Two teams with new quarterbacks will square off on the first Sunday of the new NFL season when the Pittsburgh Steelers hit the road to take on the Atlanta Falcons.

The NFL Week 1 odds for Falcons vs. Steelers show the host Falcons as a solid 3-point favorite, and the total suggests the game will be low-scoring.

NFL Week 1 Falcons vs. Steelers odds

The Falcons will start Kirk Cousins after making a splash and signing him to a big contract during the offseason.

Meanwhile, the Steelers chose Russell Wilson over Justin Fields, but Fields might end up making the start anyway with Wilson nursing a calf injury.

The Falcons were listed as 3-point favorites by all of the best online sportsbooks, but the Wilson injury news has shifted the line to 3.5 at almost every sportsbook besides DraftKings (4).

Three points is a key number in terms of NFL betting, so keep eye on who starts because it might drop back down to 3 if Wilson is able to play.

There is heavier juice (as of now) on Pittsburgh +3.5.

If you don’t want to worry about the point spread, you can wager on the moneyline.

Depending on the sportsbook you choose, you could get Atlanta anywhere between -185 (DraftKings) and -200 (bet365).

The Steelers’ moneyline can be had from +154 to +164.

Why Atlanta could win as the favorite

The Falcons scratched and clawed their way to a 6-6 record last season and were firmly in the playoff picture, but four losses in the last five games left them on the outside looking in.

They finished 7-10 despite having sub-par play from their quarterbacks.

That poor finish meant the end for head coach Arthur Smith and the beginning for new head coach Raheem Morris.

Along with Morris, the Falcons signed Cousins away from the Minnesota Vikings and expect to unleash him with some great offensive weapons.

Second-year RB Bijan Robinson should be better utilized this season, and receivers Drake London and Darnell Mooney will join TE Kyle Pitts in what should be a prolific offense.

Don’t be surprised if Atlanta hits the ground running now that it has an effective, veteran QB.

Why Pittsburgh could win as the underdog

Like the Falcons, the Steelers were plagued by bad QB play last season. Kenny Pickett is gone.

That was supposed to open the door for Wilson, who isn’t as far away from his prime as many fans say he is, but now he’s injured in Week 1.

Fields struggled in Chicago, but this could be an opportunity to reignite his young career.

Unlike the Falcons, Pittsburgh doesn’t have a wealth of talent on offense.

George Pickens gives the Steelers some hope at wide receiver, but outside of him are a couple of journeymen in Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III.

The one thing you can count on with the Steelers under head coach Mike Tomlin, however, is that they will always be in the fight.

Even last season with a below-average QB, they finished 10-7 and made the playoffs. Pittsburgh finished with a .500 record or better for the 17th straight season under Tomlin.

Best Falcons vs. Steelers player prop bet

Kirk Cousins over 242.5 passing yards (-115)

*odds as of 9/8 via DraftKings Sportsbook

Kirk Cousins’ knack for the big game was established long ago. The former Vikings QB had game after game in which he surpassed the 300-yard mark.

Cousins averaged 291 passing yards per game in eight games in 2023 before suffering a season-ending injury.

He eclipsed 233.5 yards in six of those games. Justin Jefferson was injured for one of those.

The other came against the Panthers, who surprisingly gave up the fewest passing yards in the NFL last season.

Now, Cousins will have more dynamic playmakers than he did in Minnesota.

Cousins faces a Steelers defense that was average against the pass last season. Pittsburgh didn’t do anything drastic in the offseason that would make me think they can make a huge leap in Week 1.