The idiom “a knee jerk reaction” means that you respond to something in an equally unthinking way. That’s something as sports fans that we typically do, and if it’s in an unthinking way then I definitely qualify. Knee jerks apply especially if you are a full blood Yinzer, or even just a part Yinzer, who am I fooling it’s more like if you are a Steeler fan in general. As is the custom, I compile my knee-jerk thoughts and publish them immediately after each Steelers game (my son Kyle might have a few things to say as well). It’s my version of running my mouth first and apologizing later (if at all). So with that being said, it’s time to react to the Steelers Week 1 matchup against the Falcons. Let’s get this going, HERE……WE……GO!!!

1st Quarter

• So excited for Steeler football!!!
• Steelers to start on defense.
• Yikes, too many yards on the first down run.
• The Falcons are basically saying to the Steelers “Hey, can you stop the run?” and the Steelers so far have not done so.
• I was excited that the Steelers defense was starting on the field as I feel it’s their strength, but they are getting carved up.
• And the Falcons have marched it right down the field and have a first and goal.
• The defense did stiffen and don’t give up the touchdown. If there was a win to be taken from that first series that would be it.
• Falcons convert the field goal. Falcons 3, Steelers 0.
• Justin Fields has what has been a typical Justin Field start and fumbles the first snap. Luckily he recovered.
• Fields then misses a wide open Van Jefferson. Not a particularly good start.
• Now the Steelers have to burn a time out with the play clock running down. Not good, not good, not good.
• Nice scramble by Fields on 3rd & 7 and picks up the first down.
• Fields dropped another snap.
• Fields again misses a wide open throw, threw it behind. No excuse for missing that.
• Boswell onto attempt a long field goal. Boswell nails it right down the middle. Steelers 3, Falcons 3.
• Interception by DeShon Elliott! The defense creates the first turnover of the game.
• Nothing like a hugely negative play on first down to George Pickens. I’m not sure the Steelers are made to play from behind the sticks.
• George Pickens with the catch right at the first down marker, if they mark it short I hope the Steelers go for it.
• There was a lot of confusion there as to whether that was first down or fourth down for the Steelers. But it was actually a first down run that was stuffed. Steelers still with the ball.
• Things getting a little chippy out there.
• Conversion to Pickens on third down. The drive continues.
• End of the first quarter. Steelers 3, Falcons 3.

2nd Quarter

• George Pickens needs to recognize there are times when you just get what you can for yards to keep from taking a big loss.
• I don’t think the Steelers have many 3rd & 18 plays in their playbook.
• Boswell hits another 50+ yard field goal. Steelers 6, Falcons 3.
• Would have preferred a touchdown on that drive, but a loss of nine on a first down play basically kills the drive.
• After a couple of first downs the Steelers get the Falcons to third and long. This is where I want to see the defense dial things up. They have them where they want them.
• The pass is incomplete and the Falcons will punt.
• Nice return for Calvin Austin III.
• The Steelers pick up a second first down on this drive. I like that they’re moving the ball, but it is small chunks at a time.
• That looked like a busted play. Throw in a false start, and nothing went right on that play.
• The Steelers now playing from behind the chains again. Third down and nine coming.
• PICKENS!!!! Wow. That was a nice catch and a ticky-tack pass interference call on Pickens. I see way worse stuff happen that doesn’t get called.
• The Steelers come nowhere close on 3rd down and 19 so they will punt.
• Cousins get rid of it just before T.J. Watt takes him out, and Ray Ray McCloud makes a great catch. That was a fraction of a second between a completed pass and a sack.
• Steelers come with a blitz on third down, and unfortunately the play call was a screen right to where the blitzer came from.
• The Steelers might want to consider having someone to cover Bijan Robinson.
• There is no way the Steelers should be giving up these wide open catches to Ray Ray McCloud.
• T.J.gets a strip sack and recovery, too bad it looks like the Steelers are going to be called offsides on the play.
• Very next play the Steelers failed to cover Kyle Pitts and he’s wide open for the touchdown. After dominating the first half the Steelers will go into the locker room behind. Falcons 10, Steelers 6.
• Nice play call and catch by George Pickens will give the Steelers a chance at a field goal before the half.
• Boswell is good from 44 yd. End of the first half. Falcons 10, Steelers 9.

3rd Quarter

• Steelers start with the ball and quickly get to third down and five.
• Justin Fields is sacked for the first time today and the Steelers go three and out to start the second half. The offense has to do better.
• A big punt return in the Steelers did not get the start to the second half they were looking for.
• T.J. Watt!!!!! Recovers the bad snap and the Steelers take over after their second turnover forced in the game.
• Steelers facing a third and long. Incomplete and Boswell will come on to attempt another field goal over 50 yards. It’s good!!! Steelers 12, Falcons 10.
• A completion for the Falcons on 3rd & 2 will come back due to a penalty. Now they face a 3rd & 12.
• Watt with a strip sack! All that negated by an illegal hands to the face by Donte Jackson gives Atlanta a first down.
• Adams and Heyward crush Cousins!
• The defense forces a punt. The defense really appears to be coming alive at this point.
• Did anybody else notice how Fox had given Atlanta a field goal as they went to break?
• George Pickens doing George Pickens type things!
• I’ll take 5 yards on first down all day, but please don’t follow it up with a 5-yard penalty.
• Now on 3rd & 7 the Steelers get hit with an illegal shift. Too many penalties for the Steelers in this one.
• The Steelers come up short on 3rd and long. Boswell trots out again to attempt to field goal. Right down the middle. Steelers 15, Falcons 10.
• That’s it for the third quarter.

4th Quarter

• The Falcons start off the 4th quarter with a holding call.
• T.J. Watt is everywhere right now. He is so fast.
• The defense does its job and forces a punt. A touchdown on this next possession by the Steelers might ice this game.
• Najee with a nice run. Patience allowed the hole to open up.
• Muuuth! Gets the first down to go along with his new contract.
• Sitting here with Kyle and my nephew Warren. Warren mispoke and said Fields made nothing out of something. Kyle followed that up by saying no that’s the Matt Canada offense.
• Did anybody else miss the fact that they just hip dropped tackled Fields on that quarterback draw?
• On that quick wide receiver screen, the Steelers wide receivers got blown up.
• Steelers are going for it on 4th down inside the 10 and they don’t make it. Fields goes right down.
• I want to know how that was not offsides on the Falcons if T.J. was called offside earlier.
• Alex Highsmith tips the attempted screen pass.
• Steelers hold the Falcons to a three and out and will get the ball back with decent field position.
• The Steelers had two different blocks in the back on the punt return. Again the penalties have been too many for the Steelers today.
• Najee fights his way for a 3-yard loss on first down. That’s not the direction we want to be moving.
• Fields takes a sack on third down. The offense came out and laid a great big egg. That was pitiful.
• The Steelers get screwed again as their punter gets taken out but they get called for holding.
• Boswell is going to have to come on and punt. This is insanity.
• Decent punt and no return. Boswell for MVP?
• Nothing has gone that well since the Steelers missed on that fourth down play.
• Donte Jackson with the interception of Kirk Cousins and returns it into the red zone!
• Love the call on 3rd and 5, Connor Hayward as the lead blocker for Justin Fields.
• Boswell makes his sixth field goal of the day. Steelers 18, Falcons 10.
• T.J. Watt with a sack to end the game.
• Steelers win final score Boswell 18, Falcons 10.

Once again, I just fired off what was going through my head at the time. All reactions were in real time. Basically, it is the equivalent of watching the game with a me and Kyle, you just don’t have to go to another room because of my screaming at the television (sometimes Kyle leaves the room). Now time to process it, some quick analyzing for the Scho Bro Show, and then put it behind me so I can ready myself for the Week 2 matchup against the Broncos. Make sure you get your voice heard in the comments below.