Gritty Steelers do enough to overcome Falcons

The Pittsburgh Steelers entered their home opener with the Mike McCarthy era officially underway, bringing a fresh sense of expectation to a franchise that has made the playoffs just once in the past four seasons. McCarthy’s arrival allowed him to reunite his Super Bowl-winning, veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who returned for what could be the final season of his career.

The Atlanta Falcons, meanwhile, arrived in Pittsburgh facing quarterback dilemma. Tua Tagovailoa had been expected to lead the offense after joining the team in the offseason, but an oblique injury ruled him out just days before kick-off, while Michael Penix Jr. was still recovering from his ACL injury. That left veteran Cooper Rush to make the start, placing even greater responsibility on star running back Bijan Robinson, who was coming off an All-Pro season in which he led the NFL with 2,298 yards from scrimmage.

The Steelers’ defense entered as the unit most likely to break the game open either way, with TJ Watt and co. ready to take advantage of a lacklustre offensive line in front of Rush, who many doubt is even close to a starting-worthy quarterback in the league.

After a predictably cagey start to the game for both sides, it was only a matter of time before Robinson broke the game open with a highlight reel play, and he did so on a 23-yard touchdown catch out of the backfield on 3^rd and long, giving the Falcons a 7-3 lead on the stroke of quarter time.

After earning the easiest passing touchdown of his career, Rush came back down to earth, picked off by new Steeler Jaquan Brisker, which Rodgers capitalised on with a bullet to the ever-reliable Pat Freiermuth in the back of the end zone to regain the lead.

Despite having the lead, McCarthy decided his team and the game needed a spark, trying a fake 62-yard field goal, which didn’t go as planned as punter Cameron Johnson was forced to dispose of the ball very quickly.

But Atlanta didn’t capitalise whatsoever and the Steelers maintained their 6-point advantage going into halftime.

The defensive affair progressed into the second half, with Nick Folk missing his 2^nd field goal attempt for Atlanta, followed by a pair of punts and a failed 4^th down conversion by the Steelers.

However, a big play by, you guessed it, Bijan Robinson, got Atlanta back into field goal position, with Folk finally putting one through the uprights, cutting the margin in half.

After forcing a quick punt, the Falcons entered the final quarter with a chance to at least tie the game, but any hopes of that were quickly dismissed as Watt, as he has done so often for his team, came up with a huge defensive play to effectively seal the game – this time a pick six for his 10^th career interception.

Despite Folk knocking another field goal through, the veteran experience of Rodgers proved enough to guide the Steelers to victory., running out 20-13 winners over Atlanta.

The win had Steelers football written all over it. Not pretty, but gritty. They’ll be around the playoff picture yet again this season, without being genuine contenders. It remains to be seen whether their unwillingness to commit to a rebuild will haunt them in the longer term, but a nice start to their season to get over the line at home.

For Atlanta, well it’s hard not to start with the quarterback. Cooper Rush clearly isn’t an NFL starter. Falcons fans will surely have their fingers crossed that Michael Penix Jr. will at least show signs of why the team selected him 8^th overall when he returns from injury, but it shapes to be a very difficult year for the team as a whole.

Touchdowns
Atlanta: Robinson
Pittsburgh: Freiermuth, Watt

Top Performers
Atlanta: Robinson, Smith, Deablo
Pittsburgh: Watt, Rodgers, Freiermuth, Brisker, Highsmith

Injuries
Atlanta: Hand (knee), Terrell Jr. (unknown)
Pittsburgh: Fautanu (shoulder)

Crowd: 66,089 at Acrisure Arena