The Pittsburgh Steelers pulled off a road win against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1 of the 2024 schedule. They went into that game with the deck seemingly stacked against them. They were four-point underdogs and didn't even know who their starting quarterback would be until just before kickoff.
However, Pittsburgh entered Mercedes-Benz Stadium with the ultimate x-factor: the fan base. Steelers fans travel better than almost any other team in the league. They show up in droves, faces painted, wearing jerseys representing 50 years of excellence, all while waving their Terrible Towels. Games in Atlanta seem to be more Steelers fans than Falcons fans. Perhaps it is just that Atlanta is centrally located in the Southern United States, or perhaps it is just that the Steelers fans are loyal.
Recently, former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, and his podcast, Footbahlin' With Ben Roethlisberger, returned for a new season. During the show, he told his co-hosts that he loves seeing all the Steelers fans in the audience and spoke about the difference the fan base makes.
"One of my most favorite things to talk about and write down, is the Falcons using the silent count at home," said Roethlisberger. "Steelers fans, best in the world. When you're at home and you have to use a silent count because Steeler Nation took over, that's the greatest. So I gotta give kudos to all the Steelers fans."
Spencer T'eo, one of Roethlisberger's co-hosts, joked that he heard they were renaming the Falcons stadium "Acrisure South." It was apparent just how many fans were in attendance when you saw edge rushing phenom T.J. Watt hyping up the crowd, and they were getting louder and louder.
When the cameras panned out, Roethlisberger said, you could see just how many Steelers fans were there. Every time a big play was made or the defense had the Falcons' offense on third down, you would see a sea of Terrible Towels waving. T'eo asked Roethlisberger if he had a favorite non-home venue to play because he knew that the fans would flood the stadium.
"I always loved going to, well, it's not there anymore, but San Diego, to the Chargers stadium. Going to that stadium, there was always so many Steelers fans in Southern California, so much fun to play. I feel like even going to Tampa felt like the destination spots; there was always a lot, like even going to Dallas. Which I know is like faux pas. The towel is just so strong. It was fun."
With this win, Head Coach Mike Tomlin remains undefeated over the Falcons at 5-0. It also represented a homecoming of sorts for new Offensive Coordinator, Arthur Smith, hybrid receiver/running back Cordarrelle Patterson, receiver Van Jefferson, and tight end MyCole Pruitt. The Falcons fired Smith after a few unsuccessful seasons as their head coach. Now, possibly with the help of the fans, Smith was able to show them he hasn't lost his touch.
The Steelers Are Facing Another Revenge Game In Week 2
The Steelers start the season with two road games against teams with significant ties to essential members. First, there was Smith and the Falcons, then Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos.
Much like the Falcons gave up on Smith, the Broncos gave up on Wilson, even paying him to go away. He is playing this year for the Steelers on the veteran minimum because Denver had to pay out the rest of his contract.
Unfortunately, Wilson's calf injury could prevent him from playing a game he is likely dreaming about. Roethlisberger said on his show that Wilson can try to play it off and pretend it doesn't matter to him, but it does. He said he's had the game circled ever since the schedule was released.
Two-time Super Bowl champion Roethlisberger spent 18 seasons in Pittsburgh and certainly understands what it feels like to miss out on games you desperately want to play. He said that Wilson would do and say everything he could this week to get Tomlin to let him play.
