The Falcons’ Week 1 loss to the Steelers didn’t just leave Atlanta with a defeat - it also gave a clearer look at how this team is choosing to deploy its pieces. The snap counts point to a roster with a few locked-in roles, some clear rotations, and a passing game that still leans heavily on its top names.
At receiver, there was never much doubt about Drake London. Atlanta’s top target was on the field for 59 of 60 offensive snaps, a massive 98.3 percent workload that basically stamped him as an every-down player.
The bigger question was what came after him. Jahan Dotson settled in as the clear No. 2 wideout, logging 38 snaps for 63.3 percent of the offense.
Zachariah Branch and Olamide Zaccheaus each played 18 snaps, while Chris Blair was on the field for just 10. Branch’s number stands out most, especially because the Falcons brought him in for his speed and ability to make plays.
For now, though, he was more of a small piece than a featured part of the plan. As Atlanta tries to get more out of the passing game, his usage is one of the more interesting things to track.
The linebacker group told a similar story about trust and rotation. Divine Deablo never left the field, playing all 67 defensive snaps and standing alone as the only linebacker at 100 percent. Kendal Daniels handled 45 snaps, while Harold Perkins Jr. was on the field for 23 in his NFL debut.
That split makes Deablo’s role obvious. He was the steady anchor while Daniels and Perkins moved in and out around him. Perkins’ workload is especially notable because Atlanta used him for about a third of the snaps, which points to a gradual introduction rather than a full-time role right away.
Up front, the Falcons mixed and matched heavily on the defensive line, edge included. Brandon Dorlus led the way with 41 snaps.
Gervon Dexter and Samson Ebukam followed at 39 apiece, with Maason Smith right behind them at 38. LaCale London and Cameron Thomas each logged 34.
The eye-catching number there belongs to Za’Darius Smith. He played only 16 snaps, or 23.9 percent, but still managed two sacks. That kind of output suggests Atlanta may be perfectly happy using him as a specialized pass-rush threat instead of asking him to carry a heavier snap load.
Taken together, the Week 1 counts paint a pretty clear picture: Atlanta’s defense has its core starters, but plenty of movement around them, while the offense is still built around London and Bijan Robinson.
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 🡒]