Steelers-Falcons NFL Week 13: What You Need To Know

PITTSBURGH, PA — In their victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Monday, the Steelers proved something: They can beat any bad team whose star running back has a game-changing fumble and a rookie coach guilty of abominable clock management at the end of the game.

Can they beat another bad team this week?

The Steelers (4-7) play the Atlanta Falcons (5-7) and there is some cause for optimism. The Falcons have one of the NFL's worst defenses; they are 29th overall, dead-last at 32 against the pass and 24th against the run. That's good news for the Steelers' much maligned offense, which finally showed signs of life last week.

But the Steelers special teams have been awful of late. Head coach Mike Tomlin acknowledged as much this week, calling the Steelers' kickoff coverage "unacceptable". He was particularly irate over the 89-yard return given up to the Colts' Dallis Flowers (who?) at the start of the second half.

A repeat of poor special teams play this week could kill the Steelers, as one of the Falcons' primary weapons is Cordarrelle Patterson - you know, the guy who recently set the NFL record for most touchdowns scored on kickoff returns.

Uh-oh.

Here's what you need to know about the game:

• Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• When: Sunday, 1 p.m.
• Forecast: Domed stadium.
• Favored: Steelers by 1, according to oddsshark.com.
• Series history: Steelers lead the series 14-2-1.
• Last meeting: Oct. 7, 2018, Steelers won 41-17.
• Series streak: Steelers have won the past three meetings.
• TV: CBS with Andrew Catalon and James Lofton.
• Radio: WDVE-FM with Bill Hillgrove, Craig Wolfley and Max Starks.