Pittsburgh’s defense delivered a decisive blow in the fourth quarter as T.J. Watt intercepted a pass and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown, securing a 20-13 season-opening victory over Atlanta on Sunday. The Steelers’ star linebacker, who faced questions about his performance following an injury-plagued previous season, made an emphatic statement in his 10th year by recording multiple sacks and defensive plays that kept the Falcons’ replacement quarterback uncomfortable throughout the afternoon.
The Steelers’ offensive performance was uneven, with Aaron Rodgers completing 221 yards and one touchdown pass but struggling with dropped passes and a limited ground game. However, a late drive engineered by Rodgers allowed Pittsburgh to control the clock’s final moments, cementing the victory and providing head coach Mike McCarthy a successful debut in his return to his hometown. McCarthy, who previously coached Green Bay, received the game ball from Rodgers following their Super Bowl-winning partnership years earlier.
Atlanta’s running back Bijan Robinson nearly single-handedly kept the Falcons competitive, accounting for 173 of Atlanta’s 238 total yards while scoring the team’s only touchdown. However, costly penalties and missed field goal attempts by kicker Nick Folk prevented the Falcons from winning their first-ever game in Pittsburgh under first-year coach Kevin Stefanski. The Steelers will travel to New England next week while Atlanta hosts Carolina.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
About the Author
