The Atlanta Falcons' first touchdown came on a pass from Kirk Cousins to Kyle Pitts.
inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Cousins rolled to his left and had the option to throw to running back Bijan Robinson underneath.
But Cousins, a four-time Pro Bowl signal caller, saw a 6-foot-6, 245-pound target standing just beyond the goal line on the left side of Atlanta's endzone and fired.A few seconds later, the Falcons mobbed tight end Kyle Pitts in the endzone, celebrating Atlanta's first score of the 2024 season.Pitts started Sunday's game in quiet fashion. His first catch came on the final play before the two-minute warning and went for only six yards.
But throughout offseason activities, Pitts was a focal point in Atlanta's red zone drills. His inviting frame -- highlighted by an 83-inch wingspan -- made him a frequent target for Cousins, who had a similarly difficult start to Sunday's opener. Through three drives, Cousins was just 6-of-11 for 54 yards and an interception. He was much more efficient on the Falcons' fourth possession, but the series nearly ended before Pitts caught the touchdown.
Steelers edge rusher TJ Watt sacked, forced and recovered a fumble on Cousins, but Watt was deemed offsides. The next play, Cousins hit Pitts for the score.Daniel Flick is an accredited NFL writer for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Daniel has provided boots-on-ground coverage at the NFL Combine and from the Atlanta Falcons' headquarters, among other destinations, and contributed to the annual Lindy's Sports Magazine ahead of the 2023 offseason.
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