Expert, who predicted Michael Penix pick, is hearing Falcons-Steelers opener

The NFL schedule is set to be released tomorrow, but there are always leaks, and a Falcons-Steelers opener makes a ton of sense.

The most obvious storyline surrounds Arthur Smith. Atlanta fired Smith following an embarrassing showing in the season finale against the Saints. Quarterback play ultimately cost Smith his job, but he landed on his feet.

The Steelers hired him to replace Matt Canada as Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator. Smith may have failed as a head coach, but the Steel City got a good offensive coordinator. He made his bones as the Titans OC and runs the exact kind of scheme that will thrive with Mike Tomlin and the Steelers faithful.

I can see the “Arthur Smith returns to Atlanta” headlines already, but the Kirk Cousins vs. Russell Wilson storyline is a close second.

The pair of veteran quarterbacks left Minnesota and Denver, respectively, under very different circumstances, but both are excited for fresh starts with new organizations that have postseason aspirations this year.

They aren’t the only familiar faces in this one, though. In a hypothetical showdown to kick off the 2024 season, the Falcons would see Cordarrelle Patterson, Van Jefferson, Scotty Miller, and MyCole Pruitt again.

The Falcons hosted the Steelers a couple of seasons ago, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium was filled with black and gold. If that’s the season opener matchup, I imagine it’ll be filled with more Falcons fans than last time.