First Call: T.J. Watt says officials admitted error on flag; Diontae Johnson's 1st game with Carolina; bad Week 1 for AFC North

Monday’s “First Call” has some background on a blown call against T.J. Watt that could’ve cost the Pittsburgh Steelers their win in Week 1.

Donte Jackson got the better of Diontae Johnson in their first games with their new teams after they were traded for one another in March. As the Steelers were winning, the rest of the AFC North was en route to a rotten opening weekend.

And Paul Skenes has a chance to do some damage against Miami on Monday night.

Mistakes were made

If you thought T.J. Watt got robbed on his first strip-sack of Kirk Cousins on Sunday, you were right. That’s not just me saying that. According to Watt, it’s the official himself.

The play in question occurred with only 41 seconds remaining in the first half. Watt recovered a fumble after stripping the ball from Atlanta’s quarterback. However, one of the officials said Watt had jumped into the neutral zone early on in the play.

It looked clean to me.

This is tremendous snap anticipation & get off from TJ Watt here. Doesn’t look offsides to me here ???? pic.twitter.com/ENVXc08533

— Alex King (@AKing_Evals) September 8, 2024

During a post-game interview with Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, Watt claimed that the official who had made the call admitted that he had gotten it wrong after seeing the video at halftime.

With #Steelers LB T.J. Watt after the win over the #Falcons that ended with his walk-off sack: "I think that was one of the first times in my life I had one, so I had to take a bow. I had to make sure there were no flags because of the other two." pic.twitter.com/fZLhn58HNR

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) September 8, 2024

Watt had another strip-sack revoked by penalty in the second half. This time, it was on Donte Jackson, and it actually appeared to be more of a deserving penalty.

Watt did recover a fumble later in the game. He also ended the game on a sack as the Steelers won 18-10.

More Steelers

• Madden Monday: 'If Russell Wilson is 100% next week, or close to it, I go with him'
• Feats of Strength/Airing of Grievances: T.J. Watt, Chris Boswell, Justin Fields drive Steelers victory
• Chris Boswell kicks Steelers to opening win vs. Falcons

‘Standing on top of the world’

“….for a little while.”

With a tip of the cap to Van Halen, that’s where the Steelers are in their division for at least one week. They are atop the AFC North after Week 1 of the 2024 regular season as the only team to win its opener.

Mike Tomlin’s team scratched out a victory in Atlanta a few days after the Baltimore Ravens lost the league-opening game on Thursday Night Football in Kansas City, 27-20. Then the two Ohio teams lost Sunday.

The Cincinnati Bengals suffered perhaps the most surprising upset loss of the weekend, falling to the New England Patriots, 16-10. The Pats were just 4-13 a year ago. Rhamondre Stevenson had 120 yards rushing and a touchdown in the win.

Rhamondre Stevenson @NFLFantasy owners refreshing their app to make sure they got their points

????: #NEvsCIN on CBS/Paramount+
????: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/ax9jnbPgEz

— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024

The victory was the first for Jerod Mayo as Patriots head coach, taking over for Bill Belichick.

Meanwhile, the Cleveland Browns were squashed at home by the Dallas Cowboys, 33-17. Cleveland QB Deshuan Watson struggled, going 24 of 45 for 169 yards. He absorbed six sacks and was intercepted twice.

Trevon Diggs secures his first INT of the season!

????: #DALvsCLE on FOX
????: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/cCPhsj1Xc0

— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024

Tipped by Micah, picked by Kendricks! @dallascowboys

????: #DALvsCLE on FOX
????: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/KQeP7Jjmlu

— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024

Watson’s passer rating on the day was a pathetic 51.1. He averaged just 3.8 yards per attempt.

Next week, the Steelers are in Denver, Cleveland is at Jacksonville, the Bengals are in Kansas City, and the Ravens host the Las Vegas Raiders.

Jackson for Johnson

Here’s a stat that Steelers fans are going to love regarding the Diontae Johnson for Donte Jackson trade. The Steelers dealt Johnson to the Carolina Panthers for Jackson on March 12.

In his Panthers’ debut Sunday, Johnson only ended up with two catches for 19 yards on six targets as Carolina was thumped by the New Orleans Saints, 41-17.

Meanwhile, Jackson had more yards on one interception return for the Steelers than Johnson had the whole game. His pick of Kirk Cousins came back 49 yards to the Falcons’ 18-yard line as the Steelers went on to win.

This @Steelers defense ???? Donte Jackson INT!

????: #PITvsATL on FOX
????: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/M5C6TTuLgH

— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024

Jackson actually had a chance for an interception in the first quarter too, but he dropped it. He ended with two pass breakups, the interception and two tackles.

As the Steelers head to Denver next week, Carolina hosts the Los Angeles Chargers.

Going fishing

Paul Skenes doesn’t have a lot of starts left this season. So the Pirates’ rookie sensation may want to make the most of this one.

He and the rest of the Bucs host the Miami Marlins on Monday night to open a three-game series. And the prospect exists for Skenes to have a good night. Miami comes in with a 54-79 record, tied with the Colorado Rockies for the lowest win total in the National League.

Miami’s run production is a big reason for that. The Marlins have a .671 team OPS, tied for 28th in Major League Baseball with the Los Angeles Angels. That’s the lowest number in the National League.

The club has only hit 133 homers, 27th in Major League Baseball. The franchise’s run total of 549 is the lowest in the NL and 29th in the league.

Then there is the Marlins’ run differential of minus-214. That’s also the worst mark in the National League.

Skenes will be opposed by 24-year-old right-handed pitcher Valente Bellozo of the Marlins. He is 2-2 with a 3.78 ERA.