Atlanta
Falcons
0-0
27
FINAL
20
Pittsburgh
Steelers
0-0
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a thrilling opening matchup of the 2026 season, the Atlanta Falcons topped the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-20, kicking off their campaign with a crucial victory. Both teams aimed to assert themselves early, but it was the Falcons who ultimately emerged victorious in this tightly contested battle.
Bijan Robinson was the star of the show for Atlanta, showcasing his skills with an impressive 158 rushing yards and adding 96 receiving yards to his tally. His dynamic performance not only kept the chains moving but also provided the Falcons with the offensive punch they needed to stay ahead. Player 555223293 of the Steelers contributed as well, throwing for 243 yards and a touchdown, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Falcons' offensive firepower.
The defensive efforts were highlighted by Player 555223175 of the Steelers, who recorded seven total tackles, and Player 555222552, who delivered 1.5 sacks. However, the turning point came in the fourth quarter when the Falcons' defense stiffened, forcing a crucial turnover that allowed them to maintain their lead. This pivotal moment sealed the win for Atlanta and set the tone for the rest of the season.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Rodgers | QB | 28 | 13 | 46% | 243 | 1 | 0 | 88.8 |
| Michael Penix Jr | QB | 18 | 13 | 72% | 153 | 1 | 0 | 116.2 |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | YAC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bijan Robinson | HB | 10 | 158 | 15.8 | 76 | 2 | 82 | 0 |
| Jaylen Warren | HB | 7 | 14 | 2.0 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Michael Penix Jr | QB | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | — | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Kaden Wetjen | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zachariah Branch | WR | 1 | -2 | -2.0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | YAC | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bijan Robinson | HB | 5 | 96 | 19.2 | 102 | 1 | 63 | 0 |
| Roman Wilson | WR | 4 | 72 | 18.0 | 22 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| Jaylen Warren | HB | 1 | 58 | 58.0 | 60 | 1 | 58 | 0 |
| Zachariah Branch | WR | 6 | 48 | 8.0 | 15 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| DK Metcalf | WR | 4 | 32 | 8.0 | 16 | 0 | 15 | 1 |
| Darnell Washington | TE | 1 | 29 | 29.0 | 12 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| Pat Freiermuth | TE | 2 | 28 | 14.0 | 14 | 0 | 20 | 1 |
| Germie Bernard | WR | 1 | 24 | 24.0 | 16 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| Kyle Pitts Sr | TE | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Austin Hooper | TE | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | — | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Queen | MIKE | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Harold Perkins Jr | WILL | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Harold Landry III | REDG | 1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gervon Dexter Sr | DT | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| James Pearce Jr | REDG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Avieon Terrell | CB | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Xavier Watts | SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Robert Spears-Jennings | SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cam Heyward | DT | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jessie Bates III | FS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jalen Ramsey | FS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Payton Wilson | WILL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Billy Bowman Jr | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| T.J. Watt | LEDG | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sean Murphy-Bunting | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brandon Dorlus | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jamel Dean | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jaquan Brisker | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| A.J. Terrell Jr | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Folk | K | 2 | 2 | 3 | 51 |
| Chris Boswell | K | 2 | 2 | 2 | 58 |

