Falcons 13, Steelers 20: drive chart, EPA and box score

Week 1 · Sun, Sep 13 · Acrisure StadiumFinal

Final

	1	2	3	4	T
ATL	7	0	3	3	13
PIT	3	10	0	7	20

Home · 6-2PittsburghSteelers20

At a glanceUpdated Nov 10, 2026, 7:21 PM ET

The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Atlanta Falcons 20-13 on Sun, Sep 13 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA (Week 1, 2026 season). Records after the game: Falcons 3-6, Steelers 6-2. P.Freiermuth (PIT) led all players with +3.7 EPA on 5 targets.

Who won Falcons vs Steelers?

The Pittsburgh Steelers won 20-13. By quarter: ATL 7-0-3-3, PIT 3-10-0-7.

Who was the best player in Falcons vs Steelers?

By expected points added: P.Freiermuth (PIT, +3.7 EPA on 5 targets), M.Pittman (PIT, +3.4 EPA on 3 targets) and D.London (ATL, +0.7 EPA on 4 targets).

What was the turning point of Falcons vs Steelers?

The biggest swing in win probability (24 points toward the Steelers) came in Q4 at 14:05: (Shotgun) C.Rush pass short right intended for Bi.Robinson INTERCEPTED by T.Watt at ATL 35. T.Watt for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-C.Kuntz, Holder-C.Johnston.

Cite this page

Pigskin Nightly, “Falcons 13, Steelers 20: Week 1 recap”, https://pigskinnightly.com/games/2026-09-13-atl-at-pit (updated 2026-11-11).

How we calculate Plain-text version Report an error

The Verdict

Week 1 issue →

Week 1EarnedGame file →

Falcons39% success · −0.40 EPA/play

1320

Steelers33% success · −0.26 EPA/play

ATL 14% deserveddeserved 86% PIT

Steelers earned it: the snaps said Steelers by 6.0, a deserved win probability of 86%.

Deserved marginPIT by 6.0

Real marginPIT by 7

Luck pts ATL+7.1

Luck pts PIT−2.4

The swingQ4 14:16 · ATL · −24 pts of win probability. (Shotgun) 13-C.Rush pass short right intended for 7-Bi.Robinson INTERCEPTED by 90-T.Watt at ATL 35. 90-T.Watt for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Flags that moved this game

1Defensive Pass InterferenceATL → helped PIT · Wk 1 Q2 14:24 · (Shotgun) 8-A.Rodgers pass incomplete deep right to 14-R.Wilson. PENALTY on ATL-24-Aj.Terrell, Defensive Pass Interference, 37…+14.4 WP
2Unnecessary RoughnessPIT → helped ATL · Wk 1 Q3 8:14 · 13-C.Rush pass deep left to 5-D.London pushed ob at ATL 41 for 21 yards (22-A.Samuel). PENALTY on PIT-22-A.Samuel, Unnecessary…+7.1 WP

Fourth downs our model disagreed with

1ATL · 4th & 1Kevin Stefanski chose Field goal at opp 24, Wk 1 Q4 10:39, down 10. Model: Go for it (lean). Result: good.−0.64 EP
2PIT · 4th & 3Mike McCarthy chose Punt at own 39, Wk 1 Q3 0:13, up 3. Model: Go for it (lean). Result: punted.−0.45 EP

Deserved win probability from the snaps, fumble bounces evened out. How we judge

From the Lab

This game, re-drawn

All Lab tools →

Game DNA145 plays, one strand2 lead changes · 10 explosive plays · downloadable poster →

Officiating crewBrad Rogers16 accepted flags in this game · 12 a game this season (one of the quietest crews)Market vs SnapsLine: PIT by 6.5 · Snaps: PIT by 6.0Steelers covered; the snaps say Falcons should have

13@20

Week 1

If that interception had fallen incomplete

Falcons after the play14%what really happened

Q4 14:16 13-C.Rush pass short right intended for 7-Bi.Robinson INTERCEPTED by 90-T.Watt at ATL 35. 90-T.Watt for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Every game's sliding door →

Home win probability, play by play

The river

100%

Hover, tap or drag along the river to read any play. Arrow keys work too. Click to jump to its drive.

PIT ▲ATL ▼

Q1Q2Q3Q4

The five biggest swings

+24%Q4 14:05 · for PIT(Shotgun) C.Rush pass short right intended for Bi.Robinson INTERCEPTED by T.Watt at ATL 35. T.Watt for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-C.Kuntz, Holder-C.Johnston.
+10%Q1 1:13 · for ATL(Shotgun) C.Rush pass short right to Bi.Robinson for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN. N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-L.McCullough, Holder-J.Bailey.
+10%Q4 13:57 · for ATLBr.Robinson left end to ATL 48 for 14 yards (J.Brisker; J.Ramsey).
+10%Q2 12:17 · for PIT(Shotgun) C.Rush pass deep middle intended for J.Dotson INTERCEPTED by J.Brisker at ATL 41. J.Brisker pushed ob at ATL 31 for 10 yards (M.Bergeron).
+9%Q1 2:48 · for ATL(Shotgun) A.Rodgers pass short right to J.Warren to PIT 27 for no gain (M.Hughes, C.Thomas). FUMBLES (C.Thomas), RECOVERED by ATL-D.Deablo at PIT 25.

Every drive, on the field

PIT attacks →← ATL attacks

Q1 15:00PUNT3p · 4y · 1:09
Q1 13:51PUNT3p · -1y · 1:47
Q1 12:04FG8p · 43y · 3:34
Q1 8:30PUNT7p · 17y · 3:48
Q1 4:42FUM4p · 12y · 2:01
Q1 2:41TD3p · 25y · 1:28
Q1 1:13FG8p · 61y · 3:45
Q2 12:28INT1p · 0y · 0:22
Q2 12:06TD4p · 31y · 1:27
Q2 10:39PUNT5p · 12y · 3:02
Q2 7:37PUNT3p · -10y · 1:38
Q2 5:59MISS6p · 9y · 3:26
Q2 2:33DOWNS7p · 12y · 1:33
Q2 1:00PUNT3p · -3y · 0:32
Q2 0:28HALF3p · 12y · 0:28
Q3 15:00MISS9p · 30y · 4:06
Q3 10:54PUNT3p · 4y · 1:35
Q3 9:19PUNT6p · 46y · 2:36
Q3 6:43DOWNS5p · 35y · 2:02
Q3 4:41FG5p · 23y · 2:51
Q3 1:50PUNT3p · 7y · 1:48
Q3 0:02INT3p · 20y · 0:57
Q4 14:05FG6p · 42y · 3:30
Q4 10:35MISS6p · 22y · 3:37
Q4 6:58PUNT4p · 11y · 2:42
Q4 4:16END10p · 46y · 4:16

Falcons13 drives4scoring drives (2 TD)31%drives ending in pointsOWN 37avg starting field position2three-and-outs2turnovers incl. downs

Steelers11 drives3scoring drives (1 TD)27%drives ending in pointsOWN 33avg starting field position4three-and-outs3turnovers incl. downs

Scoring summary

Q1
8:30Field goalC.Boswell 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-C.Kuntz, Holder-C.Johnston.0–3
Q1
1:13Touchdown(Shotgun) C.Rush pass short right to Bi.Robinson for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN. N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-L.McCullough, Holder-J.Bailey.7–3
Q2
12:28Field goalC.Boswell 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-C.Kuntz, Holder-C.Johnston.7–6
Q2
10:39Touchdown(Shotgun) A.Rodgers pass short middle to P.Freiermuth for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-C.Kuntz, Holder-C.Johnston.7–13
Q3
1:50Field goalN.Folk 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-L.McCullough, Holder-J.Bailey.10–13
Q4
14:05Touchdown(Shotgun) C.Rush pass short right intended for Bi.Robinson INTERCEPTED by T.Watt at ATL 35. T.Watt for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-C.Kuntz, Holder-C.Johnston.10–20
Q4
10:35Field goalN.Folk 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-L.McCullough, Holder-J.Bailey.13–20

Team stats

ATLvsPIT

238Total yards264

118Passing yards206

120Rushing yards58

4.2Yards per play4.1

16First downs15

2-12 · 17%Third down3-13 · 23%

0-0Fourth down0-2

0-0Red zone TDs1-2

12/22Comp / att24/41

3.9Yards per carry2.8

2Turnovers1

4 (−25 yds)Sacks allowed2 (−15 yds)

9 for 96Penalties7 for 52

31:07Possession28:53

Expected points added · nflverse model

The game in EPA

EPA per play-0.321-0.303

Dropback EPA-0.606-0.324

Rush EPA-0.082-0.252

Success rate39%33%

Explosive plays64

Plays5761

Who moved the needle

P.FreiermuthTargets: 5+3.7

M.PittmanTargets: 3+3.4

D.LondonTargets: 4+0.7

Br.RobinsonCarries: 9-1.1

R.WilsonTargets: 6-1.1

J.WarrenCarries: 10-1.2

Cost their side the most

—

C.RushDropbacks: 26-15.8

A.RodgersDropbacks: 42-12.1

D.MetcalfTargets: 10-5.4

Box score

Atlanta Falcons

Passing	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	INT	SACKS	QBR	RTG
Cooper Rush	12/22	143	6.5	1	2	4-25	4.2	51.9

Rushing	CAR	YDS	AVG	LONG
Bijan RobinsonRB	21	83	4.0	20
Brian Robinson Jr.RB	9	31	3.4	14
Drake LondonWR	1	6	6.0	6

Receiving	REC	TGTS	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
Bijan RobinsonRB	8	10	90	11.3	1	24
Drake LondonWR	2	5	29	14.5	0	21
Jahan DotsonWR	1	4	19	19.0	0	19
Olamide ZaccheausWR	1	1	5	5.0	0	5
Kyle Pitts Sr.TE	0	1	0	0.0	0	0

Defense	TOT	SOLO	SACKS	TFL	PD	QB HTS
Sydney BrownS	7	4	0	0	0	0
Divine DeabloLB	7	3	0	1	0	0
Jessie Bates IIIS	6	3	0	0	0	0
A.J. Terrell Jr.CB	5	2	0	0	1	0
Xavier WattsS	4	2	0	0	0	0
Kendal DanielsLB	4	1	0	0	0	0
Za'Darius SmithDE	3	3	2	3	0	2
Mike HughesCB	3	3	0	0	2	0
Brandon DorlusDT	3	3	0	0	0	0
LaCale LondonDE	3	1	0	0	0	0

Kicking	FG	PCT	LONG	XP	PTS
Nick FolkPK	2/4	50.0	51	1/1	7

Pittsburgh Steelers

Passing	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	INT	SACKS	QBR	RTG
Aaron RodgersQB	24/40	221	5.5	1	0	2-15	40.0	83.4
Cameron JohnstonP	0/1	0	0.0	0	0	0-0	--	39.6

Rushing	CAR	YDS	AVG	LONG
Jaylen WarrenRB	10	46	4.6	17
Rico DowdleRB	8	15	1.9	6
Aaron RodgersQB	3	-3	-1.0	-1

Receiving	REC	TGTS	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
Michael Pittman Jr.WR	3	3	58	19.3	0	28
Pat FreiermuthTE	5	5	46	9.2	1	19
DK MetcalfWR	4	10	40	10.0	0	14
Jaylen WarrenRB	5	6	27	5.4	0	18
Roman WilsonWR	3	6	26	8.7	0	20
Darnell WashingtonTE	2	2	18	9.0	0	15
Rico DowdleRB	2	5	6	3.0	0	4

Defense	TOT	SOLO	SACKS	TFL	PD	QB HTS
Payton WilsonLB	13	4	0	2	0	0
Patrick QueenLB	8	2	0	0	0	0
Jaquan BriskerS	6	4	0	0	1	0
Jamel DeanCB	5	3	0	0	0	0
T.J. WattLB	4	4	2	3	1	2
Jalen RamseyCB	4	3	0	0	1	0
Jack SawyerLB	4	1	0	0	0	0
Alex HighsmithLB	3	2	2	2	0	2
Cameron HeywardDT	3	2	0	0	3	0
Keeanu BentonDT	3	2	0	0	0	0

Kicking	FG	PCT	LONG	XP	PTS
Chris BoswellPK	2/3	66.7	43	2/2	8

Starters, confirmed

ConfirmedEvery game →

Confirmed from the official snap counts: at every position group the starters are the snap leaders. Expected lineup = today's depth chart, adjusted for the injury report.

Expected, did not start

Corey LevinC→ Ryan Neuzil

James Pearce Jr.SLB→ Samson Ebukam

C.J. HendersonRCB→ Mike Hughes

DeMarcco HellamsSS→ Jessie Bates III

Riley NowakowskiFB→ Rico Dowdle

Germie BernardWR→ Michael Pittman Jr.

Ben SkowronekWR→ Roman Wilson

Darnell WashingtonTE→ Pat Freiermuth

Brock HoffmanRG→ Dylan Cook

Max IheanachorRT→ Spencer Anderson

Yahya BlackLDE→ Nick Herbig