Pittsburgh, PA — T.J. Watt spent the offseason hearing questions about whether the dominant pass rusher who terrorized opposing offenses for years was beginning to slow down.
One game into his 10th NFL season, Watt offered his response on the field.
The Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker delivered a game-changing performance Sunday, intercepting Atlanta quarterback Cooper Rush and returning the turnover 35 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown as Pittsburgh defeated the Falcons 20-13 in Mike McCarthy’s debut as the Steelers’ head coach.
Watt also recorded two sacks as Pittsburgh’s defense consistently pressured Rush and helped the Steelers overcome an inconsistent offensive performance.
“That’s what he does,” Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith said. “He’s the best in the world.”
For Watt, the afternoon was a reminder of the impact he can still make when the game is on the line.
After finishing 2025 with just seven sacks — the second-lowest total of his career — Watt entered this season facing questions about whether injuries and age had finally begun to catch up with him.
Sunday provided an emphatic counterargument.
Watt Changes the Game
The Falcons were attempting to stay within striking distance when Rush dropped back and looked toward running back Bijan Robinson.
Watt anticipated the throw perfectly.
He jumped into the passing lane, secured the interception and immediately turned upfield.
The return wasn’t exactly smooth.
Watt briefly stumbled over his own feet, hit the ground and appeared to lose his balance completely. But he quickly got back up and continued running, eventually reaching the end zone for the second touchdown of his career.
“I had no bearing at all,” Watt said. “I’m sure the fall didn’t look too graceful, but glad someone told me to get up and keep running.”
The touchdown gave Pittsburgh the separation it needed.
Watt’s two sacks were part of a defensive effort that produced four sacks overall and six passes defended. Rush never appeared comfortable operating the Falcons’ offense.
It was exactly the kind of disruptive performance Pittsburgh has come to expect from Watt.
Rodgers’ Steelers Offense Finds a Way
The defense had to carry much of the load because Pittsburgh’s offense struggled to find consistency.
Aaron Rodgers began his 22nd NFL season with 221 passing yards and a touchdown to tight end Pat Freiermuth.
But the Steelers’ running game failed to provide much assistance, while a couple of drops from new wide receiver DK Metcalf prevented several opportunities from developing.
Despite those problems, Rodgers was at his best when Pittsburgh needed to close out the game.
The Steelers took possession deep in their own territory late in the fourth quarter with Atlanta still within reach. Rodgers completed three important passes — one to Metcalf, another to Michael Pittman and a third to Darnell Washington — allowing Pittsburgh to keep the chains moving and burn the remaining 4:16 from the clock.
The final possession gave the Steelers exactly what they wanted from their veteran quarterback: control.
“Being able to end the game on our terms, with Aaron on the ball, taking a knee, you know you can’t take that for granted,” Freiermuth said.
McCarthy’s Pittsburgh Homecoming Ends in Victory
The victory also gave McCarthy a memorable beginning to his tenure.
The longtime NFL coach grew up just outside Pittsburgh, making his first game as Steelers coach in front of the home crowd particularly significant.
The performance wasn’t perfect, especially on offense, but the Steelers found a way to win.
After the game, Rodgers handed McCarthy the game ball.
The two already shared history from their time together in Green Bay, including a Super Bowl championship. Their reunion now has a new chapter in Pittsburgh.
McCarthy called receiving the game ball a “special moment.”
Still, he made it clear that he doesn’t intend to spend much time reflecting on the significance of his debut.
“It’s time to move on and get team victories from here on,” McCarthy said. “I’m not one for attention. So the homecoming has been great. Just glad to get this one under our belt.”
Robinson Carries Atlanta
If there was one clear bright spot for Atlanta, it was Robinson.
The Falcons running back was essentially their entire offense, accounting for 173 of Atlanta’s 238 total yards.
He also scored the Falcons’ only touchdown, turning a short swing pass into a spectacular play. Robinson broke through three defenders and raced into the end zone, keeping Atlanta in the game.
First-year Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski knows his offense will need to rely heavily on Robinson throughout the season.
“Bijan’s a great player,” Stefanski said. “We’re going to keep leaning on him in all these games, and we have to.”
Unfortunately for Atlanta, Robinson couldn’t do enough by himself.
The Falcons also hurt themselves with 96 penalty yards, while veteran kicker Nick Folk missed his first two field-goal attempts.
Folk had missed only one field goal in each of the previous three seasons.
“Nick’s not going to be perfect this year, I don’t expect him to be perfect,” Stefanski said. “I don’t expect our football team to be perfect. But you want your guys to respond to it, so I know he’ll respond.”
Injury Updates
Atlanta cornerback A.J. Terrell left briefly after breaking up a pass in the third quarter but returned to the game.
Defensive tackle De’Shawn Hand suffered a knee injury in the first half and did not return.
Pittsburgh was without cornerback Joey Porter Jr., who missed much of training camp because of a back issue. Porter practiced during the week, but McCarthy said his absence Sunday was health-related and not connected to stalled contract-extension discussions.
What’s Next
The Falcons return home next Sunday to host NFC South rival Carolina.
The Steelers will hit the road for their first away game of the season when they travel to New England.
For Pittsburgh, however, the opening victory was about more than simply getting into the win column.
It was a statement from its defense — and especially from Watt.
The questions surrounding the veteran linebacker may not disappear after one game.
But Watt certainly gave them less reason to be asked.
