13. Steelers vs. Falcons Preview: Why Pittsburgh Has a BIG Week 1 Advantage

The Pittsburgh Steelers are finally back.In Episode 13 of the Pittsburgh Football Podcast, Chris previews Pittsburgh's Week 1 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons and breaks down the biggest storylines, matchups and keys to starting the 2026 season 1-0.First, we catch up on the ongoing Joey Porter Jr. saga. Christian Gonzalez's new contract has further established the cornerback market, the Steelers have reportedly made Porter an offer, and yet the two sides still haven't reached an agreement. Add in Porter's limited practice participation and lingering back issue, and there's now a legitimate question about what role—if any—he'll have against Atlanta.Then it's time to break down the matchup.The Falcons have questions at starting quarterback, but Atlanta does have one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in football in Bijan Robinson. Can Pittsburgh's highly paid defensive front contain Robinson, force Atlanta into obvious passing situations and make Tua beat them?On the other side, we'll finally get our first look at Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. together in Mike McCarthy's offense. Against an Atlanta defense dealing with significant turnover and questions in its front seven, this could be an ideal opportunity for the Steelers' new-look offense to find its footing.Chris breaks down:• The latest on Joey Porter Jr.'s contract and Week 1 status• Why Tua starting could be a major advantage for Pittsburgh• The challenge of containing Bijan Robinson• How Pittsburgh's defensive front matches up with Atlanta's offense• What to expect from Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers' passing game• Why Michael Pittman Jr. is one of the players to watch• Where Pittsburgh should have an advantage against Atlanta's defense• The keys to victory for the Steelers• A final score predictionSubscribe to the Pittsburgh Football Podcast for Steelers and Pitt football coverage throughout the 2026 season, and visit PittsburghFootballPodcast.com for more.--Subscribe everywhere » https://pittsburghfootballpodcast.transistor.fm/subscribe PFP Website » https://pittsburghfootballpodcast.com/Join our Mailing List! » https://mailchi.mp/f0b2fd6460f5/pittsburgh-football-podcast-mailing-list-sign-up --TIME STAMPS:00:00 - Intro04:33 - What’s “In The News” for the Steelers & Falcons17:37 - Previewing the Steelers Offense Against the Falcons20:26 - Previewing the Steelers Defense Against the Falcons23:55 - Prediction Time!