Falcons try to follow UGA, Georgia Tech's hot starts to open the season

Why it matters: The Falcons' middling performances over the past three seasons can sometimes make them the stepchild of fall sports as the Braves make their playoff push and UGA continues its dominance.

Yes, but: Getting off to a hot start could catapult the Falcons both on the field and in the minds of fans.

The intrigue: Atlanta opens the season against a Steelers team that might look familiar.

• Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator is former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith and joining him are four players who were in red and black last year: Cordarrelle Patterson, Van Jefferson, Scotty Miller and MyCole Pruitt.

What we're watching: History hasn't been kind to the Falcons against the Steelers. They are 2-15-1 all time versus Pittsburgh, Matt Ryan never won a game against them and Atlanta's last win in this series came in 2006.

• A win for Kirk Cousins in his first start in a Falcons uniform against this team would be an impressive way to start his Atlanta career.

Burnt ends: Georgia Tech is up to No. 23 in the AP's Top 25 after starting the season 2-0. They play at Syracuse Saturday at noon.

• No. 1 UGA welcomes Tennessee Tech to Athens at 2pm in what should be a second consecutive blowout.
• Georgia State hosts Chattanooga at 7pm, Mercer heads to Bethune Cookman for at 3pm game and Georgia Southern looks to pick up its first win of the season at Nevada at 7pm.