One NFL analyst took a shot at the upcoming Week 1 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Atlanta Falcons.
As the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare for Week 1 of the NFL season against the Atlanta Falcons, they will be facing off against a familiar opponent.
Veteran quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was announced as the starting quarterback for the Falcons, giving Pittsburgh a chance to play him. Tagovailoa has played the Steelers a few times in his NFL career, with the last time being in the 2025 season.
With the Miami Dolphins, Tagovailoa threw for 253 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in a Steelers win. Now with Atlanta, Tagovailoa will be looking to change the narrative around him.
As for Pittsburgh, they brought back veteran Aaron Rodgers for what should be his final season in the NFL. Despite being 42 years old, Rodgers led the Steelers to the playoffs a year ago, and he will be trying to win the Super Bowl with old head coach Mike McCarthy now leading Pittsburgh.
Most people are skeptical of Rodgers at this point in his career, with the Steelers offense having real questions. But this first game of the year could be telling, especially against a middle of the pack team like the Falcons.
Ahead of the game, NFL analyst Ian Hanford of Bleacher Report took a shot at the Steelers and Falcons game. Hanford focused on the quarterback matchup within the game between Rodgers and Tagovailoa.
"The jury is out on Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy's reunion in Pittsburgh and the impact it will have on a stagnant Steelers offense, but I just don't see the "winner" of the NFL's least inspiring QB battle, Tua Tagovailoa, doing serious damage to the Steelers defense. I expect this game to be ugly, like most Steelers games, but Tagovailoa makes one too many mistakes.." Hanford wrote.
Both Rodgers and Tagovailoa have real questions to answer this season, making this Week 1 matchup one of the more intriguing games on the schedule. At this point, Rodgers seems to be trusted a little more than Tagovailoa, partly due to familiarity in the system.
But the Falcons may have more upside with offensive weapons, something that the Steelers defense will need to be aware of in the game. Tagovailoa will have to face a Pittsburgh defense that is ready for the challenge, and this could make life rough for him.
While the quarterback matchup may not be the best from the week, this could still be a strong matchup to open the new season. Kickoff for the game will take place at 10:00 a.m. PT/1:00 p.m. ET from Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.
