FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Let the fun, and the predictions, begin.
The Falcons start the 2024 season against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
There's a lot to unpack in this matchup. There's a lot of new on the Falcons' sideline — new head coach, new offensive and defensive coordinators, new assistants and a new quarterback in Kirk Cousins.
Meanwhile for the Steelers, there's a lot of new on the offensive side of the ball, too. They added a new play-caller — former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith — along with quarterback Russell Wilson who joined the team this offseason after 12 years and a lot of high-pressure experience in the league. Defensively, though, the Steelers carried over a lot of pieces from a unit that finished No. 6 in the NFL in scoring defense last season.
While Week 1 often feels like a toss up, the experts heavily lean Falcons. Check out the full picks below.
| Author | Outlet | Pick |
|---|---|
| Jeremy Fowler | ESPN | Falcons |
| Kimberly Martin | ESPN | Falcons |
| Lindsey Thiry | ESPN | Falcons |
| Ali Bhanpuri | NFL.com | Steelers |
| Brooke Cersosimo | NFL.com | Falcons |
| Michael-Shawn Dugar | The Athletic | Steelers |
| Tashan Reed | The Athletic | Steelers |
| Albert Breer | Sports Illustrated | Falcons |
| Connor Orr | Sports Illustrated | Steelers |
| Pete Prisco | CBS Sports | Falcons |
For more complete picks, visit: ESPN, CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, The Athletic and NFL.com.
