Series History: Series began in 1966Overall Regular Season: Steelers lead, 12-2-1At Pittsburgh: Steelers lead, 6-0-1At Atlanta: Steelers lead, 6-2Neutral Sites: n/aStreak: Steelers won previous meetingLast Regular-Season Meeting: Sept. 12, 2010 in Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh 15, Atlanta 9)Postseason Series: n/a

(preseason and postseason record not included in overall series record)

This week's game marks the 16th time the Pittsburgh Steelers and Atlanta Falcons will meet in the regular season and the ninth time in Atlanta, where the Steelers hold a four game advantage....the two teams will meet for the third time in the month of December (1-1) and the third time in Atlanta during the month.

Pittsburgh 15, Atlanta 9 (OT)Sept. 12, 2010Heinz Field (63,609)

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PITTSBURGH ** – The Steelers won their eighth straight game on Kickoff Weekend with a dramatic 15-9 overtime victory against the Atlanta Falcons at Heinz Field. The eight-game winning streak in season openers is the longest current streak in the NFL.

The Falcons won the coin toss in overtime and elected to receive. After two costly holding penalties the Falcons were forced to punt from their own 14-yard line. The Steelers took over at midfield and on the first play RB Rashard Mendenhall broke free for a game-winning 50-yard touchdown run. Mendenhall finished the game with 120 yards on 22 carries and one touchdown, his fourth career 100-yard rushing game.

On the Steelers' opening drive in the first quarter, QB Dennis Dixon, making only his second career start, marched the team to the Atlanta 35-yard line. K Jeff Reed connected from 52 yards out to put the Steelers up 3-0. It was the longest field goal in Heinz Field history and Reed's second longest of his career.

Neither team moved the ball effectively, exchanging punts for most part of the half. Reed missed a 55-yard field goal with 22 seconds left in the half, which left enough time for Atlanta to strike. Falcons' QB Matt Ryan found WR Eric Weems for 17 yards and WR Roddy White for another seven yards to put the Falcons at the Steelers' 32-yard line. K Matt Bryant connected from 49-yards out just as the halftime clock expired and the game was tied, 3-3.

On the opening drive of the second half, Bryant connected from 39 yards out to put the Falcons up 6-3. Reed would connect on two more field goals, and Bryant added another, and the game was tied, 9-9. The Falcons took over at their own 21-yard line with 1:45 left in the game, but on the first play S Troy Polamalu picked off QB Matt Ryan. The Steelers looked like they had the game in hand but Reed's 40-yard field goal attempt went wide right and the game headed into overtime.

WR Hines Ward finished the game with 108 yards receiving on six catches. He became the first Steelers receiver to surpass 11,000 yards receiving, and he broke the record for most 100-yard receiving games in team history (26), passing former WR John Stallworth.

The Steelers' defense held the Falcons to only 58 yards rushing and posted two sacks (LB LaMarr Woodley, LB James Harrison) and an interception.

GAME SUMMARY

SCORING DRIVES

TEAM STATISTICS

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING:Atl. – Turner 19-42; Norwood 2-8; Snelling 2-4; Ryan 2-4.Pit.– Mendenhall 22-120, 1 TD; Redman 6-19; Dixon 2-4; Moore 1-0.

PASSING: Atl.– Ryan 44-27-1, 252.Pit.– Dixon 26-18-1, 236.

RECEIVING:
Atl.– White 13-111; Weems 4-36; Douglas 3-39; Gonzalez 2-35; Peelle 2-11; Norwood 1-9; Turner 1-7; Snelling 1-4. Pit.– Ward 6-108; Miller 4-40; Wallace 2-62; Mendenhall 2-15; Randle El 2-8; Moore 2-3.

SERIES HIGHS

PASSING YARDS

RUSHING YARDS

RECEIVING YARDS