The Atlanta Falcons have the NFL’s easiest schedule on paper heading into the 2024 season, but their first five weeks are no cakewalk. With matchups against the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Falcons have little margin for error to begin the year.
Despite having prime-time matchups in Weeks 2 and 3, the team must not overlook the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1. Former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith, who is now the Steelers’ offensive coordinator, surely has this game circled.
Plus, Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin is familiar with Raheem Morris from their time together in Tampa Bay. While Tomlin has been a vocal supporter of Morris, he gave his former colleague a friendly warning going into the season opener.
“My friend Raheem Morris better be ready for a Justin Fields package,” said Tomlin. “There’s too much talent to be sitting around watching.”
"My friend Raheem Morris better be ready for a Justin Fields package… there's too much talent to be sitting around watching."
Mike Tomlin on if Justin Fields will see any action come Week 1 👀
(via @RichEisenShow, @steelers) pic.twitter.com/FA5eIeZfoX
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) August 28, 2024
The Steelers named Russell Wilson their starting quarterback on Wednesday but Fields was also in the mix for the starting job throughout the preseason. Smith has a history of playing musical chairs with his quarterbacks. Last season, the Falcons went back and forth between Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke.
Atlanta had the chance to draft Fields in 2021 but opted for tight end Kyle Pitts instead. The former Ohio State quarterback was traded from the Bears to the Steelers during the 2024 NFL offseason.
Fields, 25, has passed for 6,674 yards, 30 touchdowns and 20 interceptions while rushing for another 2,220 yards and 14 scores. Chicago selected USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, making Fields expendable.
Atlanta was the betting favorite to acquire Fields over the offseason but the team signed veteran Kirk Cousins instead. The Falcons later drafted Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in the first round, but don’t expect to see both quarterbacks in Week 1.
