Atlanta
Falcons
0-0
28
FINAL
21
Pittsburgh
Steelers
0-0
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a thrilling season opener, the Atlanta Falcons narrowly defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-21, showcasing their offensive prowess and setting the tone for the 2026 season. Both teams fought hard, but it was the Falcons who emerged victorious, marking a strong start to their campaign.
Atlantaβs offense was led by quarterback Jalen Milroe, who tossed three touchdown passes and amassed 152 passing yards, effectively distributing the ball and keeping the Steelers' defense on their toes. Running back Bijan Robinson was a force on the ground, racking up 121 rushing yards and consistently finding gaps in the Steelers' front. Wide receiver Drake London contributed significantly with 59 receiving yards, solidifying the Falcons' offensive strategy.
Defensively, the Falcons managed to stifle the Steelersβ efforts, but Pittsburgh's Jaquan Brisker made a notable impact with two interceptions, providing crucial turnovers. However, the gameβs turning point came in the fourth quarter when the Falcons' defense held firm on a key drive, forcing a turnover on downs that allowed them to maintain their lead. Despite the Steelers' late-game push, Atlantaβs defense secured their victory, proving to be a decisive factor in this closely contested matchup.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Milroe | QB | 18 | 13 | 72% | 152 | 3 | 2 | 97.4 |
| Drew Allar | QB | 15 | 9 | 60% | 145 | 1 | 2 | 74.9 |
| Jahan Dotson | WR | 0 | 1 | β | 0 | 0 | 0 | β |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | YAC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bijan Robinson | HB | 19 | 121 | 6.4 | 33 | 1 | 20 | 0 |
| James Cook III | HB | 9 | 94 | 10.4 | 11 | 2 | 65 | 0 |
| Jalen Milroe | QB | 5 | 28 | 5.6 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | YAC | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drake London | WR | 2 | 59 | 29.5 | 23 | 0 | 38 | 0 |
| Zachariah Branch | WR | 5 | 51 | 10.2 | 14 | 2 | 16 | 0 |
| Roman Wilson | WR | 1 | 46 | 46.0 | 14 | 1 | 46 | 0 |
| Jahan Dotson | WR | 2 | 43 | 21.5 | 41 | 0 | 35 | 0 |
| James Cook III | HB | 4 | 35 | 8.8 | 39 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| Kyle Pitts Sr | TE | 4 | 33 | 8.3 | 9 | 1 | 21 | 0 |
| DK Metcalf | WR | 1 | 27 | 27.0 | 26 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| Pat Freiermuth | TE | 2 | 25 | 12.5 | 8 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Rico Dowdle | HB | 1 | 12 | 12.0 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Bijan Robinson | HB | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaquan Brisker | SS | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Hughes | CB | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylen Everette | CB | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jalon Walker | LEDG | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Robert Spears-Jennings | SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jamel Dean | CB | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jalen Ramsey | FS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Xavier Watts | SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| A.J. Terrell Jr | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Patrick Queen | MIKE | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sydney Brown | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Derrick Harmon | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Asante Samuel Jr | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alex Highsmith | REDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jessie Bates III | FS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| DeShon Elliott | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Payton Wilson | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Avieon Terrell | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Divine Deablo | MIKE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Folk | K | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Chris Boswell | K | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |

