T.J. Watt’s pick-six lifts Steelers past Falcons 20-13 in season opener

    PITTSBURGH — For much of Sunday afternoon, the Steelers’ offense looked uncomfortably familiar. The defense made sure it didn’t matter.

    T.J. Watt turned a one-score game on its head in the fourth quarter, intercepting Cooper Rush at the line of scrimmage and returning it for a touchdown to help Pittsburgh escape with a 20-13 win over Atlanta.

    Watt finished with two sacks, three tackles for loss and the pick-six, while linebacker Payton Wilson led Pittsburgh with 13 tackles and two tackles for loss. Alex Highsmith added two sacks as the Steelers held Atlanta to 238 total yards and forced two interceptions.

    The performance covered for an offense that struggled to consistently move the ball. Aaron Rodgers completed 24 of 40 passes for 221 yards and one touchdown, but Pittsburgh finished with just 264 total yards and converted three of 13 third downs.

    Atlanta struck first after Jaylen Warren fumbled in Pittsburgh territory. The Falcons capitalized when Bijan Robinson took a screen pass into the end zone for a 7-3 lead.

    The Steelers responded in the second quarter. Jaquan Brisker intercepted Rush, giving Pittsburgh a short field, and Rodgers eventually rolled left before finding Pat Freiermuth in the back of the end zone for the Steelers’ only offensive touchdown.

    Pittsburgh carried a 13-7 lead into halftime, but missed opportunities kept Atlanta within striking distance. A late attempt at a 62-yard field goal broke down when punter Cameron Johnston instead threw the ball away after an apparent miscommunication.

    The Falcons cut the lead to 13-10 in the third quarter before Watt delivered the play of the game early in the fourth. Dropping off the line while engaged with a blocker, Watt jumped into Rush’s throwing lane, secured the interception and stumbled before regaining his balance and running it back for a touchdown.

    Atlanta added another field goal to make it 20-13, but Pittsburgh’s defense responded again. Highsmith sacked Rush on third down with just over four minutes remaining, helping the Steelers get the ball back with a chance to close the game.

    Rodgers connected with DK Metcalf on a back-shoulder throw to move the chains before Darnell Washington powered through a defender for another first down. Warren then broke outside for the final first down before the two-minute warning, allowing Pittsburgh to run out the clock.

    Metcalf finished with four catches for 40 yards on 10 targets, while Freiermuth led the Steelers with five receptions and caught Rodgers’ lone touchdown. Roman Wilson caught three passes for 26 yards on six targets and consistently created separation, though he and Rodgers struggled to connect on several deeper opportunities.

    The running game offered little help for much of the afternoon. Warren finished with 46 yards on 10 carries, while Rico Dowdle managed just 15 yards on eight attempts. Pittsburgh averaged 2.8 yards per carry as a team.

    There were other concerns. Pittsburgh committed seven penalties, missed a 56-yard field goal late and lost starting left tackle Troy Fautanu to an injury in the fourth quarter.

    Still, the biggest difference from several frustrating Steelers losses of recent seasons was simple: when the offense stalled, the defense created the game-changing play and on Sunday, Watt provided it.

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