The Pittsburgh Steelers began the Mike McCarthy era with a 20-13 win over the Atlanta Falcons, but the offense left Acrisure Stadium knowing it had more available. Aaron Rodgers hit enough throws to help Pittsburgh move to 1-0, yet several deep opportunities went unfinished. McCarthy addressed those comments Monday as the Steelers turned toward a Week 2 trip to the New England Patriots.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike McCarthy (left) and quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during 2026 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Rodgers finished the opener 24-of-40 for 221 yards and a touchdown, according to the Steelers' official recap. The offense showed flashes, including a flea-flicker completion and several downfield designs, but converted only three of 13 third-down opportunities. That inefficiency kept Atlanta in a game Pittsburgh had chances to put away.
Rodgers discussed the missed deep shots after the game. McCarthy did not dispute the assessment Monday. Instead, he emphasized that big-play execution remains part of Pittsburgh's standard while making clear that third down deserves the most immediate attention.
"Aaron's comments? I think, as a whole, it's important to win," McCarthy said. "We are establishing a standard of play. Every team is different, but it really comes down to the basics. Offensively, as I talked about in yesterday's press conference, we have done a nice job hitting our shot plays in training camp and downfield throws and things like that. We missed on a few yesterday, and when you hit those, it definitely makes a difference in your production in the passing game."
McCarthy's answer was direct. The Steelers did not become a broken offense because they missed a handful of chances in Week 1. However, Pittsburgh cannot treat explosive plays as optional if it wants Rodgers and its new weapons to reach their ceiling.
The encouraging part is that McCarthy did not describe a scheme problem or a lack of opportunities. He pointed to execution on plays Pittsburgh had successfully practiced, which means the correction is rooted in timing, ball placement, route detail and finishing through contact.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike McCarthy during 2026 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
The missed opportunities explain why the final offensive numbers felt uneven despite the win. Michael Pittman Jr. led Pittsburgh with 58 receiving yards, while Pat Freiermuth caught the only offensive touchdown. A completed shot play could have changed the tone of a game that needed a TJ Watt pick-six to create late breathing room.
McCarthy also refused to let deep throws become the entire discussion. Pittsburgh's 23% third-down conversion rate was the clearest issue from Sunday, limiting its ability to build possessions and sustain momentum. Against a better opponent, that inefficiency can make every missed shot feel larger.
"The biggest thing for us, as far as where we will put more energy, was our third downs," McCarthy said. "That's where our focus was."
That focus is necessary because the Steelers did not win with a dominant offensive performance. They managed only 58 rushing yards and repeatedly put themselves in situations where one play had to save a drive.
The defense answered with four sacks and two interceptions, but relying on that formula every week would put pressure on the unit.
Steelers Must Turn Available Shots Into Consistent Drives
McCarthy's comments reveal the right Week 2 priority: Pittsburgh needs both the explosive plays Rodgers mentioned and the dependable downs the offense failed to win. Those goals are connected. Hitting a vertical throw can flip field position and create easier third downs, while converting early in drives gives McCarthy more chances to call the aggressive shots his offense practiced throughout training camp.
The Patriots will provide a more telling test than Atlanta's emergency quarterback situation. New England will not care that Pittsburgh saw explosive plays on film if the Steelers fail to complete them or extend drives. Rodgers identified the missed chances, and McCarthy has placed responsibility on the offense to correct them.
At 1-0, Pittsburgh can fix these details after a victory. If the Steelers turn a few of Sunday's available deep shots into completions and improve their third-down operation, the passing game could look dramatically different in New England.
What do you think is the bigger Week 2 priority for the Pittsburgh Steelers: hitting their deep shots or fixing third down? Share your Steelers takes with me on X (@anthonyghalkias), and follow me for more analysis throughout the 2026 season.
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