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Steelers defense showcases efficiency in Week 1 against Falcons

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 17, 2026, 2:00 PM

Last updated Sep 17, 2026

Steelers defense showcases efficiency in Week 1 against Falcons

Summary

In their Week 1 matchup, the Pittsburgh Steelers employed a straightforward defensive strategy against the Atlanta Falcons. Pittsburgh's defense, led by standout performances from Payton Wilson and T.J. Watt, managed a 15.4% sack rate while limiting the Falcons to 143 passing yards. The Steelers' blitz rate was low at 7.7%, opting for a zone coverage approach. As the season progresses, the Steelers will prepare for their next game against the New England Patriots, with a film review highlighting their defensive trends from the previous game.

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Key Details

•Steelers allowed 143 passing yards and recorded a 15.4% sack rate.
•Payton Wilson recorded 13 tackles, showcasing significant improvement.
•Pittsburgh's defense utilized zone coverage with very few blitzes.
•Next game is against the New England Patriots.

Latest Updates

2:00 PMYahoo Sports — Steelers film room: Pittsburgh trends on offense, defense against the Falcons

What they're saying

"
Before we flip the page to the Steelers’ next opponents — our preview of the New England Patriots matchup is out Friday — we here at Read & React wanted to take one last look at the film from Week 1, and take stock of any interesting trends or tidbits we felt worth sharing. We […]
— Yahoo Sports

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