T.J. Watt Pick-6 Lifts Pittsburgh Steelers Past Falcons 20-13
T.J. Watt returned a 35-yard interception for a touchdown with 14:05 remaining to lift the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 20-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 13, 2026. The defensive score proved to be the decisive play in a tightly contested game in Pittsburgh. The win gave the Steelers a 1-0 start to the season.
Chris Boswell opened the scoring with a 43-yard field goal and added a 28-yarder as Pittsburgh relied on its kicking game early. The Falcons answered in the first quarter when Bijan Robinson caught a 23-yard pass from Cooper Rush. Pittsburgh seized the lead in the second quarter when Aaron Rodgers connected with Pat Freiermuth on a 6-yard touchdown pass. That sequence left the Steelers with a 13-7 halftime advantage.
Nick Folk narrowed the margin in the third quarter with a 51-yard field goal for Atlanta. Watt’s interception return early in the fourth put Pittsburgh ahead 20-10 and shifted momentum to the home team. Folk added a 43-yard field goal later in the fourth to make it 20-13, but the Falcons were unable to complete a comeback. The Steelers held on for the final margin, with Pittsburgh improving to 1-0 while Atlanta fell to 0-1.
The game was played Sept. 13, 2026, and the Associated Press recap ran that day. The AP account noted Watt was beginning his 10th NFL season. Pittsburgh leaned on a timely defensive play and Boswell’s field goals in a low-scoring affair.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Watt’s 35-yard interception return provided the margin of victory in a game decided largely by field goals and one short touchdown pass. Rodgers threw Pittsburgh’s lone offensive touchdown to Pat Freiermuth, and Boswell supplied two long field goals. Robinson’s 23-yard reception and Folk’s long kicks accounted for Atlanta’s scoring. The Steelers start 1-0 while the Falcons fall to 0-1, with Pittsburgh benefiting from a timely turnover and steady special teams.