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Steelers, Falcons Debuts Set as Rodgers Faces Stefanski

By Drooid · Sep 13, 2026, 2:08 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

McCarthy Debuts

Mike McCarthy debuts as Pittsburgh Steelers head coach vs. Falcons.
Kevin Stefanski debuts as Atlanta Falcons head coach in same game.
Aaron Rodgers starts for Steelers; Cooper Rush replaces injured Tua Tagovailoa for Falcons.
Falcons are 2-16-1 all-time against Steelers, with only two wins since 1966.
Experts give Steelers a 5.5-point spread, predicting a six-to-fifteen-point win.

Summary

Falcons Cap Charge

Falcons absorbed $99 million dead-cap charge after releasing former Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Defensive linemen Brandon Dorlus and Za'Darius Smith participated limitedly in final pre-season practice.
Cornerback Billy Bowman Jr. reports feeling really good as he nears return from season-ending Achilles injury.
Coach Kevin Stefanski said the quarterback room focused on “why” each play is run to sync under the new system.

History

Historical Context

After the NFL added the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers in 1995—expanding the league to 30 teams and appointing Tom Coughlin and Dom Capers as their first head coaches—the league entered a new era of expansion-era coaching tests. In 2024, Mike McCarthy and Kevin Stefanski begin their tenures with the Steelers and Falcons, echoing those inaugural challenges.

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McCarthy Debuts

Mike McCarthy debuts as Pittsburgh Steelers head coach vs. Falcons.
Kevin Stefanski debuts as Atlanta Falcons head coach in same game.
Aaron Rodgers starts for Steelers; Cooper Rush replaces injured Tua Tagovailoa for Falcons.
Falcons are 2-16-1 all-time against Steelers, with only two wins since 1966.
Experts give Steelers a 5.5-point spread, predicting a six-to-fifteen-point win.

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