Rashard Mendenhall slipped off right tackeld and scampered 50 yards for a touchdown early into overtime to lead the Steelers to victory. The Steelers missed a golden opportunity at the end of regulation as Jeff Reed's field goal attempt sailed wide right. Reed connected from 52, 36 and 34 yards in regulation. His 52 yard field is the longest attempt ever made at Heinz Field.

Rashard Mendenhall had carried the ball 22 times for 120 yards. The Steeler's defense playsed solid throughout the game and only allowed the Falcons 58 yards on the ground.

“In the run game, you’ve got to be patient,” said Mendenhall, who cut to his right, found the open field and took it in despite stumbling near the 10 on his game-winner. “You wait all day for something like that to open up. The run game, you’ve got to stick with it and stick with it.”

Jeff Reed’s 34 yard field goal in the fourth quarter gave the Steelers a slim 9-6 lead. Atlanta tied the game with only 3:24 remaining on Bryant’s third field goal, a 23-yarder, after deciding against going for it on fourth and a long 1 at the Pittsburgh 5 yard line.

“I felt we needed to tie the game,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “It was relatively simple when you consider the percentages.”

Turner, despite averaging barely 2 yards per carry, felt they needed to run it.

“When coach called it, I was getting ready, getting myself pumped up,” Turner said. “If we would have got that I think we would have probably finished the game off. But coach changed his mind. We have to trust his decision.”

It was the third overtime game in as many Falcons-Steelers meetings. They played a 34-all tie in 2002 at Heinz Field, and Atlanta won 41-38 at home in 2006.

Mike Tomlin came out with a very conservative game plan for Dixon in only his second NFL career start. Dennis Dixon played an almost mistake free game with only one interception. He did however, miss a few open receivers in the first have that ended offensive drives.

“Overall, I got overexcited,” Dixon said. “I’m just happy to have someone like Hines Ward and the savy vets to calm me down.”

The Falcons had to rely heavily on their passing game. Matt Ryan finished 27 of 44 for 252 yards and nearly lost the game in regulation when Troy Polamalu intercepted a sideline pass with only 1:45 remaining on the clock

Atlanta's Roddy White made 13 catches for 111 yards, but the Falcons were within touchdown range only once and were outgained 354-295 in total yards. The Falcons were unable to score until the final play of the first half, when Bryant made a 49-yarder to tie it at 3 after Reed missed from 55.

“I think it’s inexcusable, but they’re a good defense,” tight end Tony Gonzalez said.

Troy Polamalu, injured most of last season, made a perceptible difference in a Steelers defense that gave up leads in the fourth quarter five times last season as Pittsburgh went 9-7.

“I think for the most part we shut them down,” Keisel said of a defense that has only three starters younger than 30. “Teams are going to test us. We’re old and washed up and teams are going to see if we can still play.”

“I don’t know what the quarterback was thinking, but when you see No. 43 (Polamalu), don’t throw it his way,” linebacker James Farrior said. “He’s the best player I’ve ever played with.”

The Falcons, future hall of fame tight end Gonzalez made his 1,000th catch of his career. He is the only NFL tight end to reach that mark and the seventh receiver overall.

Hines Ward had 108 yards in his club record 26th career 100-yard game and went over 11,000 yards receiving in his career. Hines Ward is the first Steelers player with at least 11,000 yards receiving.

Pittsburgh has won 21 of its past 25 against the NFC. … Tomlin is 4-0 in openers, Smith is 2-1. … The Steelers are 6-0-1 against Atlanta in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Steelers get ready of the Atlanta Falcons in 2010 season opener