Sunday’s game in Atlanta was the type of game the Steelers lost earlier in the season. But in what has mostly been the case since their Week 9 bye, Pittsburgh found themselves on the winning side 19-16. The Steelers are now 5-7 after a 2-6 start. Atlanta is 5-8 after losing its fourth game in its last five outings.
Defense, long field goals and Kenny Pickett’s continued growth were among the main storylines of the game. Only two touchdowns were scored on a day when the two teams combined to score five field goals from over 45 yards, tying an NFL record. Atlanta’s defense was tough, but Pittsburgh’s defense was even better on a day when scoring was a bonus. The Steelers defense sealed the victory when Minkah Fitzpatrick recovered Marcus Mariota’s through pass through the air with less than 40 seconds left.
The win was the second in a row for the Steelers and Pickett, who tied his record as a Pittsburgh starter at 4-4. Pickett went 16 of 28 for 197 yards and a touchdown while increasing his no-interception streak to four games. Pickett’s play was completed by Najee Harris, who rumbled for 86 yards on 17 carries. The Steelers line had another solid game that didn’t include any sacks from Pickett.
The Steelers took a 16-3 halftime lead after scoring on each of their four first-half drives. The only touchdown for either team in the first 30 minutes of the game was rookie Connor Heyward’s 17-yard grab that gave the visitors a 13-3 lead midway through the second quarter. Pat Freiermuth’s 57-yard catch and run on the previous play helped set up Heyward’s first career touchdown.
Matthew Wright’s fourth field goal of the game extended Pittsburgh’s lead to 19-6 with 4:46 left in the third quarter. Atlanta finally found the end zone moments later when Mariota found tight end MyCole Pruitt for a 7-yard touchdown pass in the final minute of the quarter. Mariota finished the game with 167 yards on 13 of 24 passes. He enjoyed a fruitful partnership with rookie Drake London, who had a game-high 95 receiving yards on six catches.
The Falcons had their chance to take the lead after reaching the Pittsburgh 10-yard line on their next possession. Two penalties, however, led to their best drive of the game ending with Younghoe Koo’s third field goal of the game. Atlanta had a touchdown taken off the board when a hold call was rated on Parker Hesse on a 10-yard run by Cordarrelle Patterson. Another penalty (a false start on tackle Jake Matthews two plays later) and an incomplete pass on third down forced the Falcons to settle for a field goal.
Pittsburgh missed nearly five minutes before Miles Boykin knocked down Pressley Harvin’s punt at the 2-yard line with less than a minute left. Fitzpatrick went on to win the game with his fourth interception of the 2022 campaign.