T.J. Watt's Week 1 dominance reminds Steelers fans of his value

Opening day at Acrisure Stadium came with its fair share of surprises. Mike McCarthy’s unit faced off against an Atlanta Falcons team relying on a third-string quarterback to squeak out a victory. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ job was clear: take advantage of a limited opposing offense. It's safe to say T.J. Watt understood the assignment.

Watt kept Cooper Rush on his toes throughout the afternoon. The effort helped McCarthy earn his first win as the Steelers' head coach. 

It also reminded fans of how dominant the former Defensive Player of the Year can still be.

When Pittsburgh drafted Watt with the 30th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, they knew he’d become an X-Factor. Since then, his leadership and game-changing performances have helped the franchise cling to a defensive identity that seemed to be wearing away. A few campaigns under Teryl Austin were more painful than promising. 

The Steelers defense struggled to keep opponents off the scoreboard. Watt also suffered one of his most unproductive seasons. In 2025, he earned seven sacks and 55 total tackles. It was his lowest output since 2022. Pittsburgh also ranked 29th in opponent passes per game. 

Offenses destroyed Pittsburgh as Watt struggled to hunt quarterbacks like in previous seasons. But Sunday, the All-Pro sent a message too loud to ignore. 

T.J. Watt's explosion reminded Pittsburgh Steelers fans how valuable he truly is

Consistent pressure and pure resilience made Watt the highlight of a rocky victory. His four total tackles also included two sacks and a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown. Watt joined Julius Peppers as the only players with 100 sacks and 10 interceptions since sacks became official in 1982.

It was a historic effort, and pressure in the backfield made Rush’s job as interim quarterback increasingly difficult. 

Pittsburgh tallied four total sacks and two interceptions before the final whistle. It was an impressive start, but there’s certainly room for improvement. 

Watt’s resurgence is great news for a franchise working to escape murky water. Contract extension negotiations with Joey Porter Jr. became a roadblock heading into Pittsburgh’s first game of the season. The lockdown cornerback did not play due to a back injury. And the front office does not have plans to discuss an extension moving forward.

Fortunately, his absence did not hinder the final result.

Pittsburgh limited Atlanta to 118 total passing yards in the afternoon. Cooper Rush finished the game averaging 6.5 yards per pass. His 54% completion percentage earned a gold star for Patrick Graham’s defense. Still, at times it felt as if Atlanta’s offense was building momentum. 

But then Watt would make a timely big play. 

Watt’s outburst was exactly what the Steelers needed to jump-start a long campaign. The havoc in Atlanta’s backfield and an impressive interception return were enough evidence to remind viewers of his dominance. Pittsburgh will need more dominant performances from their X-factor to survive a daunting season.

But after Sunday, I believe Watt will be prepared for the long haul. Watt will turn 32 in a month, but he's still got it.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow