The Pittsburgh Steelers kicked off their NFL season with a 20-13 win over the Atlanta Falcons, but don’t let that final score fool anyone into thinking everything is gravy. Mike McCarthy just wrapped up his first game as head coach, and despite the W, the vibe in Pittsburgh is anything but celebratory. That offense looked downright shaky, especially in a game they were supposed to just roll right through.
Offense Looked Out Of Sorts in McCarthy’s Debut
This game was set up for Pittsburgh to absolutely trounce the Falcons, but that didn’t happen. Not even close. Atlanta hung around, making the first half feel slow and just totally out of sorts for the Steelers. McCarthy’s getting called out, and honestly, it’s hard to argue when you watched that sluggish unit. Nick Shook of the NFL didn’t pull any punches either. He said McCarthy’s debut “didn’t come with the explosive offense that was his trademark at prior NFL stops.” That’s a brutal assessment for a guy making his return, especially when you consider they *won* the game.
Aaron Rodgers apparently played with “more freedom and aggression” than he did last season, which is great for him, but it clearly wasn’t enough to make the unit look good. They just struggled to produce points. Thankfully, T.J. Watt showed up big time, intercepting passes and turning them into defensive touchdowns. Thank goodness for Watt, because without him, who knows how bad this “win” could have looked? McCarthy’s gotta shake off that rust from not being in the NFL for a year, and fast.
Falling in Power Rankings, But Hope for Week 2
Despite getting that win, the Steelers actually *dropped two spots* in the official NFL power rankings from Nick Shook, landing at No. 23. That’s a pretty stark reality check when you’re coming off a victory. It really highlights how much the “shaky offense” and overall performance weighed on the perception of the team, even with Rodgers stepping up and Watt being a game-wrecker.
This team needs to find its form quick because the season moves fast. The Steelers are headed into Week 2 with a lot to prove, and they’ll face the New England Patriots next. They simply have to look better. If they roll out another sluggish offensive performance, even with a win, fans are going to get real anxious, real quick about the direction of this squad under McCarthy. Let’s hope they come out firing and show us the explosive offense everyone expects.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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