While Arthur Smith has downplayed his return to Atlanta, CB Dee Alford, who played under Smith with the Falcons, thinks the Week 1 matchup matters more to Smith than the Steelers OC is letting on. Speaking to reporters via the Falcons’ YouTube channel, Alford said he thinks Smith is preaching the importance of this matchup to the Steelers.
“I’m pretty sure he telling his guys like, ‘Hey man, we don’t win any other game, we want to win this one.’ He’s a very competitive coach.”
While Smith said he’s focused on the Steelers, this game probably does mean just a little bit more to him given that Atlanta let him go at the end of last season.