Fans in Pittsburgh got their first real look at what this new Steelers setup can be, and Sunday’s Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons produced a pretty clear split between the players who grabbed the moment and the ones who didn’t.
The headline performance belonged to TJ Watt. Pittsburgh didn’t always get the full version of him in 2025, but that wasn’t the case here.
Watt came after Atlanta all afternoon, piling up three tackles for loss, a pair of sacks, an interception, and a touchdown. Alex Highsmith also made his presence felt with two sacks of his own, including one on a critical third-and-five with under seven minutes left.
The secondary got a boost from Jaquan Brisker, who delivered both production and attitude in his debut. With DeShon Elliot on Injured Reserve, Brisker helped steady the back end and added a huge hit on a second-and-long midway through the second quarter.
Cam Heyward, meanwhile, showed once again why experience still matters. He was constantly around the ball, and his motor never let up.
Pittsburgh also got encouraging signs from the passing game. Pat Freiermuth finally looked like a featured piece, catching a touchdown after Brisker forced a turnover.
Aaron Rodgers found him in the back of the end zone after Freiermuth turned back to the ball. Roman Wilson drew attention early too, getting four targets in the first half after Rodgers had spent August talking him up.
Michael Pittman Jr. chipped in as well, giving the Black and Gold a positive first impression.
Inside linebacker was another area that flashed. Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson both had moments, and the Steelers appear ready to let that duo run the show. It wasn’t perfect, but there was enough there to suggest the pairing can grow into something useful.
Not everything was sharp, though, and the list of losers starts with the unresolved Joey Porter Jr. situation. Pittsburgh and Porter did not get a deal done by the organization’s self-imposed deadline, which was kickoff in Week 1. Omar Khan now has a mess on his hands, and the relationship looks like it could turn quickly.
Special teams also left plenty to be desired. Danny Crossman’s unit carried over preseason concerns into the opener, with shaky kickoff coverage to start the second half and an ugly moment late in the second quarter on a failed field goal attempt. Chris Boswell also missed from 56 yards, keeping Atlanta in range.
The offense had its own rough edges. DK Metcalf dropped a picture-perfect third-and-medium throw from Rodgers near the end of the third quarter, prompting Joe Davis to say, "DK Metcalf, who has had a forgettable afternoon,".
Pittsburgh’s rushing attack never really found a rhythm either, finishing at 2.8 yards per carry. Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle didn’t get enough chances for the ground game to matter for most of the day, even if it picked up some late.
Up front, Dylan Cook had a tough first half, getting hit with a face-mask penalty and allowing a sack. He also gave up another key sack on a third-and-five in the fourth quarter, all while rookie Max Iheanachor waits in the wings.
Warren’s day was dented by a first-quarter fumble on a screen pass, and that turnover directly led to Atlanta’s first touchdown on a Bijan Robinson catch-and-run. Warren did finish with a game-clinching run, but the mistake was enough to land him on the wrong side of the ledger.
In Other News...
Falcons Let A Winnable Opener Slip Away For One Big Reason
For stretches in the opener, the Falcons had every reason to think they could leave Pittsburgh with a win. They stayed in the game long enough to make it a one-score fight, and the result was still there for the taking until T.J. Watt turned the afternoon with a game-changing interception return touchdown that swung the momentum and helped the Steelers pull away for a 20-13 win.
Aaron Rodgers finished 24 of 40 for 221 yards and a touchdown, while Cooper Rush threw for 143 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, but the defining play was the one Atlanta could not afford to give away. Instead of opening the season at 1-0, the Falcons head home at 0-1 with Carolina next, already searching for the cleaner finish that might have made this a very different postgame conversation. [Read more 🡒]
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 🡒]