PITTSBURGH – The Steelers picked up a 20-13 win against the Atlanta Falcons in their season opener on Sunday, Sept. 13, at Acrisure Stadium.
It was the first win for coach Mike McCarthy, who was hired to replace Mike Tomlin in January after 19 seasons.
T.J. Watt made the decisive play with a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, then quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the offense did just enough to finish the game.
Rodgers threw a touchdown to teammate Pat Freiermuth in the first half, and field goals from kicker Chris Boswell provided the rest of the scoring Pittsburgh needed.
Here are some takeaways from the matchup ahead of a Week 2 matchup against the Patriots next week in New England.
Mike McCarthy leans hard on the pass
The new coach wasted no time
in transforming the offense that was predominantly run-focused in the later years of Tomlin’s tenure.
Rodgers registered 40 attempts on the afternoon, completing 24 of them for 221 yards and one touchdowns. His season high was 41 attempts last season under Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
McCarthy deployed quite a few three- and four-wide receiver sets and empty backfields. Tight end Pat Freiermuth and running backs Rico Dowdle and Jaylen Warren were frequently split out in formations that were rarely deployed in the Tomlin days.
The results were mixed. Drops and misses from Rodgers cost the Steelers big-play opportunities and kept Atlanta in the game. The plays were well designed, though. The offense’s main problem was execution.
Defense dominatess Cooper Rush, contains Bijan Robinson
First-year defensive coordinator Patrick Graham had the benefit of facing Atlanta’s third-string QB with Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa out with injuries.
Rush unsurprisingly had little success against the Steelers’ ferocious pass rush led by stars T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward. He was sacked four times while completing 12 of 22 passes for 143 yards. One of his two interceptions set up a touchdown from Rodgers to Freiermuth. The other was returned 35 yards by Watt for a touchdown.
Robinson, meanwhile, was fairly well contained on the ground. He carried 21 times for 83 yards, though he had eight catches for 90 yards ad a touchdown as well.
Michael Pittman Jr. makes big-play impact in debut
Of all the Steelers’ offseason acquisitions, the veteran receiver definitely had the loudest afternoon.
He caught three passes for 58 yards to lead the team despite missing most of training camp and the preseason with an injury.
That’s the kind of playmaking GM Omar Khan was looking for when he traded for Pittman and signed him to a three-year contract following six productive seasons with the Indianapolis Colts in which he racked up 5,254 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 3 takeaways as Mike McCarthy transforms Steelers offense in win vs Falcons
