Over 53 seasons in the NFL, the Falcons have started 1-3 a total 14 times.
Eleven on of those teams went on to have losing records. The 1973 team finished the regular season 9-5 under Norm Van Brocklin. The 1978 team finished 9-7 and made the playoffs under Leeman Bennett. The 2002 team went on to finish finished 9-6-1 and made the playoffs under Dan Reeves.
Both the 1978 and 2002 teams won their wild-card round games and lost in the divisional round. The last team to start 1-3, the 2013 squad, also were considered Super Bowl contenders the year after reaching the NFC championship, and finished 4-12.
The 2018 injury-ravaged Falcons (1-3) have a chance to jump start their season against the Steelers (1-2-1), who have looked like a shell of the themselves without star running back Le'Veon Bell, at 1 p.m. Sunday at Heinz Field.
Big Ben and Brown
With Bell holding out in a contract dispute , the Steelers were expected to lean on their Ben Roethlisberger-to- Antonio Brown passing connection.
Brown, who has made than 100 catches in each of the past five seasons, is off to a slow start. Roethlisberger has targeted Brown 53 times, which is the second most targets in the league. Minnesota’s Adam Thielen has 56 targets. Atlanta’s Julio Jones has 46.
But Brown has 29 catches (eighth in the league) and is averaging 9.4 yards per catch (a career low) and has 272 yards (34th in the league.)
Their rhythm is off according to Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.
“I don’t worry too much about their numbers particularly at this part of the year,” Tomlin said. “I know that people spend a lot of time working to minimize those guys and it creates opportunities for others.”
The Steelers leading receiver is JuJu Smith-Schuster, who has 31 catches for 416 yards.
“We are going to spread the ball around and take what defenses give us,” Tomlin said. “Over time, their numbers will be what they’ll be. They always are.”
Falcons defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel has to face the dynamic duo with a patched-up unit because of injuries. The secondary had three busted coverages against the Bengals that led to touchdowns and cornerback Desmond Trufant dropped a potential game-saving interception.
The Falcons respect Roethlisberger’s ability to keep plays alive.
“With Ben, no play is over,” Manuel said. “I’m telling them that from experience. Not from just coaching. He’s a big guy and when you get to him, you have to understand, he’s able to maneuver in the pocket.”
Falcons’ Injuries keep mounting
The Falcons' defensive front will used a combination of Jack Crawford, Deadrin Senat and Michael Bennett IV to replace defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, who's out with an ankle sprain.
“We are going to lean on them heavily,” Manuel said. “Our pass rush stepped it up last week. We are battled tested right now.”
Jarrett’s injury was the latest blow to the unit that was already scrambling to replace middle linebacker Deion Jones (broken right foot), strong safety Keanu Neal (knee) and free safety Ricardo Allen (torn left Achilles).
The revamped secondary has Brian Poole at strong safety, Isaiah Oliver at cornerback and Desmond Trufant played nickel back. Robert Alford stayed outside.
The Steelers may stay away for Alford and Trufant.
“I have a lot of respect for those two,” Tomlin said. “They are top flight cover guys. I thought Trufant did an awesome job inside. I thought he had a chance to close the game out there in the last drive. That’s what you fight for.”
The Steelers are aware of the Falcons injuries.
“We’ve had our issues,” Tomlin said. “I understand what that’s about particularly when you are dealing with the loss of significant components like Neal, Allen and Jones, I expect those guys to be much improve this week. I know, that’s the way that we are preparing.”
Offensively, the Falcons offense will receive a boost from the return of running back Devonta Freeman.
“He’s such a talented player, so good in the run game, so talented for us out in the backfield for the passing game,” Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said. “He’s a matchup problem.”
Three key matchups
Falcons CB Robert Alford vs Steelers WR Antonio Brown: The Falcons had to switch to man-to-man coverage last week and put Alford on Cincinnati's A.J. Green. This would be the key matchup if the Falcons feel they must go man-to-man against the Steelers. Alford has four pass breakups, including a nice one when then the Bengals tried to hit Green in the end zone last week. Brown has four touchdown catches this seasons as he's had to play through a maze of coverages with Bell holding out.
Falcons SS Brian Poole vs. Steelers TE Vance McDonald: Poole has to clean up his penalties. He was fined more than $40,000 for two plays against the Saints and is awaiting a possible fine from the Bengals game. However, Poole will need to be aggressive with McDonald, who stiff-armed Tampa Bay's Chris Conte on Monday Night Football on Sept. 24. McDonald has 12 catches for 200 yards and one touchdown.
Falcons RB Devonta Freeman vs. Steelers LB Jon Bostic: Freeman hasn't played since the opener and is set to make his return. Freeman is a threat out of the backfield and the Falcons will try to get him in space against Bostic. Freeman, who averages 8.1 yards per catch over his career, spent extra time catching passing from the jugs machine after practice last week.
QB corner with Matt Ryan
Here are four questions with Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan on the Steelers:
On the Falcons being 0-6-1 in Pittsburgh: "It's a tough place to play, to go on the road. They've got a great fan base. It's going to be loud."
On the Steelers defense and Cam Heyward: "There are some talented players at all levels of the defense. You mentioned Cam (Heyward) in the front seven. Disruptive player. Very physical. They've got some good linebackers in their base scheme that become defensive ends in there sub defense. They are talented rushers. They are physical guys and very athletic."
On the Steelers low rankings on defense: "They have some tough schemes to go against and some good players."
On the Watt and Dupree: "(T.J. Watt) is a good player. He's good in coverage. He does a nice job in coverage with him being able to run. He's also a high effort guy who also does a good job in pass rush against the line. Bud Dupree is a big physical player."
About the Steelers
» Mike Tomlin, who is in his 12th season with the Steelers, is just the third coach hired by the storied franchise since 1969.
» Tomlin has led Pittsburgh to six AFC North titles, most recently in 2017, and has guided the Steelers to the playoffs eight times, including two trips to the Super Bowl (XLIII and XLV).
» The Steelers lead the series 13-2-1. The Falcons are 0-6-1 in Pittsburgh.
» The Steelers, who are playing without Bell, are 1-2-1 on the season.
