The Pittsburgh Steelers won their Week 1 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, 18-10. Starting off 1-0 is a great way to begin the season and build momentum heading into what is going to be a long 2024 campaign. It wasn't pretty, which is usually expected with Pittsburgh football, but there were some positives. Giving up only 10 points in the season opener is a huge positive for Pittsburgh's defense and Chris Boswell going 6/6 on field goal attempts is great news for the team's special teams unit. The offense has a lot of work to do, but they were safe with the football and did enough to win.
CBS News
Pittsburgh Steelers kicker, Chris Boswell (9) nailing six field goals leading the Week 1 victory.
Even though the Steelers didn't score a touchdown, Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith and his unit deserve some credit. Starting quarterback Russell Wilson wasn't available to play, so Smith had to make do with his backup quarterback, Justin Fields. While Fields is a very capable quarterback, it's still less than ideal to not have your starting quarterback available.
Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin's defense had a bit of a sluggish start to the season. On the opening drive, the Falcons marched down the field pretty easily, but ended up settling for a field goal. Pittsburgh's defense turned it around after that first drive with the exception of a late second quarter drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Falcons tight end, Kyle Pitts.
T.J. Watt and the Steelers' defense made Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins and co. look uncomfortable for most of the game, but that first drive stuck out to former Steelers quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger had this to say on his podcast Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger.
"[Bijan] Robinson is a great running back. You've got to find a way to be more physical and stop that. Because that was not what the Steelers want to do, right? We talk about that, like that's embarrassing for the Steelers, as a defense, like, to get run on and be just out physical'd."
Roethlisberger is right, the Falcons were certainly the more physical team on their first offensive drive. However, the Steelers' defense was facing a team with a new play-caller and quarterback. They likely couldn't watch film on the 2023 Falcons and have an extremely accurate feel for what they were going to see. The team likely had to watch film on the Los Angeles Rams where new Falcons offensive coordinator, Zac Robinson, coached previously and then make in-game adjustments to what they were seeing from the Falcons on offense.
KSTP
Steelers' Week 1 opponent Kirk Cousins during training camp.
The Steelers' Defense Got Stronger As The Game Went On
After seeing what the new look Falcons had to offer in the first half, the Steelers' defense looked like the game wrecking unit they're expected to be this season. The Falcons' offense got the best of Pittsburgh's defense on their first and last drives of the second half, but when the Steelers came out of the locker room to start the second half, it was all downhill for the Falcons' offense. The Falcons didn't score a point in the second half of the game. Largely in part to Watt playing like the best defensive player in football and necessary halftime adjustments on the defensive side of the ball.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' TJ Watt pumps up the crowd on the road in Atlanta.
Giving up only 10 points and pitching a second half shutout on the road as an underdog is something to be excited about, but there are still things to clean up. There were missed opportunities, like a dropped interception early in the game by cornerback Donte Jackson, and an unnecessary penalty in the secondary that negated a sack by Watt. At the moment, there's no guarantee if next week's starting quarterback will be Wilson or Fields, but regardless of who lines up under center for the team, the defense will need to wreak havoc on Denver Broncos' rookie quarterback, Bo Nix, to improve to 2-0. The Broncos aren't one of the best teams in football currently, but they shouldn't be taken lightly. Steeler Nation has seen the team fall to worse teams over the past few years.
Do you think the Steelers will clean up and start fast next week? Let us know in the comments below!
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