Joey Porter Jr.'s Week 1 status has been bogging down the news cycle, but we can't lose track of the objective at hand: taking down the Atlanta Falcons in the season opener. The Pittsburgh Steelers are scheduled to host this uncommon NFC South opponent on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. While the Falcons are underdogs, nothing is a given in this league.
Thankfully, the Falcons' depth chart has major weaknesses on both sides of the ball, and if the Steelers are game-planning as they should, they can find ways to exploit some of Atlanta's worst starters.
On the flip side of the coin, there is a trio of threatening Falcons weapons who could burn the Steelers if Mike McCarthy's team walks into Acrisure Stadium ill-prepared on Sunday.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could exploit four Falcons players while game-planning to stop their 'big three'
Exploit: Jawaan Taylor, RT
The Kansas City Chiefs have been in primetime enough that you've probably caught wind of the struggles of Jawaan Taylor. The big offensive tackle has struggled throughout his seven-year career, but he finds ways to keep landing in starting roles.
Now on the Falcons, Taylor is set to make his first start for Atlanta at right tackle. This just so happens to be where T.J. Watt will be lining up a majority of the time. With pass-rush specialist Nick Herbig mixing in the rotation, defensive coordinator Patrick Graham could look to exploit the susceptible Taylor early and often—both in run defense and in pass -rush situations.
Exploit: Jahan Dotson, WR
Outside of their top receiver, Drake London, the Falcons have a concerning lack of depth and size at outside receiver. At just 5'10'' and 180 pounds, Dotson is an undersized receiver who can be inconsistent at the catch point.
The Steelers could use the length and physicality of Jamel Dean, Jalen Ramsey, and Joey Porter Jr. (if he plays) to bully Dotson at the line of scrimmage and eliminate him as a threat in the passing game. Despite playing in all 17 games for three straight years, Dotson has not logged 20-plus receptions in a season since 2023.
Exploit: Tua Tagovailoa, QB
With the younger Michael Penix Jr. waiting in the wings, it might not take much for Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski to make the switch from Tua Tagovailoa to the team's 2024 first-round pick. Tagovailoa is looking to rebound after a shaky 2025 season in Miami. That's if he even plays in this game after suffering an oblique injury in practice on Thursday.
The Steelers' pass rush could make Tua's life a living nightmare on Sunday if he does suit up. The veteran quarterback isn't very mobile, and he doesn't have a big arm. We already talked about the struggles of Jawaan Taylor, and Tua could be a sitting duck for the Steelers' defense to tee off against on Sunday.
Exploit: Gervon Dexter Sr., DL
The Falcons traded with the Bears this offseason for former 2023 second-round pick Gervon Dexter Sr. But the fact that Chicago was willing to part with Dexter for just reserve cornerback Clark Phillips III and a 2027 fifth-round pick tells you what the organization thought of the 24-year-old defensive tackle.
While Dexter possesses some burst and pass-rush juice, he's been abysmal against the run. Because of this, McCarthy could elect to run directly at Dexter when he's on the field. Dexter could be splitting reps with Maason Smith, who really wasn't much better as a run defender last year. Either way, there will be opportunities to exploit this shaky defensive tackle combination on the ground.
Fear: Bijan Robinson, RB
Not every matchup favors the Steelers in this one. Pittsburgh will be tasked with containing one of the best and most dynamic running backs in the NFL. Bijan Robinson received a record-setting contract extension during the 2026 offseason for good reason.
Robinson rushed for 1,400 yards in back-to-back seasons in 2024 and 2025, but he's just as lethal through the air, where he's earned 198 receptions for 1,738 yards and nine touchdowns in his first three NFL seasons. Patrick Queen and the Steelers' linebackers will have their work cut out for them in this contest.
Fear: Drake London, WR
Drake London is an ascending receiver with a fantastic blend of size and body control. And if Joey Porter Jr. doesn't suit up in Week 1, this is going to be a difficult matchup.
London is capable of moving all around the formation and winning from the slot just as easily as he does from the outside. The 2022 first-round pick missed five games last year, but still managed 919 yards and seven touchdowns.
Fear: Kyle Pitts, TE
There's a reason Kyle Pitts earned a $53 million extension and is paid as a top-three tight end in the NFL: he possesses impressive ability as a pass-catcher. Pitts is a smooth route-runner who glides down the field and can win at any level. He also presents a matchup problem for opposing linebackers and safeties.
The Steelers know this full well, and we can probably assume they will be game-planning against the athletic tight end. Even if Graham and the Steelers find a way to bottle up Robinson and London, Pitts could make them pay by exploiting Pittsburgh's defense over the middle of the field.
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