The Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers both faced challenges on offense during their game on Sunday.
Atlanta struggled with third-down conversions, managing only 2-for-12. The team also lost 121 yards to penalties or sacks, turned over the ball twice, and had a crucial turnover that resulted in a touchdown for the opponent. This happened when T.J. Watt intercepted the ball, securing a pivotal point for the home team at Acrisure Stadium.
Pittsburgh’s performance was not much better. The team completed 3-of-13 third-down attempts, lost 67 yards from penalties or sacks, had two missed fourth-down opportunities, and lost possession to a fumble.
To emphasize how these performances ranked, a statistic from Shawn Syed of Sumer Sports shows that the Falcons and Steelers game ranks poorly. It placed 1,069th out of 1,097 games analyzed by Sumer Sports in Total Expected Points Added (EPA), falling into the third percentile.
For the Falcons, the issues were somewhat expected. With Cooper Rush stepping in due to injuries to Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr., the team’s struggles were anticipated. Yet having skilled players like Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts, the team should aim for at least average performance.
For the Steelers, the performance was unexpected. Star player DK Metcalf caught only four passes despite numerous targets. Rico Dowdle managed less than two yards per rush, and Aaron Rodgers completed 24 of 40 pass attempts, reflecting the team’s difficulties.
Looking ahead, the Steelers face a tough challenge on the road against the New England Patriots, last season’s conference champions. The Falcons, however, will play the Carolina Panthers, who conceded 59 points to the Chicago Bears recently, offering a chance for a better outcome.