Steelers to face beefed-up Falcons defense in Week 1 after Atlanta makes 2 big moves

The Pittsburgh Steelers will begin their 2024 regular season against the Atlanta Falcons , a team that has made two significant moves on defense recently.

On Wednesday, the Falcons pulled off a trade with the New England Patriots for stud pass-rusher Matt Judon, who Atlanta acquired in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick, the team announced .

Then, on Thursday, Atlanta went ahead and signed former Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons to a one-year, $8 million deal, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero .

Pittsburgh's new-look offense that is set to feature Russell Wilson at quarterback is going to be tested right away. On top of Judon and Simmons, the Falcons also have Jessie Bates at safety and A.J. Terrell at cornerback.

Offensively, the free-agent signing of Kirk Cousins gives the Falcons legitimacy at the quarterback position, something they didn't have in 2023. And, he has a slew of weapons at his disposal in running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London, and tight end Kyle Pitts.

Knowing that, the Steelers' defense, which has the potential to be elite in 2024, will be tested immediately, also.

Adding even more juice to the game is the fact that Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will be making his return to Atlanta, where he was the head coach for the previous three seasons before being fired after the 2023 campaign.

The Steelers and Falcons will kick off from Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 8, at 1 p.m. ET.