The Pittsburgh Steelers started the Mike McCarthy era on a high note by defeating the Atlanta Falcons at home Sunday afternoon, 20-13. After a shaky start, it was the Steelers’ defense that stole the show and propelled the team to victory. That included a pick-six from TJ Watt, who looked fresh and revitalized under this new coaching staff.
It’s time for our weekly look around the web to see where the Steelers fall in this week’s power rankings.
FOX Sports: No. 16 (No. 20 Last Week)
“Aaron Rodgers was OK, not great, but he didn’t need
to do a lot thanks to a defense that was stifling against a battered Falcons team playing its third-string QB.” – Ralph Vacchiano
The Athletic: No. 16 (Last Week No.18)
“Yes, the Steelers have a new coach, but this team looked much like it has in recent years. The defense was pretty good. The offense was mostly fine. It’s rarely worth putting too much stock into Week 1, but this Mike McCarthy-led squad looks like another roughly .500 team. We should learn more about the Steelers in Week 2 during their trip to New England.” – Chad Graff and Josh Kendall
CBS Sports: No.20 (Last Week No. 20)
“They beat the Falcons, but it wasn’t pretty. They have to do more on offense, starting this week against the Patriots.” – Pete Prisco
Pro Football Talk: No. 17 (Last Week No. 18)
“For the second time in three years, T.J. Watt personally delivered a win over the Falcons in Week 1.” – Mike Florio
NFL.com: No. 23 (Last Week No.21)
“Mike McCarthy’s debut as Steelers coach didn’t come with the explosive offense that was his trademark at prior NFL stops. Aaron Rodgers played with more freedom and aggression than he did last season, but the unit struggled to produce points against the Falcons. None of that matters all that much, though, when T.J. Watt is intercepting passes and turning them into defensive touchdowns.” – Nick Shook
Yahoo! Sports: No. 20 (Last Week No. 20)
“The Steelers got a win but it wasn’t pretty. Facing a Falcons team down to its third quarterback, the Steelers led by just three points in the fourth quarter before T.J. Watt had an interception return for a touchdown. Particularly troubling was the offense, which had the worst success rate in the NFL for Week 1. The run game really struggled, with 2.8 yards per carry. And that’s against a Falcons defense that wasn’t projected to be very good.“ – Frank Schwab
USA Today: No. 20 (Last Week No.21)
“OLB T.J. Watt appeared revived Sunday after a subpar 2025 season. He (and Joey Porter?) also looked like a player who might be a tremendous target at this season’s trade deadline.” – Nate Davis
ESPN: No. 21 (Last Week No. 21)
“Even with Falcons do-everything back Bijan Robinson racking up 173 scrimmage yards, it’s hard to point to anyone other than Graham. The Steelers’ pass rush dominated third-string quarterback Cooper Rush, and the buy-in from the Steelers’ veterans was evident. T.J. Watt, who admitted he was stubborn about the idea of moving around in the old scheme, did just that Sunday. Not only did Watt have a pick-six, but he also recorded a sack from each side of the D-line. Graham passed his first test with flying colors.” – Brooke Pryor
While a few publications gave the Steelers slight bumps after their Week 1 victory, most kept the Steelers exactly where they had them before the season. Given the overall lack of offensive juice the team showed, coupled with the fact that they faced a third-string quarterback, it’s hard to be upset with that way of thinking. We should learn more about the Steelers after their date with the New England Patriots in Foxborough this weekend.
Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!
- Chiefs named team to watch for Joey Porter Jr trade
- Lions called Steelers about Joey Porter Jr trade
- Steelers Week 1 grades in win over Falcons
- The morning after: Aaron Rodgers needs more from his receivers
- Steelers stock report after Week 1 win over Falcons
