The Pittsburgh Steelers were given a low spot from ESPN in a power ranking despite winning in Week 1.
The Pittsburgh Steelers were able to take down the Atlanta Falcons at home in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.
But while the Steelers were able to get the victory, it wasn't the best performance from the team. There was more of the same from this unit, with Pittsburgh looking very similar to how they were a year ago.
The offense sputtered consistently, while the defense made one play more than the other team. The defense was the saving grace in this game, with star defensive end T.J. Watt recording an interception and touchdown on the play.
But due to the struggles during the game, the Steelers allowed a Falcons team, playing with a third-string quarterback, to hang around. Pittsburgh will need to clean this up as the year moves along.
In the end, Pittsburgh did grab the victory to move to 1-0 on the season. But nobody in the building will feel good about how it came together.
Despite the win, the Steelers came in ranked at No. 21 in ESPN's new power ranking heading into Week 2. Pittsburgh didn't move a spot in the rankings from where they landed after the preseason.
Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers had a decent game, throwing for 221 yards with one touchdown. Rodgers didn't turn the ball over, which was a strong sign to see from a 42-year-old quarterback.
Much of the success from Pittsburgh this year will fall on the shoulders of Rodgers once again. The veteran will need to push the ball down the field a little more, giving his wide receivers a chance to make plays.
But the Steelers offense continued to be one-dimensional, with the running attack almost nonexistent against the Falcons. Newcomer Rico Dowdle only rushed for 15 yards on eight carries, while Jaylen Warren rushed for 46 yards on 10 carries.
If the Steelers are going to do damage this season, they will need to find a way to get the offense humming through the air and on the ground. Stronger defenses than the Falcons will pick this team apart if not, and Pittsburgh could be in some trouble.
Next up for the Steelers will be a trip on the road to take on the New England Patriots. New England lost their first game of the year to the Seattle Seahawks, so the Patriots will be coming in fired up to defend home-field.
Pittsburgh can take down New England, but they will need a total team effort to do so. Kickoff for this game will take place at 10:00 a.m. PT/1:00 p.m. ET.
