It wasn't pretty, but the Steelers were able to sneak away from Atlanta with a victory in Week 1. The 18-10 outing is the definition of 'Mike Tomlin football', though Pittsburgh's head coach would have loved to see more points on the board.
For the most part, the players we expected to see show up big are the ones who stole the show against the Falcons. T.J. Watt was a game-wrecker, while Cam Heyward was dominant against the run. Offensively, George Pickens provided the only spark and helped the offense get into field goal range so that Chris Boswell could have a huge afternoon.
Unfortunately, the Steelers had a handful of players who were underwhelmed in their debut performance of the 2024 season. Lackluster play and those behind them on the depth chart could result in these five players losing their starting jobs after Week 1.
Van Jefferson, WR
Somehow it was Van Jefferson -- not George Pickens -- who played the most snaps of any Steelers wide receiver in Week 1. But despite seeing the field for 50 snaps, Jefferson caught just one pass for one yard on two targets. This made him a complete non-factor in the receiving game.
More than just his lack of production, Jefferson earned the lowest grade of any offensive player to set foot on the field for the Steelers in Week 1, according to Pro Football Focus. His 45.3 overall grade and abysmal 39.5 run-block grade made him a detriment to the team. This lined up with what we saw on film. It's slim pickings behind Van on the depth chart, but his starting job is far from secure.
Broderick Jones, RT
All things considered, Broderick Jones could have played much worse in this contest. The 2023 first-round pick had a despicable preseason performance this summer, and fans feared he would be a trainwreck in Week 1.
Though Jones wasn't unplayable, he graded out as the worst offensive lineman on the team, and there were a handful of reps where he was out of position or didn't stay engaged on a block. With 2024 first-round OT Troy Fautanu getting healthy and looking to make an impact, the Steelers could demote Broderick to the team's swing tackle. Dan Moore Jr. had a strong game in Week 1 and showed no reason why the Steelers should bench him for Jones when Fautanu is ready to return.
Elandon Roberts, LB
Elandon Roberts isn't hard to figure out. Much like former Steelers linebacker Vince Williams, Roberts excels in the box and coming downhill. But if asked to do too much, the veteran can get exposed.
We saw this in Week 1 against the Falcons, as Roberts struggled in coverage and was late in pursuit against the run. He also missed two tackles in the season opener. Meanwhile, an impressive Payton Wilson is waiting in the wings after coming off a solid debut performance. The rookie earned one more snap than Roberts in Week 1, and it's only a matter of time before the veteran loses his starting job.
Beanie Bishop Jr., CB
Things could have been much worse for Beanie Bishop in Week 1. Going against a savvy veteran quarterback like Kirk Cousins, this was a player who could have been exploited early and often. Fortunately for Bishop, Pittsburgh's pass rush hardly gave Cousins time to breathe.
When he was targeted, however, Bishop allowed four catches on four targets for 29 yards and a touchdown. The undrafted rookie isn't going to become a good cornerback overnight, but he won't get many more chances if he can't clamp down and do a better job covering slot receivers.