The Steelers vs Atlanta Falcons Match Player Stats tell the story of a 20–13 Pittsburgh win in the 2026 season opener. The Falcons gained more rushing yards and held the ball longer, but Pittsburgh made the decisive plays on defense. This review covers the quarterbacks, leading rushers and receivers, turnovers, scoring, and team numbers from the September 13 game at Acrisure Stadium.
Final Score by Quarter
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 3 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
Team Box Score
| Statistic | Steelers | Falcons |
|---|---|---|
| Total net yards | 264 | 238 |
| Net passing yards | 206 | 118 |
| Rushing yards | 58 | 120 |
| First downs | 15 | 16 |
| Third-down efficiency | 3/13 | 2/12 |
| Fourth-down efficiency | 0/2 | 0/0 |
| Turnovers (interceptions thrown) | 0 | 2 |
| Sacks allowed | 2 | 4 |
| Penalties | 7–52 | 9–96 |
| Time of possession | 28:53 | 31:07 |
Key Player Statistics
| Player | Team | Passing | Rushing | Receiving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Rodgers | Steelers | 24/40, 221 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT | -3 yards | — |
| Cooper Rush | Falcons | 12/22, 143 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT | — | — |
| Jaylen Warren | Steelers | — | 10 carries, 46 yards | 5 catches, 27 yards |
| Bijan Robinson | Falcons | — | 21 carries, 83 yards | 8 catches, 90 yards, 1 TD |
| Pat Freiermuth | Steelers | — | — | 5 catches, 46 yards, 1 TD |
| Michael Pittman | Steelers | — | — | 3 catches, 58 yards |
| T.J. Watt | Steelers | — | — | 4 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT returned for a TD |
Scoring Summary
| Quarter | Team | Scoring play | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Falcons | Bijan Robinson, 23-yard touchdown reception | ATL 7–3 |
| Q2 | Steelers | Pat Freiermuth, 6-yard touchdown reception | PIT takes lead |
| Q2 | Steelers | Chris Boswell field goal | PIT leads 13–7 |
| Q3 | Falcons | Nick Folk field goal | PIT leads 13–10 |
| Q4 | Steelers | T.J. Watt, 35-yard interception return for a touchdown | PIT leads 20–10 |
| Q4 | Falcons | Nick Folk field goal | PIT wins 20–13 |
Game Context and Final Score
Atlanta visited Pittsburgh for Week 1, with both teams opening their regular seasons. The Falcons scored first and led 7–3 after the opening quarter. Pittsburgh moved ahead with a second-quarter touchdown and field goal, then added a defensive touchdown early in the fourth. Atlanta scored again, but could not close the seven-point gap.
Quarter-by-Quarter Score
The Falcons took the first-quarter lead, 7–3, on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Cooper Rush to Bijan Robinson. Pittsburgh scored 10 points in the second quarter to lead 13–7 at halftime. Nick Folk’s third-quarter field goal narrowed the margin to 13–10. T.J. Watt’s interception return and a later Atlanta field goal produced the final score: Pittsburgh 20, Atlanta 13.
Team Statistics at a Glance
Pittsburgh finished with 264 total net yards, compared with Atlanta’s 238. The Falcons ran for 120 yards, while the Steelers gained 58 on the ground. Pittsburgh had the edge in net passing yards, 206 to 118, and recorded two interceptions. Atlanta had 16 first downs to Pittsburgh’s 15 and possessed the ball for 31:07, but those advantages did not translate into more points.
Aaron Rodgers’ Passing Performance
Rodgers completed 24 of 40 passes for 221 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. He was sacked twice for a loss of 15 yards. His passer rating was 83.4. The touchdown went to Pat Freiermuth on a six-yard pass in the second quarter, giving Pittsburgh its first lead. Rodgers’ passing total was not overwhelming, but he protected the ball and helped the offense reach scoring range.
Cooper Rush’s Passing Numbers
Rush completed 12 of 22 attempts for 143 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. He was sacked four times for a combined loss of 25 yards, finishing with a 51.9 passer rating. His touchdown pass to Robinson gave Atlanta an early advantage. The two interceptions, especially Watt’s return for a score, proved costly in a game decided by one touchdown.
Jaylen Warren Leads Pittsburgh on the Ground
Warren was Pittsburgh’s most productive runner, carrying 10 times for 46 yards, an average of 4.6 per attempt. His longest run covered 17 yards. He also caught five passes for 27 yards, giving him 73 yards from scrimmage. Running back Rico Dowdle added 15 yards on eight carries, while Rodgers lost three yards on three rushing attempts.
Bijan Robinson’s All-Around Contribution
Robinson led Atlanta in both rushing and receiving. He carried 21 times for 83 yards, averaging 4.0 yards per attempt, and caught eight passes on 10 targets for 90 yards and a touchdown. That gave him 173 yards from scrimmage. His 23-yard scoring reception was Atlanta’s only touchdown, and his workload kept the Falcons’ offense moving even as Pittsburgh’s defense pressured Rush.
Atlanta’s Supporting Rushing Numbers
Backup running back Brian Robinson Jr. carried nine times for 31 yards, with a long run of 14. Drake London added one carry for six yards. As a team, Atlanta averaged 3.9 yards across 31 rushing attempts. The Falcons’ ground production was a clear statistical advantage over Pittsburgh, but it did not compensate for the sacks, interceptions, and missed field goals that limited their scoring.
Michael Pittman Tops Pittsburgh’s Receivers
Michael Pittman led the Steelers with 58 receiving yards on three catches, including a 28-yard reception. Freiermuth caught all five of his targets for 46 yards and the team’s lone offensive touchdown. DK Metcalf recorded four catches for 40 yards on 10 targets. The numbers show a spread-out passing attack, though Pittman produced the largest total gain among Pittsburgh’s receivers.
Other Steelers Receiving Contributions
Warren’s five receptions for 27 yards gave Rodgers a useful outlet from the backfield. Roman Wilson caught three passes for 26 yards, while Darnell Washington added two catches for 18. Dowdle made two receptions for six yards. These smaller totals helped Pittsburgh distribute the ball, but the team’s 221 passing yards came without a second passing touchdown.
Falcons Receivers Beyond Robinson
London finished with two catches for 29 yards on four targets, including a 21-yard gain. Jahan Dotson caught one of three targets for 19 yards, while Olamide Zaccheaus had one five-yard reception. Kyle Pitts was targeted once and did not record a catch. Robinson’s 90 receiving yards accounted for most of Atlanta’s production through the air.
The Tight Ends and Red-Zone Scores
Freiermuth’s five catches were important both for volume and timing. His six-yard touchdown reception followed Pittsburgh’s interception of Rush and gave the Steelers a 13–7 lead in the second quarter. Atlanta’s only touchdown came through Robinson, a running back, rather than a wide receiver or tight end. The score distribution underlines how much both teams relied on individual plays to finish drives.
T.J. Watt’s Game-Changing Defensive Play
Watt recorded four combined tackles, two sacks for nine yards, three tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, and an interception. He returned the pick 35 yards for a touchdown with 14:05 left in the fourth quarter. That play changed the score from a 13–10 Pittsburgh lead to 20–10. Watt’s line captures his impact as both a pass rusher and a turnover threat.
Jaquan Brisker Adds Another Interception
Brisker intercepted Rush as well, returning the ball 10 yards. Pittsburgh’s defense therefore finished with two interceptions, while Atlanta recorded none. The second pick did not become a defensive touchdown, but it ended a Falcons possession and limited the visitors’ chances to build momentum. Pittsburgh’s ability to take the ball away was central to the result.
Pittsburgh’s Pass Rush and Atlanta’s Protection
The Steelers sacked Rush four times, with Watt and Alex Highsmith recording two apiece. Highsmith’s two sacks accounted for 16 yards in losses, while Watt’s sacks cost Atlanta nine. The pressure forced Rush to operate behind the chains and contributed to a difficult passing line. Rodgers was sacked twice, but Atlanta did not produce the same number of disruptive plays against Pittsburgh’s quarterback.
Third-Down and Fourth-Down Efficiency
Neither offense was sharp on third down. Atlanta converted two of 12 attempts, or 16.7 percent; Pittsburgh converted three of 13, or 23.1 percent. The Steelers also failed on both fourth-down tries, while Atlanta did not attempt a fourth-down conversion. These rates help explain why the game remained low-scoring despite each team gaining more than 200 total yards.
Penalties and Possession
Atlanta was penalized nine times for 96 yards, compared with Pittsburgh’s seven penalties for 52 yards. The Falcons also held the ball for 31:07, more than two minutes longer than the Steelers. Yet time of possession and first-down totals were not enough to overcome the turnover margin. Pittsburgh made fewer damaging mistakes with the ball and created two interceptions on defense.
Special Teams and Field-Goal Attempts
Boswell made both of his field goals, from 43 and 28 yards, and converted both extra points. Folk made field goals from 51 and 43 yards, but missed attempts from 45 and 54 yards. Those misses left Atlanta without potential points in a close contest. Pittsburgh punter Cameron Johnston averaged 48.5 yards on four punts, while Atlanta’s Jake Bailey averaged 48.2 on six.
What the Box Score Reveals
The numbers show two different paths to offensive production. Atlanta leaned on Robinson, who totaled 173 yards from scrimmage, and gained 120 yards on the ground as a team. Pittsburgh passed for 206 net yards and relied on field goals, Freiermuth’s touchdown, and Watt’s pick-six. The Steelers had fewer rushing yards and slightly fewer first downs, but their defense delivered the most valuable scoring play.
Final Thoughts
Pittsburgh’s 20–13 win was built on defensive pressure and ball security. Rodgers supplied a steady, turnover-free passing performance, and Warren led the rushing attack. For Atlanta, Robinson was the standout, but Rush’s two interceptions and the missed field goals narrowed the margin for error. The final box score shows that yardage alone did not decide this opener; Pittsburgh’s defense turned its opportunities into points.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who won the Steelers vs. Falcons game?
The Pittsburgh Steelers won 20–13 on September 13, 2026, at Acrisure Stadium. They led 13–7 at halftime and used T.J. Watt’s fourth-quarter interception return for a touchdown to create a 10-point cushion.
2. How many passing yards did Aaron Rodgers have?
Rodgers completed 24 of 40 passes for 221 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. He was sacked twice for 15 yards in losses and finished with an 83.4 passer rating.
3. How did Cooper Rush perform?
Rush completed 12 of 22 passes for 143 yards and one touchdown. He threw two interceptions and was sacked four times for 25 yards, finishing with a 51.9 passer rating.
4. Who led the game in rushing yards?
Bijan Robinson led all players with 83 rushing yards on 21 carries. Pittsburgh’s Jaylen Warren led the Steelers with 46 yards on 10 attempts.
5. Who led Pittsburgh in receiving?
Michael Pittman led Pittsburgh with 58 receiving yards on three catches. Pat Freiermuth had the team’s most receptions, catching five passes for 46 yards and a touchdown.
6. How many total yards did each team gain?
Pittsburgh recorded 264 total net yards, while Atlanta finished with 238. The Falcons had more rushing yards, but the Steelers gained more net passing yards.
7. How many interceptions did Pittsburgh record?
The Steelers intercepted Rush twice. T.J. Watt returned one interception 35 yards for a touchdown, while Jaquan Brisker returned the other for 10 yards.
8. How many sacks did the Steelers record?
Pittsburgh recorded four sacks against Rush. Watt and Alex Highsmith each had two, helping disrupt Atlanta’s passing game and contribute to the turnover opportunities.
9. How many field goals did each team make?
Chris Boswell made two field goals for Pittsburgh. Nick Folk made two for Atlanta but missed two other attempts, one from 45 yards and another from 54.
10. Where was the game played?
The matchup took place at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. The Steelers were the home team, and the game was the opening regular-season contest for both clubs.
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