The Falcons’ Week 1 showing did not leave much room for optimism, and the first wave of NFL power rankings reflected that in a hurry.
Atlanta fell 0-1 after a frustrating loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, marking the eighth time in the last nine seasons the Falcons have opened with a defeat. The offense never found a rhythm at Acrisure Stadium, even though the defense did its part by limiting Pittsburgh to six points when the Steelers were not working with a short field.
The problem was Cooper Rush. After being named the starter late in the week and dealing with back spasms on Saturday, Rush had a rough afternoon moving the ball.
He went 12-of-22 for 143 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, and those turnovers led directly to 14 of Pittsburgh’s points on Sunday. His only touchdown throw was a screen to Bijan Robinson, who caught eight of his 12 completions.
Whether Rush is the answer for Week 2 remains unclear. Atlanta heads home next to face the reigning NFC South champion Carolina Panthers, a team the Falcons have lost to in each of the last three meetings. A strong result Sunday would go a long way toward changing the way the team is viewed.
For now, though, the national reaction has been rough. SI slid the Falcons down four spots from No. 25 in Week 1, placing them among the league’s bottom tier.
The outlet focused on Rush’s inability to push the offense forward, while also ranking the Steelers No. 27.
Pete Prisco was just as unimpressed, also dropping Atlanta four spots and saying the quarterback situation “gets worse by the week,” adding that it will be a difficult season for Kevin Stefanski to navigate. That could shift if the Falcons get encouraging news on Michael Penix Jr.’s health.
CBS had the Buccaneers at No. 18, the Saints at No. 23, and the Panthers at No. 25, while SI placed the Saints at No. 20, the Buccaneers at No. 21, and the Panthers at No. 22.
NFL.com was a little kinder to Tampa Bay, ranking the Buccaneers No. 14 after a rise of four spots despite an ugly loss to the Bengals. That list had the Saints at No. 21 and the Panthers at No. 27.
Another national outlet put the Falcons in the top five of the NFL’s worst teams, though it did give Atlanta some credit for Za’Darius Smith’s impressive debut. The veteran edge rusher is expected to be a major piece for the first eight weeks of the season while the Falcons wait for James Pearce Jr. to return from suspension.
The bigger picture is hard to miss: the Falcons’ quarterback situation is dragging everything else down. Atlanta has now started its sixth different Week 1 quarterback since 2021, and until that stabilizes, the cycle keeps repeating.
In Other News...
Falcons Suddenly Have A Backfield Depth Problem They Created
The Falcons running back room took an unexpected hit this week when the Cowboys signed Tyler Goodson off Atlantas practice squad and onto their active 53-man roster after losing Malik Davis to injury. Goodson had been waived by Atlanta after a strong preseason, a move that left the team thin behind its top backs and opened the door for another club to swoop in.
Now Atlanta is left with rookie Cash Jones as its only running back on the practice squad, and the front office may need to move quickly to restore some depth. Goodson had been in position to compete for a role behind Javonte Williams and Emari Demercado in Dallas, but the more immediate concern for the Falcons is the self-inflicted vacancy they now have to patch before it becomes a bigger issue. [Read more 🡒]
Kyle Pitts Is Already Putting Falcons Quarterback Problem Under Pressure
Kyle Pitts new deal made it clear the Falcons still view him as one of the central pieces of the offense, but the season opener offered a reminder that his production is still tied closely to who is throwing him the ball. In the loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pitts was targeted only once and did not record a reception while Cooper Rush handled the start at quarterback, a quiet night for a player Atlanta is counting on much more heavily.
The larger issue for the Falcons is less about Pitts himself than the uncertainty around the quarterback room. Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa are both dealing with injuries and are expected back soon, and Pitts early line only underscores how much the offense needs stability under center. Until that settles, the Falcons may keep feeling the strain of trying to make a top weapon work through an unsettled passing game. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Already Face An Early Cam Ward Concern
The first week of the 2026 NFL season did not exactly settle much for the teams still circling the quarterback conversation, and Atlanta is among the ones still feeling the ripple effects. The Falcons entered the year with an uncertain setup under center, as Cooper Rush and Michael Penix Jr. both sit inside a broader picture that leaves the position looking anything but finalized.
That matters because the early struggles around the league can quickly push teams toward bigger decisions, and the 2027 draft is already part of that conversation for several quarterback-needy clubs. Atlanta is in that mix with a group that also includes Cleveland, Miami and Tennessee, where Cam Ward is one name to watch if the Titans decide their current path needs another turn, though nothing in this stage makes any of those outcomes certain. [Read more 🡒]