ATLANTA -- The Steelers managed to leave Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a 19-16 victory and no major injuries.
However, Mike Tomlin said one player was "pretty beat up" during the game, and it's one player the Steelers can't afford to lose. Yep, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, T.J. Watt.
Watt sustained an injury to his ribs in the win over the Colts six days prior to Sunday's win in Atlanta. The injury had him limited throughout the week, and even caused a sliver of doubt that he may not dress when he was listed as questionable.
Throughout Sunday's game, Watt was clearly affected by whatever was ailing him. Not only was he limited to just three tackles and no sacks, quarterback hits or pressures, Watt was neutralized without the Falcons having to go all out to stop him. That, in turn, allowed the Falcons to fight their way back into the game on the strength of their run game.
It also helped keep Marcus Mariota clean, as he was sacked only one time. The Falcons used protection to attack through the air a bit more often than expected in the first half, then turned around and pounded the Steelers' run defense for 118 yards on the ground in the second half. That was obviously very challenging for Watt and the defense.
"They do one thing all the way leading up to a game, you think that they are going to stick to what they do and then all of a sudden, they play us and seem to change a little bit," Watt said. "You can never really be surprised. At the end of the day, we have to be able to defend what they give us."
Watt did manage to finish the game, but he clearly isn't 100 percent. Add that on top of the seven games he missed due to a torn pectoral muscle and minor knee surgery. Watt hasn't produced the typical monster numbers since he returned to the lineup in Week 10. Nevertheless, the Steelers have won three of the four games since he returned, improving to 4-1 on the season when he starts.
Winning, after all, is what this team is all about. And Sunday was the first time this season they've stacked multiple wins together.
"It's huge," Watt said. "Win or loss, you have to have a short memory and get back in the lab. With a divisional opponent this week, it's going to be a good one. Hopefully, everybody back home will bring the juice."
As the Steelers prepare for their first meeting of the season with the Ravens, they would surely love to have Watt on the field, regardless of Lamar Jackson's status after suffering a knee injury that could sideline him for "days to weeks," per John Harbaugh.
"We'll see where the roads lead us as we start to lean into next week," Tomlin said.
Tomlin made no mention of any other injuries from Sunday's game. Chuks Okorafor (shoulder), Terrell Edmunds (abdomen) and Levi Wallace (arm) each missed a play, but Dejan Kovacevic confirmed with all three afterward that they'll be fine for next week.
