ATLANTA — Two new-look franchises kicked off the 2024 season in Atlanta in front of a Mercedes-Benz Stadium that sounded like an even split of fan bases. While both the Steelers and Falcons had new faces, a 10-year veteran — Pittsburgh kicker Chris Boswell — made the difference, spoiling Kirk Cousins’ Atlanta debut as the Steelers won 18-10.

Atlanta has placed a lot of hope and a lot of money on Cousins, who is returning from a season-ending injury he suffered last year with the Vikings. Cousins ​​has been praised throughout training camp for his veteran leadership, but leadership in training camp doesn’t necessarily translate to points in the regular season.

The Cousins ​​era began in Atlanta with three consecutive runs to left by Bijan Robinson – which, all things considered, isn’t necessarily the worst strategy. New head coach Raheem Morris and new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson played conservatively early on, keeping the offense on a short leash. When Cousins ​​did try to go for it and went into double coverage late in the first quarter, he paid for it – Pittsburgh’s DeShon Elliott intercepted him and the Steelers converted that into one of their three first-half field goals.

Self-inflicted problems left the Steelers down early. Justin Fields, thrown into the breach when Russell Wilson was declared unavailable 90 minutes before the game, had no trouble moving the Steelers inside the 30 but struggled to get Pittsburgh within sight of the end zone.

The first big play by either side — Fields’ 36-yard pass to George Pickens that would have put the Steelers in the red zone — came courtesy of Pickens’ offensive pass interference. TJ Watt’s offsides penalty later in the half was even more costly, nullifying his strip sack and fumble recovery.

Cousins, however, could not avoid the disaster and took advantage of the very next play. With 38 seconds left in the first half, he found the unmarked Kyle Pitts in the end zone and threw him for a 12-yard touchdown pass.

This play should have given the Falcons a 10-6 lead at halftime, but a mistake in the Falcons defense allowed Pickens to break free in Atlanta territory just before time expired and set up another Steelers field goal.

A promising third-quarter drive by Atlanta ended abruptly when Cousins ​​dropped the ball and Watt fell on it. Nine plays and 24 yards later, Boswell made his fourth field goal of the afternoon to take the lead again, 12-10.

The Steelers defense regained its footing in the second half, pressuring, hustling and overwhelming Cousins. But the offense couldn’t hold up its end of the bargain. Even when Pickens ran free in Atlanta’s secondary, the Steelers couldn’t get within shouting distance of the end zone. Two more long field goals by Boswell in the third quarter put Pittsburgh up 15-10 with 15 minutes left in regulation.

Atlanta’s offense struggled in the second half as well, playing fumble-punt-punt-punt for the first four drives. On Atlanta’s last serious chance, trailing by just five points and in Pittsburgh territory, Cousins ​​threw his second interception of the day, a devastating blast that sent thousands of towel-waving Steelers fans into hysterics. Boswell converted that interception into another field goal, his sixth of the afternoon.

Cousins ​​finished the day with 155 yards on 16 of 26 successful passes, one touchdown and two interceptions. The day ended, as it should, with a sack… and a whole new set of worries for the revamped Falcons.