The Pittsburgh Steelers are set to kick off their season on the road against the Atlanta Falcons in one hour from now. It wasn’t a peaceful morning, however, as the media was scrambling to see which of the two quarterbacks would be starting for the Steelers.
Russell Wilson’s calf started bothering him on Thursday, and that led to a questionable designation to end the week of practice. Wilson reportedly told the team he could play, but team doctors wanted to be cautious. As a result, Fields was named the starter. Kind of a wild finish to the six-month debate about the Steelers’ Week 1 starter.
Regardless, there is a game to play and Fields is now tasked with earning the Steelers their first win of the season. They will be up against Kirk Cousins as he starts the next chapter of his career in Atlanta.
Raheem Morris versus Mike Tomlin is a fun storyline as the former assistant coaches of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers face off as head coaches.
The Falcons defense added some big pieces to their defense late in the process with OLB Matt Judon and S Justin Simmons. They both figure to play key roles. Judon in particular should give the Steelers’ young offensive line a lot of issues.
Week 1 is finally here!
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Steelers’ Inactive Players
QB Russell Wilson (Emergency 3rd QB)
G Isaac Seumalo
WR Roman Wilson
DL Dean Lowry
S Jalen Elliott
Falcons Inactive Players
RB Jase McClellan
CB Antonio Hamilton Sr.
DL Brandon Dorlus
OL Jovaughn Gwyn
WR Casey Washington
DL Ruke Orhorhoro
The Falcons won the toss and elected to receive. Steelers start on defense.
START OF GAME
Chris Boswell kicked it nearly perfect into the back of the landing zone. It was returned to the 29-yard line anyways.
1st and 10, Beanie Bishop Jr. made the tackle on Bijan Robinson after a gain of 6. 2nd and 4, Robinson off left end for a gain of 4 tackles by Larry Ogunjobi.
1st and 10, T.J. Watt off the edge from behind to stop the run at 4 yards. 2nd and 6, Donte Jackson nearly intercepted the pass but it bounced off his helmet. 3rd and 6, Kirk Cousins complete to Darnell Mooney for a first down.
Alex Highsmith jumped offsides. 1st and 5, Tyler Allgeier off left end for 13 yards. Keeanu Benton lost his feet on the play.
1st and 10, Robinson found the edge and slipped off a Patrick Queen tackle for a gain of 5. 2nd and 5, Cousins complete to Drake London for 8 yards.
1st and goal from the red zone, T.J. Watt made a big tackle for loss. 2nd and 13, Cousins threw the ball into the dirt with nothing there. 3rd and 13, Payton Wilson slipped off a block and prevented a touchdown! Field goal is good. 3-0 Falcons.
Here we go, it is Justin Fields time.
1st and 10, aborted snap for a gain of three somehow. 2nd and 7, Fields incomplete while on the move to Van Jefferson. Off-target throw. 3rd and 7, Fields scrambled for a gain of 12.
1st and 10, Najee Harris up the middle for 4 yards. 2nd and 6, another issue with the snap, but they recovered and pitched to Harris for a gain of 4 around the right end. 3rd and 2, Harris up the middle for 2 yards to convert.
1st and 10, Fields to Najee on a swing route but the ball was behind him. He could have caught it, but the placement was bad for an incomplete. 2nd and 10, complete to Pat Freiermuth for 4 yards. 3rd and 6, Cordarrelle Patterson right up the middle for 2 yards. Chris Boswell’s 57-yard attempt was good. Huge start for the Boz! 3-3 Even.
The kickoff resulted in a touchback.
1st and 10, Cousins swing pass to Robinson for 9 yards. 2nd and 1, Deshon Elliott picked off Cousins over the middle. Pressure by Ogunjobi forced the bad pass.
1st and 10, Fields complete to George Pickens, but for a loss of 5. 2nd and 15, Fields scrambled for 3 yards. 3rd and 12, complete to Pickens on a great pass for a first down.
1st and 10, Jaylen Warren tackled for a loss behind the line. 2nd and 11, Harris up the middle for 8 yards. He was tackled by his facemask, but it didn’t get called. 3rd and 3 after the Falcons timeout, complete to Pickens for a first down right at the line to gain.
END OF 1ST QUARTER 3-3 EVEN
1st and 10, a little trickery with an end around to Pickens and he was tackled for a loss of 10 after trying to reverse it with nothing there. 2nd and 20, Harris off right end for 2 yards. 3rd and 18, Patterson for 6 yards to get into field goal range. Chris Boswell’s 51-yard attempt was good. 6-3 Steelers.
1st and 10, Cousins complete to London for 7 yards with Joey Porter Jr. in coverage. 2nd and 3, Robinson off left end for 3 yards tackled by Highsmith.
1st and 10, Watt clipped Robinson’s legs and slowed him down for a gain of just three. Cameron Heyward on the tackle. 2nd and 7, screen pass to Robinson for 8 yards. Looked like one of the Falcons linemen got dinged up on the play.
1st and 10, Deshon Elliott pass breakup. Elliott is looking like an amazing addition to the defense. 2nd and 10, Robinson chopped down by Minkah Fitzpatrick at the line of scrimmage. Excellent job getting off the block by Fitzpatrick. 3rd and 10, Donte Jackson got a finger tip on the ball to force an incompletion.
Calvin Austin III showed off his speed and found the sideline for a 13-yard return.
1st and 10, Fields complete to Harris for 9 yards. 2nd and 1, Harris off right end for 2 yards.
1st and 10, Fields designed run up the middle for 5 yards. 2nd and 5, Patterson off right tackle for 4 yards. 3rd and 1, Fields QB sneak for 3 yards.
1st and 10, complete to Pickens for 2 yards on the right sideline. He double caught it, but hauled it in. 2nd and 8, a miscommunication and Fields tried to make the most of it. They ended up calling it a false start so the play should have been blown dead. 2nd and 13, swing pass to Warren for 4 yards. 3rd and 9, complete to Pickens for 36 yards. They are calling offensive pass interference. He barely pushed off. That is a rough call. 3rd and 19, Warren gained 9 yards.
Cameron Johnston’s punt was fair caught at the 10-yard line. Just 45 yards, but he pinned them deep. At least the offense helped flip the field, but that OPI call was just bad.
1st and 10, complete to Ray-Ray McCloud for 9 yards. 2nd and 1, Robinson up the middle for 3 yards tackled by Wilson.
1st and 10, Watt hit Cousins at he threw, but somehow McCloud caught the pass for 20 yards. That hung in the air for a long time.
1st and 10, Cousins complete to Kyle Pitts for 6 yards.
Two Minute Warning
2nd and 4, Heyward tackled Robinson at the line of scrimmage. 3rd and 4, Wilson tackled the screen pass for a gain of 5.
1st and 10, Cousins complete to Robinson for 14.
1st and 10, now in field goal range, complete to McCloud for 16 yards. Falcons take timeout No. 2.
1st and 10 from the red zone, Watt strip sacked and recovered the fumble, but was called for offsides to wipe it out. I think he timed it perfect, but maybe a little too good. 1st and 5, complete to Pitts for a touchdown. 10-6 Falcons.
The Steelers will get a play or two before halftime, but at least they receive the kickoff after the break.
1st and 10, Fields complete to Austin for 6 yards. 2nd and 4, complete to Freiermuth for 5 yards and out of bounds to kill the clock. The Steelers have two timeouts, but just nine seconds now. They probably should have used a timeout after the first completion.
1st and 10, Fields deep completion to Pickens to get in field goal range. Great play, but Pickens got greedy and almost killed the clock. Fortunately he didn’t, but yoi! It was a 41-yard gain on the play. Boswell’s field goal was good. 10-9 Falcons.
END OF 1ST HALF 10-9 FALCONS
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