Falcons Smashing the Emergency Glass: Cooper Rush to Start Week 1

The Atlanta Falcons haven't even played a meaningful snap of football yet, and they are already smashing the emergency glass. According to Ian Rapoport on NFL Network, Atlanta is officially down to its QB3 for the season opener.

That means Cooper Rush is getting the nod when the Falcons travel to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 13. Starting a third-string quarterback in Week 1 is the kind of roster luck that usually requires an exorcism, but Atlanta could actually do a lot worse given the circumstances.

"Ian Rapoport noted on NFL Network that 'Cooper Rush has been here before.'"

Rush is the ultimate NFL survivalist. As Rapoport noted, he has "been here before," having made a career out of stepping into chaotic situations and keeping the ship from sinking during his time with the Dallas Cowboys. He knows how to manage a game when the walls are caving in.

For anyone looking at the betting markets for this opener, the math just got completely scrambled. You go from evaluating a standard Week 1 matchup to trying to figure out how a backup's backup handles a hostile road environment and the Pittsburgh pass rush. The total and the spread are going to look like they went through a blender.

The Falcons' season isn't over before it starts, but the margin for error is officially zero. If Rush can pull off a Week 1 miracle in Pittsburgh, he might just earn himself a permanent spot in Atlanta sports lore before October even hits.