Tag: Falcons

Sep 16, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) removes his helmet after a victory Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Falcons hope to ride Monday night magic to win vs. Chiefs

Posted on | by Field Level Media

ATLANTA — Ahead of their Week 3 matchup on Sunday night, the Atlanta Falcons and visiting Kansas City Chiefs have already grown accustomed to playing in evenly matched games this season.

The two-time defending Super Bowl Champion Chiefs (2-0) narrowly escaped the Baltimore Ravens on opening night, 27-20, before Harrison Butker’s 51-yard field goal with three seconds left saved the day in their one-point win over the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday.

For the first time this season, the Chiefs hit the road as they visit Atlanta for the first time since 2016. They will face a Falcons team that was on the brink of hosting the mighty Chiefs with an 0-2 record. After an anemic offensive showing in an 18-10 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1, the Falcons (1-1) stole a win in Philadelphia on Monday night, using a last-minute touchdown drive to beat the Eagles 22-21.

Trailing by six with 1:39 left, Kirk Cousins led the Falcons on a six-play, 70-yard game-winning drive, earning his first win for his new team following the signing of a four-year, $180 million contract with Atlanta. Head coach Raheem Morris, who also secured his first win as the Falcons’ head coach, wasn’t surprised by the way his veteran quarterback led the final drive.

“I know what that confidence looks like from practice. I know what his confidence looks like from every day walking down the hall with him and watching his process,” Morris added. “I didn’t need to look at him before that drive. Before the game, we said we’re going to do it for each other and that’s exactly what they did.”

The Falcons, who have returned to a state of relevance after several years of national apathy, are coming off their first “Monday Night Football” appearance since 2020. Now they prepare for their first “Sunday Night Football” game since 2019.

The Chiefs have won eight straight games (including the playoffs) since last year’s Christmas Day loss to the Raiders. Kansas City’s win streak will be put to the test on Sunday without leading rusher Isiah Pacheco.

Pacheco’s leg was caught under a defender in Sunday’s win, fracturing his right fibula. In his absence, the Chiefs signed former running back Kareem Hunt, who rushed for 2,151 yards with the team from 2017-18. Hunt had been in a primarily backup role with Cleveland from 2019 through last season.

“(Pacheco’s) been put on IR, he’s having surgery today,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Wednesday. “I can’t give you a time when he’s going to return. We’ll see if it’s this season or next season.”

Pacheco has run for 135 yards and a touchdown this season.

Turning the page to Sunday, Reid and company sound ready for their rare trip to Atlanta.

“Looking forward to the challenge of playing the Falcons,” Reid said. “That’s a great environment down there at their stadium. Raheem’s done a heck of a job with that group, which was obvious Monday night. Between Jimmy (Lake), Zac (Robinson) and Marquice (Williams), they’ve got great coordinators. … We need to have a good week of practice starting today and I know our guys are looking forward to the challenge of playing a good football team like this.”

Three-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes enters play vying for a better performance, following a rare lackluster showing on Sunday. Mahomes threw for a pair of touchdowns against Cincinnati but was also picked off twice. The two-time NFL MVP’s 151 passing yards were his fewest since throwing for a career-low 76 against Denver on Oct. 17, 2019 before dislocating his kneecap.

All time, Kansas City holds a 7-3 series lead over Atlanta. The Falcons will look for their first win over the Chiefs since Week 1 of the 2012 season.

On the injury front, everyone was a full participant in practice for the Chiefs on Wednesday while four Falcons were limited: running back Tyler Allgeier, cornerback Antonio Hamilton Sr., and defensive linemen James Smith-Williams and Ta’Quon Graham.

–Jack Batten, Field Level Media

Aug 23, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris shown on the field before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Raheem Morris, Falcons ready to turn the page after big MNF win

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Following the Atlanta Falcons’ first win of the Raheem Morris era, the group knows it has little time to celebrate.

Trailing by three points with 1:56 remaining in Philadelphia against the Eagles on Monday, Morris’ team was given a 0.7 percent chance of winning by the NFL’s Next Gen Stats. After forcing a field goal, Kirk Cousins led a six-play, 70-yard scoring drive that was capped with a 7-yard game-winning touchdown to Drake London, giving the Falcons an improbable 22-21 win.

For the second time in two weeks, the Falcons will play on national television, as they host the back-to-back Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on “Sunday Night Football.”

“When you play in these big-time moments and big-time games, you’ve got to be ready to turn the page pretty quickly,” Morris told reporters on Tuesday. “You’ve got to be able to evaluate, and assess what happened the night before. We’ll go find out what we can do better and then start to look at our opponent that’s coming up in the Kansas City Chiefs, because you better be ready for those guys.”

In the first “Monday Night Football” appearance for Atlanta since 2020, and first win since 2018, new faces shined for the Falcons. Cousins threw for 241 yards and a pair of touchdowns to help cement his first win in an Atlanta uniform.

At receiver, offseason additions Darnell Mooney and Ray-Ray McCloud combined for six receptions totaling 130 yards and a score.

From the brink of starting the year 0-2, Atlanta’s comeback has given some relevance to a franchise searching for its first winning season and playoff appearance since 2017. Morris, 22-39 as a head coach in his career, saw a glimpse of what the Falcons can evolve into by year’s end.

“For me, it wasn’t as emotionally driven as it was for some of the players,” Morris said of the win. “But it pumps belief into them. … It creates an energy for these guys to be able to go out there knowing they can do anything at any time, like they proved (Monday) night.”

Atlanta, which will be underdogs for the second straight week, is playing on NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” for the first time since 2019. The Falcons host the Chiefs for the first time since 2016, and are searching for their first win over Kansas City since Week 1, 2012.

–The Falcons signed inside linebacker Josh Woods to their practice squad on Tuesday.

Woods, 28, has played for three different teams since entering the NFL in 2019 and started seven of his 11 games with the Arizona Cardinals last season. He put up 61 tackles, one forced fumble and a half-sack for Arizona.

–Field Level Media

Sep 16, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Bryce Huff (0) tackles Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) after a catch during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Falcons stun Eagles, rally in final minute for 22-21 win

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Kirk Cousins threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Drake London with 34 seconds left and the Atlanta Falcons rallied for a 22-21 win against the host Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night.

The Falcons (1-1) trailed by six with no timeouts and 1:39 remaining and drove 70 yards in six plays in just 65 seconds on the game-winning possession.

The Eagles (1-1) had squandered a chance to run out the clock when Saquon Barkley dropped a pass on third-and-3, and Philadelphia settled for Jake Elliott’s 28-yard field goal and a 21-15 lead.

Following a touchback, Cousins completed passes of 11 yards to Kyle Pitts, 21 yards to Darnell Mooney, 26 yards to Mooney and 5 yards to London to get to the Philadelphia 7-yard line with 43 seconds left.

After an incompletion, Cousins found a wide-open London in the end zone for a 21-21 tie with 34 seconds to go. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on London forced Younghoe Koo to convert the go-ahead extra point from 48 yards out.

Cousins passed for 241 yards and two TDs and Bijan Robinson rushed for 97 yards for the Falcons. It’s the first win for Cousins since signing a four-year, $180 million deal with Atlanta in March and the first since he tore his Achilles tendon last October.

Jalen Hurts passed for 183 yards with a touchdown and a late interception while also rushing for 85 yards and a TD for Philadelphia. Barkley rushed for 95 yards in his home debut as an Eagle.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Falcons struck first on Koo’s 39-yard field goal early in the second.

The Eagles responded with Hurts’ 7-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith for a 7-3 lead with 5:15 left in the first half.

Atlanta answered with Koo’s 22-yarder to make it 7-6 just before halftime.

The third quarter began with an exchange of field goals, with Koo’s third of the game — from 34 yards out — followed by a 29-yarder by Elliott that put the Eagles up 10-9.

One play after converting a fourth-and-4, Cousins connected with Mooney for a 41-yard TD and a 15-10 lead with 1:21 left in the third quarter.

Hurts’ 1-yard TD run and Barkley’s two-point conversion scamper with 6:47 left in the game put the Eagles up 18-15.

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2024; Waco, Texas, USA; Air Force Falcons wide receiver Cade Harris (21) runs with the ball while being chased by Baylor Bears linebacker Keaton Thomas (11) during the first half at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images

Baylor scores 25 unanswered points to pull away from Air Force

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In his first start this season, Sawyer Robertson threw for 248 yards as Baylor overcame an error-prone first half to roll past Air Force 31-3 on Saturday night in Waco, Texas.

Robertson completed 18 of 24 passes and ran for a touchdown as Baylor (2-1) rebounded from a Big 12 loss last week at then-No. 11 Utah, a game in which starting quarterback Dequan Finn suffered a rib injury.

Bryson Washington rushed for 106 yards on 12 carries and scored the first touchdown of his college career for the Bears. Richard Reese added 47 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.

Baylor rolled up 193 yards and didn’t punt in the first half against Air Force (1-2). But the three of the Bears’ drives ended in lost fumbles.

After a sloppy first half, Baylor scored on its first four possessions of the second half to tally 25 unanswered points.

The pass-challenged offense of the Falcons didn’t have a completion until the final minute of the third quarter. Air Force starting quarterback John Busha went 0-for-5 passing before he was relieved by Quentin Hayes.

The Bears limited the Falcons to 218 total yards. In the third quarter, Air Force’s potent rushing attack generated just 12 yards. Linebacker Matt Jones led Baylor with 11 tackles.

Isaiah Hankins kicked field goals of 51 and 46 yards in the first half to give the Bears a 6-3 lead. After that, it was all Baylor.

The Bears opened the second half with a 75-yard drive. Washington capped the drive with a 19-yard touchdown run for a 13-3 lead.

A 6-yard touchdown run by Sawyer capped a 64-yard march and put Baylor up 20-3.

On Air Force’s ensuing possession, Brooks Miller forced Busha to fumble and Devonte Tezino recovered to set up another Hankins field goal that put Baylor up 23-3.

Reese completed the scoring with a 28-yard touchdown run.

–Field Level Media

Aug 23, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on the sideline against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Raheem Morris, Falcons bracing for ‘tell the truth moment’ ahead of Eagles clash

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FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Raheem Morris’s debut as Atlanta’s head coach didn’t pan out as hoped on Sunday, with new-look Falcons falling 18-10 at home to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Twenty-four hours later, Morris was ready to move on to Week 2, with the schedule only getting tougher. Atlanta heads to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles next Monday before hosting the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 22.

“Last night didn’t go our way, but we were able to go in today and reevaluate our plans, talk about our stuff, what went well and what didn’t go well,” Morris said on Monday. “It’s a ‘tell the truth moment’ for our team and for ourselves, and now, it’s on to the Philadelphia Eagles.”

Quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for just 155 yards and overrode his lone touchdown pass with two costly interceptions in Sunday’s loss.

Coming off a season cut short by a torn Achilles, Cousins, 36, made his debut for the team paying him $180 million over the next four years.

“(Kirk) probably had some rust from not playing for so long,” Morris said. “But we’ve got to play better at the position and play better around him. … The assessment of Kirk yesterday was easy. It wasn’t good enough. He threw two interceptions, and we’ve got to make better decisions in the passing game all around. It just wasn’t good enough and we’re going to be clear about that.”

Switching focus to the Falcons’ first appearance on Monday Night Football since 2020, Morris and company are dealt with the task of slowing a Philadelphia offense flooded with talent.

“That whole offense, looking at those guys, you’re talking about a bunch of superstars across the board,” Morris added. “A.J. Brown, Saquon (Barkley), the guy they just traded for, Jahan Dotson. They’ve got the biggest offensive line in the history of the game. Jalen Hurts was the runner up for MVP just two years ago. We’ve got to get in the lab, and that’s what today and tomorrow are about.”

In their 34-29 win over the Green Bay Packers last Friday in Brazil, the Eagles totaled 410 yards, including 109 rushing yards and two touchdowns from Barkley in his team debut. Atlanta was outgained 270-226 against Pittsburgh.

Monday marks the Falcons’ first game in Philadelphia since an 18-12 loss in the 2018 opener. Atlanta, which has lost four of its last five against the Eagles, has not won at Lincoln Financial Field since 2012.

–Jack Batten, Field Level Media

Sep 7, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) rushes for a touchdown during the first quarter against the Bowling Green Falcons at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Drew Allar paces No. 8 Penn State past Bowling Green

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Drew Allar threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as No. 8 Penn State rallied in the second half to a 34-27 win over Bowling Green on Saturday in State College, Pa.

Allar completed 13 of 20 passes for 204 yards with an interception. He gave the Nittany Lions (2-0) a 27-24 lead with 6:13 left in the third quarter on a 14-yard scoring strike to Nicholas Singleton.

Singleton added the clinching touchdown with 4:09 left in the fourth quarter on a 41-yard touchdown run, the highlight of his 119-yard effort in 13 carries.

Connor Bazelak completed 25 of 39 passes for 254 yards with two scores and two interceptions for the Falcons (1-1). They rolled up 286 yards in the first half but managed just 88 after halftime.

Jackson Kleather nailed a 42-yard field goal with 47 seconds remaining in the game to draw Bowling Green within seven points. But Penn State recovered an onside kick and ran out the clock.

Penn State came into the game as a whopping 34-point favorite but Bazelak and Bowling Green served immediate notice that this would not be an easy tuneup. The Falcons scored the first three times they touched the ball.

Bazelak hit Harold Fannin Jr. for a 6-yard touchdown just 2:21 into the game, then led a drive of nearly 5 1/2 minutes that resulted in a 33-yard field goal from Kleather. When Bazelak found Malcolm Johnson Jr. for a 15-yard score at the 12:48 mark of the second quarter, the Falcons led 17-7.

Allar, who rushed for a 5-yard touchdown on the Nittany Lions’ first possession, connected with Omari Evans for a 29-yard strike to make it 17-14 with 11:48 remaining. Penn State tied it with a 43-yard field goal by Sander Sahaydak with 5:28 left.

But Bowling Green regained the lead less than two minutes later on a 41-yard run by Jamal Johnson. Sahaydak hit from 28 with 14 seconds on the clock but the Falcons took a stunning 24-20 edge into halftime.

–Field Level Media

Dec 24, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (8) catches a touchdown pass against the Indianapolis Colts during the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Falcons TE Kyle Pitts poised to play in opener vs. Steelers

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Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts was a full participant in practice for the second straight day on Friday and is expected to play in Sunday’s season opener against the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pitts was limited in practice on Wednesday as he dealt with a hamstring injury.

Inside linebacker Nate Landman also was a full participant in practice on Friday after being limited the previous two days due to a quad injury.

Also on Friday, offensive tackle Jake Matthews and defensive tackle Ta’Quon Graham were limited while being listed for rest purposes. Defensive tackles David Onyemata and Grady Jarrett did not practice on Friday for the same reason.

The Falcons officially ruled out defensive back Antonio Hamilton due to a groin injury. He was a limited participant on Thursday before failing to practice on Friday.

Pitts was named to the Pro Bowl in his rookie season, when he caught 68 passes for 1,026 yards and one touchdown, but his production had tailed off in the two seasons since, in part due to MCL and PCL injuries suffered midway through his sophomore campaign.

Pitts, 23, has totaled 149 receptions for 2,049 yards and six touchdowns over 44 career games (40 starts) while catching passes from Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke in the past two seasons.

Landman, 25, recorded a career-high 110 tackles to go with three forced fumbles and two sacks in 16 games (14 starts) last season.

–Field Level Media

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) warms up before a preseason game against Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, August 24, 2024.

QBs Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson test new digs with Falcons, Steelers

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FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — When the Atlanta Falcons host the Pittsburgh Steelers in the regular-season opener Sunday, veteran quarterbacks eager to make a statement with their new teams are center stage.

For Atlanta, all eyes will be on the revamped offense led by 36-year-old quarterback Kirk Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million contract in March to leave Minnesota.

The four-time Pro Bowler threw for 2,331 yards and 18 touchdowns in eight games with the Vikings in 2023 before tearing his Achilles. Cousins replaces Desmond Ridder in Atlanta.

The offseason additions have the Falcons in the conversation in the NFC South as they vie for their first winning season and postseason appearance since 2017.

“I’m very aware of the perception right now that our offense is going to be really great,” Cousins said. “We’ve got all these great players, but that’s only perception. It’s our job to make it reality. Until we go on the field and do it, I don’t feel any assurance on that.”

Sunday marks the start of a new era on the Atlanta sideline. Raheem Morris was named Falcons head coach in January. Morris was previously Atlanta’s interim coach for the final 11 games of 2020, going 4-7, as well as leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 17-31 record from 2009-11.

Morris, 48, was hired following three seasons as the Rams defensive coordinator.Assuming the role as head coach for the first time since the end of the 2020 season, Morris hasn’t let the moment get to him but knows what’s coming Sunday.

“My jitters usually don’t hit until right before the national anthem,” Morris said. “I don’t know if it’s the emotion of the anthem or what, but a grayness hits you and you’re ready to go play. In the preparation of it all, you build so much confidence in your process that you feel really calm about how you want to go about your business.”

Morris will face off against a former colleague in Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. The two were defensive assistants together in Tampa from 2002-05 and remain friends.

Tomlin and the Steelers will roll out a new-look offense headed up by former Falcons coach Arthur Smith and a new quarterback.

Russell Wilson, who was released by the Denver Broncos, was named the starter last week over Justin Fields, who as acquired from the Bears.

Wilson, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and a Super Bowl champion with the Seattle Seahawks, won the starting job in the offseason and appears ready to lead Pittsburgh in a competitive AFC North.

“I’m super excited to be here,” Wilson said. “Obviously, I came here to help us win. That’s the focus. I think the best part is how hard we’ve worked from OTA’s to Latrobe (training camp). We’ve got a great season ahead of us.”

After a legendary Seahawks career, Wilson spent a pair of tumultuous seasons in Denver, where he was benched for the last two weeks of 2023 as a way for the Broncos to “preserve financial flexibility.” Wilson then signed a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum with Pittsburgh.

The all-time series between the Falcons and Steelers has been largely one-sided, with Pittsburgh holding a 15-2-1 edge. Atlanta’s last win was on Oct. 22, 2006.

In Wednesday’s injury report, Morris noted that linebacker Nate Landman (quad) and tight end Kyle Pitts (hamstring) were both limited Wednesday. Morris said he isn’t concerned about Pitts’ status for Week 1.

Steelers starting left guard Isaac Seumalo is out for the season opener after leaving an August 28 practice with a pectoral injury. Center Nate Herbig, however, will miss the season with a torn rotator cuff.

–Jack Batten, Field Level Media

Dec 10, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (8) runs for a touchdown after a catch against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Falcons TE Kyle Pitts, LB Nate Landman nursing injuries

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts and inside linebacker Nate Landman were expected to be limited in practice on Wednesday, head coach Raheem Morris said.

Pitts is nursing a hamstring injury and Landman is dealing with a quad ailment that he sustained during training camp last month.

“(Pitts) went out there and practiced the other day for us and did a really good job,” Morris said. “… He had a hamstring a couple weeks ago or whatever it was. It really hasn’t affected him too much. He’s been out there practicing, doing just about everything, and we’re ready to go.”

Pitts was selected by Atlanta with the fourth overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.

He was named to the Pro Bowl in his rookie season, when he caught 68 passes for 1,026 yards and one touchdown, but his production had tailed off in the two seasons since, in part due to MCL and PCL injuries suffered midway through his sophomore campaign.

Pitts, 23, has totaled 149 receptions for 2,049 yards and six touchdowns over 44 career games (40 starts) while catching passes from Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke in the past two seasons.

Landman, 25, recorded 110 tackles, three forced fumbles and two sacks in 16 games (14 starts) last season. Because of the injury, he hasn’t practiced since Aug. 15.

The Falcons host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday to open the season.

–Field Level Media

Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris shown on the field before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Fast friends Raheem Morris, Mike Tomlin start Week 1 with gamesmanship

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Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris flashed a Cheshire cat smile on Wednesday when asked if he was prepared for Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin to unveil a package of plays for Justin Fields on Sunday.

Morris and Tomlin were young assistant coaches in Tampa Bay from 2002-05, and the competitive gamesmanship — and mutual respect — between peers runs in overdrive.

“Mike Tomlin told me to prepare for Justin Fields,” Morris said Wednesday of the Week 1 matchup with Pittsburgh. “So we did. That’s a nice way to make me waste time. He’s a master at it. And he’s conducting a masterclass, or he’s not. And Fields is gonna show up.”

Tomlin named Russell Wilson the starting quarterback for Week 1 following a preseason competition with Fields, but warned Morris he “better be ready” for Fields to play a role.

Morris said “whoever is playing quarterback presents a challenge.”

The fascinating chess match with two veteran quarterbacks at the center of it all plays out Sunday, when a tidal wave of change with each organization is put on display for the first time in a meaningful environment.

“There’s the element of the unknown that always accompanies Week 1 competition,” Tomlin said of facing the Falcons, who have their own talented quarterback — No. 8 overall pick Michael Penix Jr. — available for a cameo behind Kirk Cousins.

You can bet your britches the Steelers’ brigade of talented linebackers, from J.J. Watt to newcomer Patrick Queen, an offseason free agency import from the Ravens, are up to speed on Penix, too.

Tomlin said he and his coaching staff spent extra time on Morris and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson’s old team — the Los Angeles Rams — to bring players up to speed on tendencies and play-calling patterns. Tomlin now employs Atlanta’s former head coach, Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Morris retained several Smith assistants, and there are ample personnel holdovers that make predicting which punch sequence Smith might dial up less challenging.

In 2022, Tomlin made his affinity for Morris perfectly clear during an interview for the “Pivot Podcast” featuring former Steelers safety Ryan Clark. Asked about diversity in coaching, Tomlin pointed at Morris as an example of a then-assistant coach who deserved to be a head coach.

“I know that some of the guys being denied are in the top 32,” Tomlin said. “Raheem Morris is the best coach that I know and have been around that don’t have a head job.”

This week at least, Morris downplays the past, including the legends that helped define the defense Cousins draws in the opener.

“The history of the group is phenomenal and that’s just the nature of the beast when you’re talking about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Steel Curtain,” Morris said. “But we don’t have to play ghosts. We just play the guys that are on their team now and they certainly got a bunch of good guys that you’ve got to worry about.”

–Field Level Media