With all eyes on the quarterbacks, Chris Boswell’s impressive kicking performance took center stage in the season opener.
Boswell made six field goals, including three from more than 50 yards, providing all of Pittsburgh’s points as Justin Fields and the Steelers secured an 18-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
Fields filled in for Russell Wilson, who missed the game due to a calf injury. Fields benefited greatly from Boswell’s kicking and a defense that put pressure on Kirk Cousins, making his first game as Atlanta’s quarterback very difficult.
“Just having a weapon like him on the offensive side of the ball, we only have to get the ball to the 40,” Fields said about Boswell. “It makes our job way easier.”
Boswell made field goals from 57, 56, 51, 44, 40, and 25 yards. He also had to handle a crucial punt in the final minutes after Cameron Johnston was injured.
Johnston was hurt when an Atlanta player was blocked into him, which led to a penalty on the Steelers. Pittsburgh had to punt again, with Boswell taking over.
He performed well, making a 43-yard punt that the Falcons couldn’t return.
“I can’t say enough about Bos, not only in terms of him kicking the ball, but that punt was timely,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said.
Two plays later, Cousins threw his second interception, which helped secure the Pittsburgh win.
Wilson was ruled out just before the game and watched from the sideline as the inactive third quarterback. Pittsburgh kept their play-calling secret under new coordinator Arthur Smith, who was let go in January after three seasons as Atlanta’s head coach.
Smith got a bit of revenge against his former team, while new Falcons coach Raheem Morris faced a tough start to a season with high expectations in Atlanta, which has had six straight losing seasons.
“We’ve got to have the ability to execute against anybody,” Morris said. “When you play a team like this, the Pittsburgh Steelers with the defense they have, you know it’s going to be a tough game. But we had our chances.”
Cousins didn’t show why the Falcons gave him a four-year, $180 million contract in free agency, with $100 million guaranteed. He missed the preseason while recovering from an Achilles injury that ended his last season with Minnesota.
In his first game since October 29, Cousins completed 16 of 26 passes for 155 yards and threw two interceptions. One of the picks, made by Donte Jackson, was returned for 49 yards with about 2 1/2 minutes left, ending any chance of an Atlanta comeback.
Cousins was sacked on the last play of the game, which led to cheers from the Steelers fans who had turned Mercedes-Benz Stadium into a home field for Pittsburgh.
After the first week of the season, Atlanta is once again dealing with issues at quarterback, which will likely get more attention with first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. waiting on the bench.
Fields, a former first-round pick who was let go by the Chicago Bears, completed 17 of 23 passes for 156 yards. He fumbled his first snap but recovered it quickly and avoided the major mistakes that plagued Cousins and the Falcons.
Atlanta also lost a fumble when Ross Dwelley moved in front of the shotgun snap, seemingly misdirected by Cousins. T.J. Watt, who was everywhere on the field, recovered the fumble for the Steelers.
Watt deserved credit for his performance. He also forced two other fumbles and recovered one, though both plays were nullified by penalties.
Right after one of those penalties, Cousins threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Pitts, giving the Falcons a 10-6 lead with 32 seconds left in the first half.
Fields responded with a 41-yard pass to George Pickens, who stepped out of bounds with just 3 seconds left. Boswell then made his third field goal of the half.
