The Pittsburgh Steelers may not have been able to get in the end zone in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons, but they still pulled off an 18-10 win. While kicker Chris Boswell might have scored the points, many contributed. This gives the team and the fan base a lot of hope for the team's trajectory.
Quarterback Justin Fields stepped up despite not knowing he would start for Russell Wilson until shortly before the game. Spencer Anderson did a solid job filling in for guard Isaac Seumalo in his first professional start. When punter Cameron Johnston went down with a knee injury, Boswell was able to pull off a punt worthy of admiration. Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward said he was impressed by what a solid team win it was.
On his podcast, Not Just Football With Cam Heyward, the longtime vet was complimented by his co-host Hayden Walsh. Heyward just signed a contract extension that will keep him in Pittsburgh for the rest of his career, making him a "one helmet guy." Walsh said he felt like Heyward played like he had something to prove against the Falcons and that he wasn't the only one who noticed. He pointed out that Pro Football Focus (PFF) graded Heyward second at 89.4 out of 104 interior linemen that played in Week 1.
"I couldn't care less about a grade," said Heyward. "My job is to win the game. My job is to win the line of scrimmage and, you know, playing with good technique, playing low, using my hands. I thought I did that okay, but there's a lot to improve on."
Players like Heyward always strive to improve their game, but it is hard to dismiss just how good he was in Atlanta. Maybe it was a bit of a chip on his shoulder, given all the negativity he heard from fans while trying to negotiate and extend. It also could have been that he was playing against his father's (Craig "Ironhead" Heyward) old team and had many friends and family in the stands.
Regardless of the reason, the 35-year-old showed that he hadn't missed a beat. PFF graded him second on the Steelers' defense only behind superstar T.J. Watt. While Heyward's stats only show two pressures, PFF also credited him with four stops. Heyward was a key component in stopping Atlanta's run and passing game.
Several Steelers Received Recognition From PFF
Steelers fans usually cringe when they hear "PFF." After all, many feel some of their less tangible statistics cost Watt the 2023 NFL AP Defensive Player of the Year Award. However, they have little to complain about after the first week of the 2024 season, as PFF gave several Steelers player favorable grades.
Watt ranked the highest of any defensive player in the league with a grade of 95.3 for his punishing performance. The victim of several questionable calls, it is hard to imagine how much more dominant he would have appeared had those strip sacks stood.
On offense, Fields had the top score at 75.9, just beating out guard James Daniels, who had 75.8. Fields was ranked fifth in the league despite not getting the ball in the end zone. He mostly played a conservative game, sticking to the edges of the field, but he did make three big downfield throws, and those were the second-best in the NFL, according to PFF, behind Tua Tagovailoa.
The entire offense ranked third overall for pass blocking, allowing only five pressures on Fields. The much-maligned offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr. also received kudos from PFF. He was given a pass protection grade of 88.7, making him the third-best lineman in the NFL for Week 1. The offensive line has room to grow regarding run blocking; they ranked 22nd in that category.
