The Pittsburgh Steelers were able to get a win to open up the 2026 season as the team took down the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1. The game was closer than it probably should have been as Pittsburgh won the contest by a score of just 20-13. The group was taking on a third-string quarterback, but nonetheless, winning games in September is all that matters. A big reason the Steelers were able to come out on top in the matchup was the defense, and in particular, star outside linebacker TJ Watt.
Jordan Perez / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers star outside linebacker TJ Watt (right) rushes the passer during a Week 1 matchup against the Falcons on September 13, 2026 at Acrisure Stadium.
Watt was facing some pressure to have a good season in 2026. He signed a lucrative extension prior to the 2025 season, and he then had a down year as he only recorded seven sacks on the season. It is important to note that he did have some crazy health issues that caused him to miss time, but it was still a relatively unproductive season compared to what fans might be used to from the veteran. He got off to a hot start against Atlanta as he recorded two sacks and an interception which he returned for a touchdown for the first pick-six of his career.
The former Defensive Player of the Year did this while playing limited snaps. He played one of the lowest snap totals of his career, yet he managed to be one of the best defensive players in the NFL through the first week of the season. He spoke about this new strategy during an appearance on Not Just Football With Cam Heyward on Wednesday.
"Man, my body feels significantly better," Watt said. "Honestly, I feel way better. I mean, you know how it is, you want to be out there every play. You feel like any play you're not out there is a missed opportunity to make a play. Especially guys who can make splash plays like you can. I think that's something that I didn't really realize was in CJ's [Ah You] repertoire, managing reps like that. I think that's a skill honestly, to rotate us like that. Especially with, you know, me, [Nick Herbig], Jack [Sawyer], and Alex [Highsmith], sometimes there's three of us out there."
The overall message is that Watt feels great after a game for the first time in a long time, which should allow him to be fresh for every matchup, especially later in the season. He also compliments Outside Linebackers Coach CJ Ah You for his ability to split the snaps between Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, and Jack Sawyer.
Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers linebackers TJ Watt (90) and Alex Highsmith (56) celebrate big play in their Week 1 game against the Falcons on September 13, 2026.
The Steelers have one of the best outside linebacker rooms in the league, and using every player to the team's advantage is important. This doesn't just mean producing on the field, it also means divvying up the reps so that Watt might be fresher later on in games. Week 1 was a great example of that as he recorded a sack near the end of the third quarter and then had his pick six shortly after the fourth quarter began.
Steelers Will Likely See Benefits Later On In The Season
A common theme for Watt over the last couple of years has been his production tailing off as the season comes to a close. His body starts to wear down, and smaller injuries start to become a problem. This strategy being used so early in the season is going to help avoid that. It has been a focus of the coaching staff and it has been a focus of the players as well, so it is something that is going to be implemented throughout the foreseeable future, which is a good thing for the outlook of the Steelers.
Watt is playing like his old self again, and teams around the league are going to have to take notice.
What do you think about Watt's comments on how he feels about a game? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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