Steelers vs. Falcons takeaways: Justin Fields, T.J. Watt, Chris Boswell lead Pittsburgh to 18-10 win

Pittsburgh played complementary football in Week 1

By Bryan DeArdo Sep 8, 2024 at 4:05 pm ET• 4 min read

Sunday was poetic justice for several members of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who recorded an 18-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons in their regular-season opener. 

Justin Fields, a former first-round pick and Georgia native, won his first career start as a member of the Steelers in a game that was played in his home state. Arthur Smith, fired this offseason following three years as the Falcons coach, defeated his former team in what was his first game as Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator. 

And cornerback Donte Jackson, the longtime Carolina Panther who was traded to Pittsburgh this offseason, made a big interception in the fourth quarter after dropping a sure pick on the game's first drive. 

Each of those players were key to Pittsburgh's' win, but so too were kicker Chris Boswell and T.J. Watt. Boswell drilled each of his six field goal attempts before drilling his first career punt 43 yards after normal punter Cameron Johnston suffered an injury. Boswell's boot came moments before Jackson's pick.