The Pittsburgh Steelers will be playing Tua Tagovailoa in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will be facing off against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.
Ahead of the game, Atlanta has finally announced the plan at quarterback. The Falcons will be starting veteran Tua Tagovailoa in this game.
Tagovailoa signed with Atlanta over the offseason, ending his tenure with the Miami Dolphins. The former fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft has seen an up-and-down career, with injuries taking over at times.
Concerns have been one of the biggest problems for Tagovailoa throughout his NFL tenure. But he's healthy now, and the Steelers will have to deal with him to earn their first win.
But what can Pittsburgh expect from the veteran in this game?
Due to Tagovailoa's lack of arm strength, the Falcons may not try to spread the ball around the field too much. But Tagovailoa is a pretty accurate passer, so the Steelers defense will need to be aware at all times.
Tagovailoa has been prone to pressure in his career, so Pittsburgh may dial up the blitz a little more than usual. This could also limit the Falcons' passing game throughout the contest.
Pittsburgh played Tagovailoa last season when he was with the Dolphins. In the game, the signal-caller threw for 253 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, leading to a Steelers win.
Tagovailoa is not guaranteed the starting job for Atlanta past Week 1. And the Steelers want nothing more than to help him get benched following this week.
But Atlanta does have some nice weapons to use on offense, giving Tagovailoa a chance to succeed. Running back Bijan Robinson is the main threat, and he is seen as one of the top players in the entire NFL.
Wide receiver Drake London could cause fits on the outside, while tight end Kyle Pitts is always a threat. All in all, the Steelers will need to be careful, even with Tagovailoa under center.
This game will kick off the Mike McCarthy era in Pittsburgh, giving him a chance to open up on a high note. Pittsburgh has a lot of pressure on them to win this season in what is expected to be the final year for veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Reuniting Rodgers and McCarthy could bode well for the Steelers, continuing to build on the chemistry from the past. The two men won a Super Bowl together while with the Green Bay Packers years ago.
But now in Pittsburgh, they are looking for one last ride to a title. The Steelers have the talent to make it happen, but with an older team across the roster, there could be some challenges in their way.
