T.J. Watt started his tenth season by attempting to maneuver previous the noise that adopted his ninth.
The noise that mentioned the Pittsburgh Steelers star exterior linebacker had misplaced a step, possibly two, after quiet and injury-marred 2025. The noise that questioned if his time as a singular gamewrecker was over as his thirty second birthday neared.
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Watt offered an emphatic reply Sunday: not fairly but.
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The previous highschool tight finish turned again the clock in a 20-13 season-opening win over Atlanta, leaping to select off a move from Cooper Rush and racing — properly, after stumbling over his personal ft — 35 yards for a decisive fourth-quarter landing as Pittsburgh made Mike McCarthy’s debut teaching his hometown workforce successful.
“That is what he does,” longtime teammate Alex Highsmith mentioned. “He is the very best on the planet.”
Even when Watt did not play prefer it at instances final season, when the four-time All-Professional completed with 7 sacks — tied for the second-fewest of his profession — and missed a number of video games late following a freak dry needling damage.
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Watt already put a dent in that whole within the opener, chasing down Rush twice as a part of a defensive effort that sacked the late alternative for Tua Tagovailoa 4 instances, swatted away six passes and by no means let him get snug.
That discomfort was by no means extra noticeable on Watt’s second profession landing, when he anticipated a dump off to Robinson and snatched the ball out of midair simply after Rush launched it. The following few seconds had been chaos, as Watt scrambled downfield, briefly misplaced his footing and popped again up earlier than he was touched.
“I had no bearing in any respect,” Watt mentioned. “I am positive the autumn did not look too swish however glad somebody informed me to rise up and preserve operating.”
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The Steelers wanted a classic Watt efficiency to beat a sluggish begin by Aaron Rodgers and firm. Rodgers started his twenty second and ultimate season by throwing for 221 yards and a landing to tight finish Pat Freiermuth however was hampered by a few drops by DK Metcalf and a operating recreation that did little to take strain off him.
But there have been additionally indicators of potential, notably late within the fourth quarter when the Steelers took over deep of their territory. Rodgers accomplished three passes throughout the clinching drive — one every to Metcalf, Michael Pittman and Darnell Washington — as Pittsburgh drained the ultimate 4:16 off the clock.
“Having the ability to finish the sport on our phrases, with Aaron on the ball, taking a knee, you recognize you’ll be able to’t take that as a right,” Freiermuth mentioned.
The ball ultimately ended up within the arms of McCarthy, who grew up just a few miles from downtown Pittsburgh and is properly conscious of the expectations that include the job. The primary of what he hopes are many victorious afternoons did not go notably easily, particularly for the offense that he was employed particularly to high-quality tune.
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Not that it mattered when Rodgers handed him the sport ball, which McCarthy known as a “particular second” as they began a reunion from their time in Inexperienced Bay that included a Tremendous Bowl win. There’s additionally part of him that is able to get all of the firsts out of the way in which so he can lean into the rhythm of the season.
“It is time to transfer on and get workforce victories from right here on,” McCarthy mentioned. “I am not one for consideration. So the homecoming has been nice. Simply glad to get this one underneath our belt.”
Robinson a one-man present for Atlanta
The Falcons have loads of inquiries to reply this season underneath first-year coach Kevin Stefanski.
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Operating again Bijan Robinson is just not one among them.
The younger star did every thing he may to maintain the Falcons in it, accounting for 173 of the Falcons’ 238 whole yards and Atlanta’s lone landing on a swing move through which he break up three defenders and raced to the tip zone.
“Bijan’s an excellent participant,” Stefanski mentioned. “We will preserve leaning on him in all these video games, and now we have to.”
It simply wasn’t sufficient for the Falcons to win in Pittsburgh for the primary time in franchise historical past. Not on a day when Atlanta had 96 yards in penalties and kicker Nick People, who had only one missed area purpose every of the previous three seasons, was off track on his first two kicks when the end result was nonetheless doubtful.
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“Nick’s not going to be good this yr, I do not count on him to be good,” Stefanski mentioned. “I do not count on our soccer workforce to be good. However you need your guys to answer it, so I do know he’ll reply.”
Accidents
Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell was harm breaking apart a move within the third quarter. He missed a sequence however did return. Defensive deal with De’Shawn Hand exited with a knee damage within the first half and didn’t return.
The Steelers performed with out cornerback Joey Porter Jr., who missed most of coaching camp with a again difficulty. He did follow throughout the week, although McCarthy mentioned Porter’s absence was on account of his well being and never contract talks that broke down with out Porter signing an extension.
Up subsequent
Falcons: host NFC South rival Carolina subsequent Sunday.
Steelers: head to New England subsequent Sunday.