Atlanta, the Falcons tight ends accounted for 29.9% of the targets, which was the second-highest rate in the league.
• During Smith's tenure as an offensive coordinator or head coach with a non-Derrick Henry running back, his offenses have ranked in the top five in running back target share.

WHEN PITTSBURGH HAS THE BALL

• Last year, the Steelers offense produced just .294 points per play. That was only ahead of the Jets, Giants, Patriots and Panthers.
• Pittsburgh averaged 5.0 yards per play in 2023, but 5.2 on the road. The Falcons allowed 5.0, but just 4.7 at home last year.
• From a yards per drive perspective, the Steelers offense finished 26^th (28.1) and Atlanta's defense finished seventh (29.4).
• The Falcons have finished in the bottom half of the league in scoring defense for six straight years. That streak ties the Panthers for the longest current streak.
• Last year, no team threw the ball a lower percentage (47.7%) on the road than the Steelers.
• Atlanta's opponents threw the ball 54.2% of the time last year. Only four defenses saw a lesser percentage of pass plays.
• Pittsburgh's offense was 25^th in net passing yards, while the Falcons were eighth-best in net passing yards allowed.
• For the Broncos last season, Wilson was second among qualifying quarterbacks in the rate of throws behind the line of scrimmage. Wilson was also third-highest in the rate of throws 20 or more yards downfield. His 11% rate of throws between 10-20 yards was the lowest in the league. Over Wilson's career, 17% of his pass attempts in this range ranks 44^th. He also threw for 6.9 yards per pass attempt last season, the lowest of his career.
• Justin Fields has taken a league-high 135 sacks since entering the NFL. Over the past three seasons, Fields' 3.02 average time to throw is the highest in the league and a league-low 34.1% of his throws have been released in 2.5 seconds or less.
• George Pickens and Diontae Johnson accounted for 1,857 (54%) of the Steelers' 3,421 receiving yards and 10 of the Steelers 13 receiving touchdowns in 2023. Pickens ran 188 routes last year without Johnson on the field and was targeted on 23.9% of the routes. He averaged 2.94 yards per route run, which would have been near the top of the league. With Johnson on the field, Pickens was targeted on 17.5% of his routes and averaged 1.68 yards per route run.
• Pickens had four games with 125-plus receiving yards last season, but nine with under 50 receiving yards. 43 wide receivers averaged more routes run per game (32.1) than Pickens.
• Per Next Gen Stats, Pickens reached a top speed of 21.54 miles per hour in Week 16. Only eight NFL players recorded a faster time in 2023.
• The Falcons allowed the third-fewest yards per route run (1.58) to receivers aligned outside the numbers in 2023.
• Pat Freiermuth had 42% of Pittsburgh's end zone targets in 2023, the highest percentage of all NFL tight ends. Freiermuth only ran a route on 48.6% of Pittsburgh's drop backs in 2023 after a 68.1% rate in 2022. He has also been targeted on 20.6% of his career routes, which is 12^th-most amongst tight ends since he entered the league.
• While Darnell Washington was on the field for 48% of the offensive snaps in his rookie season, he was targeted just 10 times.
• Atlanta allowed the sixth-most receiving yards per game (56.4) to the tight end position last season.
• Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren combined to catch 90 passes for 540 receiving yards. Of all running backs with at least 50 targets, Warren's team target share was the fifth-highest in the league, and his targets per route run was fourth. His yards per route run was fifth.
• Wilson had 195 yards gained on defensive pass interference calls last year, despite not appearing in the last two games for Denver. That was still the fourth-most in the league.
• Wilson was hit on 20.4% of his drop backs last season. Only Will Levis was hit at a higher rate.
• The Steelers allowed 2.1 sacks per game. Only seven offenses were better.
• Wilson threw 11 touchdown passes off play-action last year, the second-highest in the league.
• Only five offenses threw for fewer passing yards than Pittsburgh last year and only the Jets and Panthers threw fewer touchdowns.
• The Falcons pass defense was targeted, on average, 8.58 yards downfield. The only defenses with a higher average depth of target were the Rams, Bengals, and Lions.
• The Falcons haven't had a defender with double-digit sacks since 2016 (Vic Beasley). Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree tied for the Falcons sack lead last year with 6.5 apiece. Neither is still with the team.
• Since Week 9 last year, the Steelers averaged 145.2 (5^th most) rushing yards per game and had 13 rushing touchdowns (2^nd).
• Harris and Warren combined for 404 carries for 1,819 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. No other Steelers ball carrier had more than 57 rushing yards. The Lions were the only other team with two running backs with 1,000-plus scrimmage yards each.
• 5.7% of the Steelers rushing attempts produced gains of 15-plus yards. Only three offenses were better. Only seven offenses generated more yards per carry after first contact than the Steelers. Harris and Warren each averaged 2.4 yards after first contact per rush attempt in 2023. That had them tied for third in the NFL.
• Harris has started his career with three-straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons, the only Steelers ball carrier in history to accomplish that. He also is the only running back to have a three-year streak of 1,000 seasons in the NFL. Joe Mixon and Harris are the only two running backs in league with 1,200-plus scrimmage yards in each of the last three years. Harris' explosive run rate was 10^th-best in the NFL in 2023. In the Steelers' wins last year, Harris averaged 4.3 yards per carry with eight rushing touchdowns, compared to averaging 3.5 yards per carry and zero rushing touchdowns in their losses. Pittsburgh was 7-0 when Harris scored a touchdown.
• Among running backs with 100 or more carries, Warren's 5.3 yards per rush attempt was only behind Devon Achane and Christian McCaffrey. His explosive-run rate ranked third, and Warren's yards after first contact per attempt was second. Warren doubled his touches last season from his rookie year.
• Over the past two seasons, Warren averages 5.1 yards per carry and 3.45 yards after contact. However, over that time, Warren has run into heavy boxes 30% of the time, compared to 40% for Harris.
• When the Steelers had two tight ends on the field last year, Warren averaged 5.7 yards.
• Harris received 86.4% of the backfield touches during his rookie season. That usage dropped to 67.7% in 2022 and 57.3% last year. Still, Harris has eclipsed 1,200 total yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns in each of his three seasons.
• Last year, Harris out-touched Warren 45 to 22 in the red zone and 22 to 9 inside the 10-yard line.
• Over the three seasons that Smith and Cordarrelle Patterson were together in Atlanta, he averaged 10 touches per game.
• Fields has averaged 55.5 rushing yards per game since entering the league. Only Lamar Jackson (58.8) is higher during that timeframe.
• Last season, the Falcons allowed the third-most rushing yards per game (25.6) to the quarterback position. However, the Falcons gave up just 3.8 yards per carry to running backs, which was sixth-best and only 17.4% of running back runs resulted in a first down or touchdown, best in the league.
• 55.2% of Pittsburgh's touchdowns came on the ground in 2023. That was the highest rate in the NFL.
• Atlanta's defense created a three-and-out on 25.8% of its drives. That was fifth-best in the league.
• Broderick Jones only played four offensive snaps before the Steelers Week 4 contest in Houston and only played five snaps in Week 8 against Jacksonville. Still, the offensive line combination of Jones, James Daniels, Mason Cole, Isaac Seumalo and Dan Moore was together on the field for 48.3% of Pittsburgh's offensive snaps. Only 10 five-man line combinations played a higher percentage of their team's snaps together last year.
• Jessie Bates led the Falcons by playing 1,134 of a possible 1,141 defensive snaps. Atlanta had three defenders including Kaden Ellis (1,082) and AJ Terrell (1,065) eclipse 1,000 snaps.
• Per EPA, only the Bengals and Colts faced a tougher slate of opposing defenses than Pittsburgh in 2023.

WHEN ATLANTA HAS THE BALL

• In terms of points per game, the Falcons offense was 26^th last year, while Pittsburgh's defense finished sixth.
• Atlanta averaged 5.2 yards per play, but 5.8 at home last year. The Steelers allowed 5.4.
• Atlanta's passing game was 28^th in completion percentage while the Steelers defense was sixth-best in completion percentage allowed.
• Over the past two seasons as passing game coordinator/quarterback coach, Zac Robinson was part of a Rams offense that used 11 Personnel on a league high 93% of their plays. Over that same span, Atlanta used 11 Personnel on an NFL-low 25% of its offensive snaps.
• Only one defense used its nickel package with five defensive backs on the field at a lower percentage (35.9%) than Pittsburgh. In turn, the Steelers were first in their usage of base (35.5%) with four defensive backs, and second in their usage of dime (23.2%) with six defensive backs.
• League average of allowing a series of downs to turn into a touchdown or new series is 70%. The Steelers defense allowed a conversion rate of 68%. Only four defenses were better.
• The Steelers 60.7% completion percentage allowed was the sixth-best in the NFL. The average time to throw against Pittsburgh was 2.53 seconds. Only six defenses were lower.
• Cousins has thrown for at least 4,000 yards in seven out of his nine seasons as a starting quarterback. 2023 was one of the two times Cousins didn't get to 4,000 passing yards, but he did throw for 2,331 for the Vikings in just eight games. Cousins led the NFL in completions (216), attempts (311), passing touchdowns (18) and was second in passing yards (2,331) through eight weeks of last season. Last season broke Cousins' streak of eight-straight seasons with at least 25 passing touchdowns. Cousins' 69.5% completion percentage was on pace to being a career best.
• London has been targeted on 25.2% of his routes run over his two-year career. That ranks 16^th among wide receivers over that stretch. However, London has only averaged 27.3 routes run over these past two seasons. That ranks 70^th.
• Last year with the Bears, Darnell Mooney posted career worsts in receptions (31), receiving yards (414) and receiving touchdowns (1).
• Joey Porter Jr. averaged .9 yards per coverage snap this season as the nearest defender. That the fourth-lowest of any NFL cornerback with at least 250 coverage snaps.
• The Steelers allowed the third-most yards per reception (14.6) to receivers aligned out wide.
• Kyle Pitts' average depth of target of 12 yards downfield last year was the highest of any tight end with 100 or more targets since 2021. Since entering the NFL, 15.8% of his routes have been 20 or more yards downfield. Only Darren Waller is higher. And just 47.8% of Pitts' career targets have been within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage - the lowest rate of all tight ends with at least 100 targets over that timeframe. Pitts aligned out wide on 26.4% of his snaps in 2023, the highest of all NFL tight ends and aligned out wide or in the slot 87% of the time. After producing 1,026 receiving yards as a rookie, Pitts has totaled 1,023 receiving yards across 27 games over the past two seasons. But over these past three seasons, Pitts averaged just 26.9 routes run per game, 20^th among tight ends over that span.
• Bijan Robinson ran 398 pass routes his rookie season, the highest among all NFL running backs. His 16.9% team target share was only behind Christian McCaffrey.
• Pittsburgh's defense generated 2.8 sacks per game. Only six defenses were better.
• TJ Watt led the NFL with 19 sacks in 2023. Watt had 36 quarterback knockdowns (sacks plus quarterback hits). Only Nick Bosa had more. He finished the season with 19 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, 36 quarterback hits, an interception, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. Watt became the first player in NFL history to lead the league in sacks three different seasons. He, along with his brother JJ, are the only two defenders in history to have 19-plus sacks and 8-plus pass defenses in a single season. Watt is just 3.5 sacks away from 100 for his career and 18 sacks away from tying his brother.
• Watt was responsible for 40% of the Steelers sacks. 14 different Steelers defenders registered a sack during the 2023 regular season.
• Cousins was hit on 20.1% of his drop backs last season. Only Levis and Wilson were hit at a higher rate.
• The Steelers batted down 15 passes last season. Only Kansas City had more. Watt led the team with five.
• The Steelers aligned with a single-high safety at the NFL's fourth-highest rate behind only Cleveland, Dallas and Carolina in 2023.
• Robinson only handled 70% or more of the Falcons carries in one game in his rookie year. He also only had two carries inside the five-yard line last year. Only five running backs had more total yards from scrimmage than Robinson.
• Only one running back had more fourth quarter carries (78) than Tyler Allgier last year.
• Pittsburgh surrendered just nine rushing touchdowns last year. Only two defenses allowed fewer. The Steelers allowed 2.63 yards after first contact, which was sixth-best in the league.
• Alex Highsmith's 11 tackles for loss in the run game was the fifth-most in the league.
• The Steelers finished the 2023 season fifth in red zone defense.
• The Steelers gave up 7.6 points on average in second half of games in 2023, third-best in the league.
• Pittsburgh's opponents in 2023 failed to score points on 11 of their 50 trips inside the 20-yard line against the Steelers. That was the NFL's highest rate (22%).
• The Falcons scored a touchdown on a league-low 48.2% of their goal-to-go drives in 2023.
• Matthew Bergeron (1,127) led the Falcons offense in snaps played, followed by Chris Lindstrom (1,066) and Jake Matthews (1,061). But all five of Atlanta's starting offensive linemen played at least 847 snaps in 2023. Lindstrom now has four-straight seasons with at least 1,000 snaps played and Matthews has a streak of seven such seasons.
• Atlanta had four tight ends play over 400 snaps.

SPECIAL TEAMS

• Miles Killebrew's 13 special teams tackles plus assists was the second-most in the NFL last season.
• The Steelers' gross average punt yards of 44 yards was only better than New Orleans in 2023, and Pressley Harvin's 43.8-yard average was only better than two of the 37 qualified punters. Cameron Johnston's 44-yard net average ranked fourth, while Harvin's 39.2 average ranked 32^nd.
• The Steelers were one of just four teams that didn't miss a kick attempt between 50-60 yards. Atlanta was just 50% on such attempts.
• Pittsburgh and Atlanta each missed just one extra point last year.

Most Memorable Moment

Nov. 10, 2002: Heinz Field, Steelers 34, Falcons 34 (OT)

The Steelers controlled this game from the start and took a 17-7 lead into halftime. Going into the fourth quarter, Pittsburgh led 31-17, but the Falcons scored 17 points in the fourth against just three by the Steelers to send this into a scoreless overtime. This was a classic battle between two very different quarterbacks, Tommy Maddox and Michael Vick, who later become a Steeler late in his career. Maddox and Vick combined for 812 yards of total offense. On the final play of this classic game, Maddox fired up a Hail Mary that was caught by Plaxico Burress. But Burress was ruled just short of the end zone. Burress ended this game with 253 receiving yards. This was the first overtime game at Heinz Field.

KEY MATCHUPS

Falcons WR Drake London vs. Steelers CB Joey Porter - During his rookie season, Porter routinely followed the opponent's top wide receiver. In this case, that is undoubtably London, a player many expect to take a huge leap forward this season. Porter is a king-sized cornerback, but London is one of the bigger wide outs in the league. And both players are highly skilled.

Steelers QB Russell Wilson vs. Falcons Safeties - Jessie Bates is a safety the Steelers are very familiar with from his time in the AFC North, and he has been exceptional for the Falcons. Atlanta recently signed Justin Simmons to pair with Bates, giving the Falcons a potentially premier safety unit. It is uncertain how both players will be deployed. Wilson, of course, is a veteran quarterback who has seen a lot in his time in the league. But Bates and Simmons' usage, as well as their playmaking ability is a dangerous combination.