Cooper Rush’s rough opener left the Atlanta Falcons searching for answers, but head coach Kevin Stefanski made one thing clear: Jack Strand was not part of the plan in Week 1.
Atlanta fell 20-13 to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Sept. 13, and Rush’s night never really found a rhythm. He finished 12-of-22 for 143 passing yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, including a pick at the line of scrimmage by defensive end TJ Watt that he took back 35 yards for a score. Rush’s final line also included a 2.6 QBR and a 51.9 rating.
The Falcons’ only touchdown came on a screen pass from Rush to Bijan Robinson, who turned it into a 23-yard score. Even with the defense holding up well, Atlanta’s offense and kicking issues made seven-point holes feel far bigger than they should have.
Still, the quarterback conversation was impossible to avoid because of who was available behind Rush. Strand, an undrafted rookie who has quickly become a favorite in Atlanta sports circles, was the most obvious alternative. Wide receiver Olamide Zaccheas was the surprising emergency third-string quarterback and third-string running back on gameday, a spot the Falcons created for themselves during final roster cuts.
Strand’s lack of experience could have been offset by the element of surprise. He would have given Atlanta a different look and, at least in theory, a quarterback Pittsburgh had not spent much time preparing for.
But Stefanski had already shut that door before the game ever got going.
“No,” the Falcons’ first-year head coach quickly answered when asked if he considered playing Strand. He clearly had his mind made up before the game that he was not going to subject his undrafted rookie to the Steelers' talented defense unless Rush went down.
Rush has some context working in his favor. He was not expected to open the season as the starter when training camp and Week 1 arrived, and his career track record is what it is: a 9-8 record as a starter. He also acknowledged after the game that his performance wasn’t good enough.
That leaves the same question hanging over Atlanta as the season moves on. With Tua Tagovailoa nursing an oblique injury and Michael Penix Jr. getting mentally ready to return from a partially torn ACL, the quarterback situation could become even more of a talking point if the offense keeps sputtering: When will Strand play?
Stefanski said he likes what he has seen so far.
“Listen, Jack, I’m very proud of his development, and he’s obviously thrust in a tough spot for a young player being a backup in the NFL,” Stefanski said. “Pleased with where Jack’s development is.”
Atlanta’s next chance comes in the home opener, which also doubles as its first NFC South game, against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Sept. 20. Carolina opened with a 59-37 loss to the Chicago Bears in Charlotte, and all NFC South teams dropped their season openers on the NFL’s 2026 opening Sunday.
Falcons-Panthers kicks off at 1 p.m. on FOX inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
In Other News...
Falcons Let A Winnable Opener Slip Away For One Big Reason
The Falcons had a chance to walk out of Week 1 feeling a lot better about themselves, but one play in particular turned a tight opener into a 20-13 loss to the Steelers. Atlanta did enough to keep the game within reach for most of the afternoon, only to see Pittsburgh seize control with the kind of momentum swing that can erase a decent effort in an instant.
T.J. Watts interception return touchdown was the difference, and it helped the Steelers leave Atlanta at 1-0 while the Falcons dropped to 0-1. Aaron Rodgers finished 24 of 40 for 221 yards and a touchdown, while Cooper Rush managed 143 yards with a score and two interceptions, leaving Atlanta with plenty to sort through before its next chance comes against the Carolina Panthers. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Loss Put Kevin Stefanskis QB Judgment Under Immediate Fire
Kevin Stefanskis head coaching debut with the Falcons did not offer much room for patience after a loss to the Steelers, especially with the quarterback decision already drawing attention. Atlanta was forced to lean on Cooper Rush because of injuries to Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa, and Rush took the field despite back spasms. In the immediate aftermath, the Falcons had to answer not just for the result, but for how they arrived at it.
Stefanski said Rush was healthy enough to start and made clear the team never seriously entertained a switch to rookie Jack Strand. That explanation may calm some of the noise for now, but it also puts the spotlight squarely on how the Falcons handle the position if the injuries linger and the losses start to pile up. In a league where quarterback calls are judged quickly, this one already feels like it will follow the team for a while. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Loss Feels Even Worse After What Followed In Pittsburgh
The Falcons left Pittsburgh with a Week 1 loss, but the frustration around the defeat only grew after the final whistle. The Steelers won 20-13, and Atlanta had to sit with the kind of opener that feels even harder to swallow when a game is still fresh enough for every missed chance to linger.
What followed put even more of a spotlight on the finish. Aaron Rodgers threw 40 passes and completed 24 of them while targeting DK Metcalf 10 times, with Metcalf finishing on four catches for 40 yards, and Rodgers later took aim at the officiating by pointing to missed interference calls involving Metcalf and others. The NFL may now consider fining him for those remarks, which only adds another layer to a result the Falcons probably would have preferred to leave in the past. [Read more 🡒]