Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy received a game ball from quarterback Aaron Rodgers following the team's 20-13 season-opening victory over the Atlanta Falcons. The gesture held special significance for McCarthy, who grew up near Pittsburgh and spent 13 seasons with Rodgers in Green Bay. "Mike's had a lot of wins, but it's always special when it's the first one at a place," Rodgers said. McCarthy, visibly moved, thanked his players and quickly shifted focus to future victories.

The Steelers' defense dominated, sacking Falcons third-string quarterback Cooper Rush four times. T.J. Watt led the charge with two sacks and a pivotal pick-six, intercepting Rush and returning it 35 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Watt credited teammate Keeanu Benton for urging him to get up and run after the interception. The play made Watt only the second player in NFL history with 100 sacks and 10 interceptions, joining Julius Peppers.

Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham's rotation strategy kept the pass rush fresh. Watt, Nick Herbig, Alex Highsmith, and Jack Sawyer shared snaps effectively. Free agent acquisition Jaquan Brisker, a Pittsburgh native, also recorded an interception in his Steelers debut.