The Mike McCarthy era in Pittsburgh officially started with a win.

It wasn’t always pretty. It wasn’t an offensive explosion. But it looked a lot like Steelers football.

Play defense, create turnovers, make a few plays offensively and let your stars take over when the game is on the line.

That’s exactly what happened Sunday as the Steelers opened the 2026 season with a 20-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons at Acrisure Stadium.

And when Pittsburgh needed somebody to slam the door shut, T.J. Watt reminded everybody exactly who he is.

 

T.J. Watt Changed the Game

Atlanta was hanging around. The Steelers led just 13-10 entering the fourth quarter, and this was still anybody’s football game.

Then Watt happened.

Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush tried to get the football to Bijan Robinson, but Watt read the play perfectly, got his hands on the pass and took the interception 35 yards to the house.

Pick-six. 20-10 Steelers. Ballgame-changing play.

It was Watt’s first career interception return for a touchdown, and it wasn’t his only contribution. He finished with two sacks and three tackles for loss in a dominant season-opening performance.

We spend so much time talking about quarterbacks in the NFL, but there are only a handful of defensive players who can completely change a game by themselves.

Watt is still one of them.

And after some wondered whether he was beginning to slow down following a difficult 2025 season, Week 1 was a pretty strong answer.

 

Aaron Rodgers Did Enough

Aaron Rodgers didn’t have to be Superman. He just had to manage the game, protect the football and make enough throws to give Pittsburgh a chance.

Rodgers finished with 221 passing yards and one touchdown in what he has said will be his final NFL season.

His biggest sequence came after Jaquan Brisker intercepted Rush in the second quarter.

Pittsburgh turned the takeaway into seven points, with Rodgers eventually finding Pat Freiermuth for a six-yard touchdown that put the Steelers ahead 13-7.

That’s exactly what you want to see.

Defense creates the opportunity. Offense makes Atlanta pay for it.

 

Steelers Defense Made Life Difficult

This game belonged to Pittsburgh’s defense.

Rush finished just 12-of-22 for 143 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

Atlanta certainly had opportunities.

Bijan Robinson was dangerous throughout the afternoon, finishing with 83 rushing yards and another 90 receiving, including a 23-yard touchdown reception that gave Atlanta a 7-3 first-quarter lead.

But every time it felt like Atlanta might take control, Pittsburgh’s defense responded.

Brisker came up with an interception. Watt produced the biggest play of the afternoon.

And when Atlanta still had life late in the fourth quarter, Alex Highsmith sacked Rush on a critical drive and helped force the Falcons to give the football back.

That’s Steelers football.

 

There Is Plenty to Clean Up

Nobody should walk away from this game thinking Pittsburgh played great football.

They didn’t.

The offense stalled too often. Jaylen Warren lost a fumble that directly led to Atlanta’s first touchdown. Pittsburgh turned the ball over on downs twice in the second half, and Chris Boswell missed a 56-yard field goal that gave Atlanta another opportunity late.

There will be plenty for McCarthy and his staff to correct.

But Week 1 isn’t about looking like a finished product. It’s about getting the win.

Pittsburgh did that.

 

A New Era Starts 1-0

There was obviously going to be extra attention surrounding this game.

For the first time in two decades, somebody other than Mike Tomlin was standing on the Steelers sideline as head coach.

McCarthy didn’t need to make some huge statement in his first game. He needed to win.

Mission accomplished.

The Steelers are 1-0.

Rodgers made enough plays. The defense forced two interceptions. And Pittsburgh’s biggest defensive star made the biggest play of the afternoon.

New coach. New era. Same T.J. Watt.

If Pittsburgh is going to make noise this season, there are going to be Sundays when the offense doesn’t have its best stuff and somebody has to take over.

In Week 1, Watt did exactly that.

Steelers 20, Falcons 13.

The Mike McCarthy era is officially underway. And it starts with a win.