Steelers fans expect a better team in Week 1 against the Falcons

On Sunday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Steelers face the Atlanta Falcons. It's a duel between two teams with many unknowns at the start of the new season, making it one of the most eagerly awaited matchups of the first week.

Earlier this week, we surveyed fans on their confidence in the direction the team is heading, whether the Steelers can improve on their 0-3 preseason performance and what Russell Wilson (if he plays) will look like in Week 1. Here's their response.

Steelers fans expect Pittsburgh to be a better team in Week 1 than they were in the preseason.

The Steelers' final preseason performance against the Lions was an improvement over the first two weeks, but Pittsburgh's offensive line hasn't performed well against another No. 1 unit this year. The starting secondary hasn't been without problems on defense either.

However, the majority of Steelers fans believe the team will rebound in Week 1 against Atlanta, with 82% saying the team's core players will look better than they did last season. Perhaps this is the week that things click for the Arthur Smith offense.

46% of fans predict Russell Wilson will score two touchdowns against Atlanta…assuming he plays.

Here's a statistic that's hard to believe: Games with multiple touchdown passes were just as rare for the Steelers in the 2023 regular season as games with defensive touchdowns. Yuck.

However, fans seem to believe that trend could change as early as Week 1. The poll question was asked the day before Russell Wilson was shocked to suffer a calf strain, but if he plays — and Mike Tomlin seems to think he will — 46% of fans believe he will score two touchdowns against the Falcons defense.

And kudos to the optimistic 1% who predict a performance of four or more touchdowns.

In the unlikely event that Wilson misses Sunday, does your prediction change if Justin Fields starts?

The majority of Steelers fans are confident about the team’s direction.

Pittsburgh went winless in the preseason, is going through a difficult period in the development of the offensive line and has two big question marks at the quarterback position. However, 66% of the team's fans seem to believe that the Steelers are heading in the right direction.

Perhaps there is more optimism about Russell Wilson (or Justin Fields) than previously thought. On the other hand, there is a chance that some fans are content with 2024 being a rebuilding year with a worthwhile bottom line in 2025. It's all a matter of perspective.

We'll get answers to these Steelers questions on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET when Pittsburgh takes on the Falcons. Until then, let us know how you voted (and why!) in the comments below.