The Steelers didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard, but they found the one play that mattered most.
T.J. Watt delivered it early in the fourth quarter, jumping a pass behind the line of scrimmage and taking it 35 yards for a touchdown to push Pittsburgh ahead 20-10 in a 20-13 win over the Falcons. It was Watt’s 10th career interception, and his first pick-six.
That defensive strike came in a game where Pittsburgh leaned on its defense and just enough offense to get through. Atlanta trimmed the margin with a 43-yard field goal from Nick Folk, but the Falcons never got any closer. Late in the fourth, Darnell Washington helped seal it with a punishing stiff-arm on a 15-yard catch on third-and-3, and with Atlanta out of timeouts, Jaylen Warren finished the job with a 9-yard run that pushed the clock to the two-minute warning.
Aaron Rodgers completed 24 of 40 passes for 221 yards and a touchdown for Pittsburgh. The Steelers were only 3 of 13 on third down, but they still finished with 264 total yards.
Atlanta never found much rhythm on offense. Cooper Rush went 12 of 22 for 143 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Bijan Robinson was the Falcons’ biggest source of production, carrying 21 times for 83 yards and adding eight catches for 90 yards and a touchdown.
Pittsburgh opens the Mike McCarthy era at 1-0 and heads to New England next week to face the Patriots. Atlanta drops to 0-1 and returns home for a division matchup with the Panthers.
In Other News...
Falcons Enter Week 1 Already Fighting To Keep Offense Together
The Falcons are heading into Week 1 with an offense already patched together, as injuries to Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. have pushed Cooper Rush into the starting quarterback role against the Steelers. With the depth chart thinned out in more than one spot, Atlanta has even had to get creative with roster coverage, naming Olamide Zaccheaus as an emergency third-string quarterback and running back.
Kevin Stefanski is clearly aware of the balancing act ahead, urging Rush to lean on Bijan Robinson and the other playmakers around him as the Falcons try to keep the offense functional early. It is a reminder that before the first snap is even taken, Atlanta is already dealing with the kind of Week 1 uncertainty teams usually hope to avoid. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Pass Rush Suddenly Puts Cameron Thomas Under Real Pressure
Cameron Thomas has gone from camp standout to Week 1 starter on the edge, giving the Falcons a clearer answer opposite Brandon Dorlus as they open the season. Atlanta is leaning on a rotation at pass rusher because injuries and suspensions have thinned that group, and Thomas earned the job by putting together a strong training camp.
Za'Darius Smith is still part of the mix, but he is working his way back into football shape after stepping away last season, which makes the early workload around him more interesting. For Thomas, the chance is real and immediate, and the way Atlanta handles that edge rotation will say plenty about how ready it thinks this pass rush is right now. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Already Face A QB Question That Could Shape Their Future
The Falcons were back in quarterback eval mode over the weekend, with president of football Matt Ryan and general manager Ian Cunningham taking in Oregons game against Oklahoma State to get an early look at a pair of 2027 draft-eligible passers. Dante Moore and Drew Mestemaker were among the names on the radar, and Atlanta also had eyes on other players from both programs as it continues building a broader list of future targets.
It is the kind of trip that says plenty about where the franchise is right now. With injuries affecting the current quarterback room, Atlanta has reason to keep scouting the position well ahead of time, especially if the teams draft slot eventually puts it in range to seriously consider one of those young arms. For now, the Falcons are gathering information, but the longer they go without stability at the spot, the more these early evaluations start to feel connected to their future. [Read more 🡒]