Instant analysis: Steelers grind their way to season-opening win in Atlanta

ATLANTA — Changes aplenty marked this Pittsburgh Steelers offseason, particularly for their offense, but the script Sunday looked awfully familiar to the past few seasons.

The Steelers grinded their way to a 18-10 win against the Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the 2024 opener, unable to generate a touchdown while kicker Chris Boswell did all the heavy lifting. Perhaps it was disjointed because of the quarterback uncertainty with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, a game plan gone awry as the veteran gave way to the backup mid-week.

It was still like pulling teeth to move the ball at times, but the defense smothered Kirk Cousins, got three takeaways and gave the Steelers a chance to come up for air early next week and re-evaluate their offensive circumstances once they have more clarity on Wilson’s calf injury.

Fields finished with 156 yards on 17-of-23 passing, plus 57 rushing yards on 14 attempts. He was sacked once and fumbled once but recovered. Najee Harris had a game-high 70 yards rushing on 20 carries, and George Pickens led the team with six receptions and 85 yards.

It was over when: In fitting fashion, T.J. Watt finally got a sack that wasn’t nullified by a penalty and it was the final play of the game as time expired for the Falcons, who had no timeouts left from their own 37. Watt did a little bow and kick to punctuate the day.

Player of the game: Boswell. Who else but this guy after he booted six field goals, three from 50 yards or more, with a long of 57, to put the Steelers on the board in the first quarter? Boswell even had to log his first career NFL punt after Cameron Johnston went down on a hard hit in the fourth quarter. He looked fine doing it, and it went 43 yards. Honorable mention to Donte Jackson, who had a huge interception and return in the fourth quarter to help the Steelers ice the game.

Trending up: DeShon Elliott. Signed this offseason to replace Keanu Neal, the new starting strong safety made a strong first impression by picking off Cousins at midfield in the first half, a diving grab that Elliott deftly held on to as he went down. Elliott had a quiet training camp, but that kind of playmaking is a bonus to his hard hitting. Honorable mention to defensive tackle Montravius Adams, who had a good camp and kept it rolling with a sack, his first as a Steeler in the regular season.

Trending down: Van Jefferson. The Steelers have shown a lot of faith in Jefferson by rolling with him as their No. 2 receiver — well, they wouldn’t have if the Brandon Aiyuk trade didn’t fall through, but still — and he got off on the wrong foot. Not only was he not involved in the passing game beyond one catch for 1 yard when he failed to get the first down and one target on which he had very little separation, but he also had false start and illegal shift penalties that put the offense behind the chains.

Up next: Another road trip, this time to Denver, and a potential revenge game for Russell Wilson against the team that’s eating $85 million in dead money for him to play for the Steelers — if his right calf is healthy, that is.

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