The Pittsburgh Steelers started off their 2026 season with a bang, dominating the Atlanta Falcons en route to a 20-13 victory that included a handful of standouts — and duds — from Sunday's game.
From a pair of edge rushers who just couldn't be stopped in Week 1 to a struggling quarterback-wide receiver connection, here's a look at the biggest winners and losers from the Steelers' Week 1 win over the Falcons.
Winners
T.J. Watt
There was no bigger winner in the Week 1 season opener than Watt, who recorded two sacks, three tackles for loss, and a pick-six to begin his 2026 season. Watt has reminded the rest of the league that he should always be treated as a favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year whenever he's healthy.
Alex Highsmith
Highsmith must've been listening to the
offseason trade speculation, because he was a man possessed in the Week 1 win over Atlanta. Highsmith finished the contest with two sacks, two tackles for loss, and three combined tackles. If it wasn't for Watt's utter dominance, Highsmith would be at the top of this list.
Payton Wilson
Wilson flew all over the field on Sunday, utilizing his game-changing speed at the linebacker position to make key pass breakups and major stops on defense. Finishing the game with 13 combined tackles and two tackles for loss, Wilson seems primed for a major Year 3 leap.
Pat Freiermuth
Freiermuth was a reliable safety valve for Rodgers throughout the Week 1 matchup against Atlanta, catching five passes for 46 yards and 1 touchdown. This is exactly the type of performance fans were expecting out of Freiermuth, who should continue to be a huge part of the offense in 2026.
Losers
DK Metcalf
Metcalf had a rough performance during the Week 1 opener, including key drops and a pair of offensive pass interference calls. The penalties were costly and completely unnecessary. The talented receiver is very physical, but that sometimes comes at a price. It came back to bite him in the season opener, with Metcalf catching just four passes for 40 yards despite 10 targets from his quarterback.
Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers was vocal with his receivers throughout the Week 1 matchup, calling them out for miscues left and right. But the veteran quarterback didn't look that much better. From multiple inaccurate throws to a bizarre failed attempt to catch the defense with 12 men on the field, Rodgers didn't have the season opener fans were hoping for. He finished the contest with 221 passing yards, and one touchdown, while completing 60% of his pass attempts.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Biggest winners, losers from Steelers' Week 1 victory over Falcons
