The Pittsburgh Steelers' season opener against the Atlanta Falcons was highlighted by storylines. Head Coach Mike Tomlin served as a mentor to Falcons Head Coach Raheem Morris early on in their careers, and then Pittsburgh's new Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith was the head coach in Atlanta for the last three seasons. Smith had conservative responses when he was asked about returning to his old home throughout the week, but Justin Fields spoke for his coordinator following their Week 1 victory.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Arthur Smith during a practice ahead of the 2024 season.
Smith was fired after serving as the head coach of the Falcons for three seasons. He was consistent with Atlanta, but not in a good way. His team's went 7-10 in three straight seasons from 2021 through 2023 and never made the postseason. He was fired following the 2023 season, but was quickly picked up by Tomlin and the Steelers. Fields was asked about getting the win for Smith against his former team during his postgame press conference, and he didn't hold back.
"Oh, it meant a lot. I know Art, I know how fiery he is. I know how competitive he is, so it definitely meant a lot. And I know, shoot, he wishes just like me that we could have put even more points on the board," Fields said.
Pittsburgh got the win, and the offense moved the ball consistently, but the unit still left a lot to be desired. They failed to find the end zone once, as drive often stalled out in Falcons territory and they were forced to settle for field goals. Thankfully, Pittsburgh has one of the best kickers in the league in Chris Boswell. The Pro Bowler made six field goals in six attempts, including three from over 50 yards.
Harrison Barden / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Arthur Smith looks on during Pittsburgh's preseason game against the Bills.
Smith called a conservative game on offense, but it was effective. The passing game was minimal but successful, as Fields completed 17 passes in just 23 attempts for 157 yards. George Pickens shined as well, hauling in six passes for 85 yards. He caught a deep shot down the sideline that was called back for offensive pass interference, although it was a questionable call.
The offense still looked rough at times for the Steelers, but there is no doubt it has more potential than what was seen during the 2023 season. This is especially true with the added element of the quarterback run that comes with Fields. This is something he can do that Russell Wilson has struggled with in the later parts of his career, which could play a big factor in deciding the starting quarterback for the rest of the season.
Smith is just starting to figure out what to do with the personnel that he has in Pittsburgh, and the offense should look better moving forward. Getting the win over the organization that fired him should instill some confidence in the coordinator, which will only benefit the Steelers as they prepare to take on the Denver Broncos in Week 2.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Najee Harris attempts to hurdle a defender in the 2024 season opener.
Steelers' Harris Looked Better Than He Ever Has
The Steelers' lead back, Najee Harris, didn't light up the stat sheet, but he clearly looked explosive. Reports came out over the offseason that he had lost some weight, and he looked like he had some extra speed and quickness in the Week 1 victory. The running back finished the game with 70 yards while averaging 3.5 yards per carry. These numbers aren't spectacular, but he ran with a certain tenacity and explosion that looked promising.
The Falcons have an impressive defensive front, and Pittsburgh was still able to use the running game well. Everyone knew this would be a focus of Smith's offense, and going forward Harris should be a major contributor for Pittsburgh. Fields was also impressive on the ground, often gaining crucial yards to pick up first downs and extend drives.
What did you think about Fields' comments regarding Smith's return to Atlanta? Let us know in the comments below!
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