T.J. Watt's late pick-six powered the Pittsburgh Steelers past the Atlanta Falcons 20-13 in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season, delivering a winning debut for quarterback Aaron Rodgers and new head coach Mike McCarthy at Acrisure Stadium. Watt, beginning his 10th season, anticipated a dump-off pass to Bijan Robinson, plucked the ball out of midair, and raced 35 yards for the decisive fourth-quarter touchdown. The victory lifted the Steelers to 1-0 and into a share of first place in the AFC North, but the afternoon was anything but smooth, with a sluggish offense and an early deficit keeping the Falcons within reach until Watt's signature moment finally sealed it.
Watt's Pick-Six Rescues a Sluggish Steelers Offense
The Steelers needed a vintage T.J. Watt performance to overcome a slow start from Rodgers and company. The four-time All-Pro finished with two sacks as part of a defensive effort that brought down Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush four times, swatted away six passes, and never let the late replacement for Tua Tagovailoa settle into a rhythm. Rush, pressed into duty after Tagovailoa was ruled out, completed 12 of 22 passes for 143 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.
The game's turning point arrived in the fourth quarter, when Watt read a screen to Robinson, jumped the route, and returned the interception 35 yards 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."
"That's what he does," longtime teammate Alex Highsmith said. "He's the best in the world." The praise carried added weight after a frustrating 2025 season in which Watt managed only seven sacks, tied for the second-fewest of his career, and missed time following a freak dry-needling injury.
Rodgers, beginning his 22nd and final season, completed 24 of 40 passes for 221 yards and a touchdown to tight end Pat Freiermuth but was hampered by a couple of drops from DK Metcalf and a running game that did little to ease the load. Still, he delivered when it mattered, completing three passes on the clinching drive as Pittsburgh drained the final 4:16 off the clock.
Timeline: How the Steelers' Opening-Day Win Unfolded
The Falcons struck first, grabbing a 7-0 lead in the opening quarter on Robinson's swing-pass touchdown, while Pittsburgh answered with only a field goal to trail 7-3. A 10-point second quarter, highlighted by Freiermuth's touchdown catch and another Chris Boswell kick, sent the Steelers into halftime with a 13-7 edge.
Atlanta chipped back in the second half with a pair of field goals to level the game at 13-13 heading into the fourth quarter. That set the stage for Watt, whose interception return restored the lead, and for Rodgers' game-sealing drive that ran out the clock to complete the 20-13 result.
Rodgers and McCarthy Reunite for a Winning Debut
The victory carried extra meaning for McCarthy, who grew up a few miles from downtown Pittsburgh and was hired specifically to fine-tune an offense that had stalled in recent years. The reunion with Rodgers, his former quarterback from a Super Bowl-winning run in Green Bay, produced an imperfect but encouraging first chapter.
"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. Rodgers capped the afternoon by handing McCarthy the game ball, a gesture the coach called "a special moment."
"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."
The opener also marked the start of what ESPN is chronicling as Rodgers' "last rodeo." The veteran quarterback is chasing a series of milestones in his final season, including becoming the fourth quarterback in NFL history to appear in 300 games (he entered Week 1 with 288) and the fifth player to reach 70,000 passing yards (he needs 3,505 more). "I thought last year might be it," Rodgers said on the first day of training camp. "And then Mike got hired. And I talked to the wife, and she said you can do one more year. And it kind of all came together."
Joey Porter Jr.'s Trade Saga Looms Over Pittsburgh
Even in victory, the Steelers are managing a delicate situation with cornerback Joey Porter Jr., who sat out the opener with a back issue. McCarthy insisted the absence was health-related and not tied to the contract talks that broke down without an extension, but ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported the situation has reached a tipping point, with Porter open to a trade and the Steelers willing to deal him.
Porter, a young talent at a premium position on a franchise known for developing and paying its own draft picks, has drawn interest as a trade candidate. Fowler identified the Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, and San Francisco 49ers among the logical fits, with the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets also in the mix. Dallas already has a working relationship with Steelers general manager Omar Khan after deals for George Pickens and Broderick Jones, while Detroit carries roughly $38 million in cap space and a pressing need at cornerback. Part of the difficulty is financial — the cornerback market now features six players making at least $30 million — and Porter would likely command at least a second-round pick, possibly a first.
What's Next for the Steelers and the AFC North Race
The Falcons, meanwhile, received little support around Robinson, who accounted for 173 of Atlanta's 238 total yards and the team's only touchdown. Ninety-six yards in penalties and two early misses from veteran kicker Nick Folk spoiled first-year coach Kevin Stefanski's debut, leaving the Falcons winless in Pittsburgh in franchise history.
The Steelers now travel to face the New England Patriots next Sunday, while Atlanta returns home to host NFC South rival Carolina. Pittsburgh enters the week tied with Baltimore and Cincinnati at the top of the AFC North, with each team sitting at 1-0.
The Bottom Line: Key Takeaways From Steelers-Falcons
- T.J. Watt's 35-yard pick-six was the difference in a 20-13 Week 1 win.
- Aaron Rodgers threw for 221 yards and a touchdown to open his 22nd and final season.
- Mike McCarthy won his Steelers debut and received the game ball from Rodgers.
- Bijan Robinson accounted for 173 of Atlanta's 238 total yards.
- Joey Porter Jr. missed the game amid ongoing trade speculation.
