The Atlanta Falcons failed their first test of the 2024 season, and the schedule will only get tougher in the coming weeks. Sunday’s 18-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers wasn’t the start Falcons fans were hoping to see, but there were some encouraging performances.
Running back Bijan Robinson was one of the team’s few offensive bright spots in Week 1, racking up 111 all-purpose yards. Defensively, Atlanta struggled against the run but came up with some big stops in the second half to stay in the game. Linebacker Nate Landman made a huge play to bring down Justin Fields on a fourth-down QB sneak attempt.
Landman timed the snap perfectly and leaped over the line of scrimmage to stop Fields short of the first down.
Nate Landman just pulled a Troy Polamalu on the Steelers pic.twitter.com/B5LnNPgh3D
— Tre’Shon (@tre3shon) September 8, 2024
Robinson and Landman earned the Falcons’ highest Pro Football Focus grades in Week 1. Landman’s 88.3 overall grade led the team while Robinson wasn’t far behind with a grade of 87.
Linebacker Troy Andersen (79.3), safety Justin Simmons (77.3) and cornerback Kevin King (76.6) rounded out the top five for Atlanta in Sunday’s opener. Landman and Andersen split time next to Kaden Elliss at inside linebacker. Andersen was listed as the starter on the depth chart, but Landman played five more snaps (37 total) in Week 1.
Wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud earned a respectable grade of 72.4. Quarterback Kirk Cousins didn’t fare as well in his Falcons debut, earning the second-lowest grade (42.1) on the team. Cousins threw one touchdown and two interceptions on Sunday.
Atlanta has an extra day to prepare for next week’s Monday night matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. If the team can’t turn things around then, it will only get tougher against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 3.
