PITTSBURGH — Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. The Steelers won their season opener on Sunday with hard-nosed defense, special teams blunders mixed with splash plays, and an offense that remains an unmistakable work in progress.
If anyone wondered what the Mike McCarthy era would look like in the Steel City, Week 1 provided an immediate, familiar answer: dominant edge pressure, a game-altering defensive touchdown, and just enough veteran savvy under center to survive a choppy, mistake-riddled 20-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons at Acrisure Stadium.
The headline story of this game belonged entirely to Patrick Graham’s defense. Coming off a seven-sack campaign and turning 32 next month, Watt put together a dominant performance. His short-range ball skills are unmatched across the NFL.
Watt sacked Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush twice, but his signature moment came when he picked off a short pass and rumbled 35 yards to the house for the game’s turning point.
Opposite Watt, Alex Highsmith had a strong performance. Highsmith notched two sacks of his own, including the kill shot midway through the fourth quarter on a crucial third down when Atlanta was threatening to tie the game.
Up front, Cam Heyward delivered another weekly clinic in batting down passes at the line of scrimmage, swatting away three attempts while adding three tackles. Inside, ILB Payton Wilson continues to improve and made a serious case for defensive player of the game, flying around the field to rack up a team-high 13 tackles, including two for a loss.
While Falcons running back Bijan Robinson popped a few runs, Pittsburgh’s front seven contained Atlanta’s best weapon, holding him to 83 yards on 21 carries on a day where Atlanta’s entire game plan hinged on riding Robinson to victory.
The Steelers were without Joey Porter Jr. and Deshon Elliot. Down two key starters, the defensive backfield held Atlanta to just 143 passing yards. Cooper Rush, filling in after Tua Tagovailoa suffered an injury on late Thursday, managed only 12 completions on 22 attempts all afternoon. Jaquan Brisker notched an interception in the first half, while Jamel Dean set the physical tone for the corners with five tackles and a forced fumble.
The secondary’s only real blemish was allowing Robinson to break free for a 23-yard touchdown catch in the first half after Jalen Ramsey couldn’t tackle him in the open field. Outside of that lapse, the corners tackled with certainty. Next week’s trip to New England will present a steeper challenge, but this depleted unit passed its first test.
The high hopes for the McCarthy era offense may still be on hold. Aaron Rodgers went 24-40 and passed for 221 yards and a touchdown, more importantly he had zero turnover , showing sharp touch on multiple strikes that easily could have translated into a 300-yard day with better support from his receiving corps.
Instead, the offense was plagued by self-inflicted wounds. DK Metcalf’s monster training camp didn’t translate to the opener, his last season’s red flags resurfaced. Drops, an inability to win contested catches on third/fourth downs, an end-zone drop, and two offensive pass interference penalties killed drives. The Steelers are paying Metcalf $30 million he simply needs to be better. Roman Wilson missed an opportunity to cement his place, dropping a potential touchdown pass in the end zone.
Michael Pittman Jr. and tight end Pat Freiermuth were bright spots, they went a combined 8-for-8 on their targets. Freiermuth scored Pittsburgh’s lone offensive touchdown on a slick 19-yard strike from Rodgers in the first half.
Mid-fourth quarter, Rodgers took an 8-yard loss on a third-down sack, pushing what would have been a 46-yard Chris Boswell field goal attempt into a 56-yard miss. Later, Rodgers rushed to catch Atlanta with 12 men on the field; the Falcons had 11, the third-down pass fell incomplete, and Metcalf couldn’t drag his feet in-bounds on the ensuing fourth-down try, resulting in a turnover on downs.
There was very little room to run and the Steelers rushed for just 2.8 yards per carry and finished with just 58 yards on the ground. It directly reflects the lack of push up front. The reshuffled offensive line, playing its first live reps together with Rodgers and the starting unit, offered leaky pass protection as well, surrendering two sacks to Za’Darius Smith and consistent early pressure.
Jaylen Warren started out slow, through three quarters. But Warren took over in the fourth, generating 37 of his 73 total yards from scrimmage late, highlighted by a physical 9-yard third-down conversion to seal the win at the two-minute warning. Rico Dowdle, replacing 2025 team MVP Kenneth Gainwell, found virtually no running room in a tough first outing he finished with just 15 yards.
This unit needs dramatic improvement before heading to Foxborough to face the defending AFC champions.
The special teams are again frustrating on all levels. No Danny Smith, but the unit continues to make mistakes under the new regime.
Chris Boswell went 2-for-3 on field goals, but his fourth-quarter miss gave Atlanta late life. Earlier in the second half, Boswell was lined up for a 62-yard attempt when a miscommunication led to an early snap from Christian Kuntz, forcing holder Cam Johnston to throw the ball away and handing Atlanta field position in Steelers territory.
Special teams coordinator Danny Crossman must also address kickoff coverage after the Falcons opened drives at their own 34-, 35-, and 43-yard lines. On the positive side, rookie returner Kaden Wetjen posted 40 total return yards (including a 27-yard kickoff return), while Eli Heidenreich provided 47 yards on two kickoff returns.
It was not the offensive juggernaut that everyone was hoping for. Penalties, drops, and execution errors aren’t entirely on the head coach, but McCarthy’s decision to hold Rodgers and the starting receivers out of preseason action clearly contributed to a rusty performance.
At the end of the day the Steelers did enough to win. Rodgers awarded the game ball to Mike McCarthy postgame, a milestone the local native McCarthy will always remember.
Beer We Go Steelers, Beer We Go!
Beer We Go Steelers, Beer We Go!
My “GAME BEER” goes to: T.J. Watt who put together a big game after what many considered a disappointing season. Also Considered: Cam Heyward batting down passes, Payton Wilson who had a tremendous game and of course Alex Highsmith with the huge effort.
Beer of the Game: Modello for me (Two pitchers worth) and Corona Light for KGB.
“Steel the Snacks”: No Steel the snacks this week. KGB and I played a road game this week. We were at the Snuggery in Palm Beach, a very cool Steelers bar. The crowd was raucous and we had wings and fries.
My stat of the week: ONE win for Mike McCarthy. It wasn’t pretty and at times it looked all too familiar but, imagine the pride it must be to coach your hometown team to a win in the NFL. It is the start of a new era in Pittsburgh.
My thoughts on next week: The Steelers head to their personal house of horrors in New England. They pulled an upset last year when they forced the Patriots into five turnovers. The Patriots are coming off a disappointing opener and have had extra time to prepare. One thing is certain, the offense that showed up yesterday, will not be enough to pull out a victory. They need a much stronger and crisper performance.
Jersey of the Week: NO JERSEY, debuted the BWG 2026 Shirt.