Who says preseason video games cannot be thrilling? With simply seconds left in regulation, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been capable of rating the go-ahead landing to beat the Seahawks of their preseason opener, 32-25. 

Whereas this sport was largely considered for the quarterback battles for each golf equipment, people that stayed round have been handled to a wild end, as Pittsburgh primarily rose from the useless because of a clutch play by the protection. After linebacker Mark Robinson strip-sacked Drew Lock, rookie Kenny Pickett flashed his first-round potential and led the Steelers on a game-winning landing drive that despatched Pittsburgh right into a frenzy. 

As we talked about, this sport was primarily concerning the quarterbacks on each side. With that in thoughts, we dove into how every signal-caller performed Saturday evening on this exhibition together with detailing Pittsburgh’s comeback, which you’ll learn in our takeaways beneath.

Inspecting the Steelers’ QB battle

All three of Pittsburgh’s high quarterbacks competing for the Week1 job performed at a excessive stage. Every was capable of lead the offense on landing drives and not likely make many errors. Mitchell Trubisky received the beginning and did not do something that ought to take him out of the lead for the job to start the yr. He led the Steelers on a 90-yard landing drive in his opening sequence, which culminated in a landing cross to Gunner Olszewski. 

What was arguably most spectacular about that drive was the general tempo of the Steelers offense, practically touring the size of the sector in slightly below three minutes. That does spotlight Trubisky’s total grasp of Matt Canada’s offense, which is encouraging. The previous Bear completed his day finishing four of seven for 63 yards and a landing whereas including 4 yards on the bottom.

Trubisky gave technique to Mason Rudolph after two sequence, and he carried the baton properly for the remainder of the primary half. That mentioned, issues did begin out of a bit shaky as he practically turned the ball over with a fumble. On the very subsequent play, nonetheless, he dropped again to cross after which delivered a ravishing ball to rookie George Pickens for a landing. For the sport, Rudolph was 9 of 15 for 93 yards and a landing. 

To start the second half, Kenny Pickett rolled in to thunderous applause type these at Acrisure Stadium. He rewarded them with a stellar seven-play, 75-yard landing drive the place he accomplished all 5 of his passes, together with a three-yard landing to Jaylen Warren. 

After that sizzling begin, nonetheless, Pickett and the Steelers offense hit a little bit of a lull as they punted on back-to-back drives that netted simply 13 yards of whole offense. After initially failing to transform on a fourth-and-1 try inside two minutes, Pickett was given one other probability at a game-winning drive and did not hesitate to drag via, bringing the offense down the sector and — with mere seconds left in regulation — connecting with Tyler Vaughns for the go-ahead landing. 

Pickett completed 13 of 15 for 95 yards and two touchdowns whereas dashing for a further 16 yards.

Inspecting Seahawks’ QB battle

Seattle’s splits have been fairly cut-and-dry with Geno Smith and Drew Lock. The previous received the beginning and performed your complete first half, whereas the latter performed the remainder of the way in which. Smith did not get off to a very sturdy begin, because the Seahawks managed simply three factors over their first 4 drives whereas the Steelers piled up 17 factors. The veteran was capable of finish on a excessive word, nonetheless, as he led Seattle on a two-minute drill simply previous to halftime to place them inside hanging distance. 

Smith was three of 5 on the drive for 37 yards. He added 9 yards on the bottom, together with a two-yard dashing landing. On the evening, he accomplished 66.7% of his throws for 101 yards to go together with these dashing totals. 

To start the second half, Lock was fairly sharp and led the Seahawks on a 73-yard landing drive to knot the sport at 17. His first cross of the evening was a 39-yard achieve to Bo Melton, which primarily flipped the sector for Seattle, and he later discovered Dareke Younger for the rating. Later, he evened the sport once more at 25 after connecting with DeeJay Dallas on a 17-yard landing throughout which the veteran again was capable of break a deal with and leap in the direction of the top zone. 

The properly did run dry for Lock as the sport progressed, because the offense punted on its subsequent possession. He was later stripped on his final play of the sport, which opened the door for Pittsburgh to drag away with the win. Lock’s evening ended with him finishing 11 of his 15 throws for 102 yards, two touchdowns and that dreaded fumble. 

Turning level

For a minute there, it appeared like Pickett’s Cinderella second was going to fall simply quick. Popping out of the two-minute warning, it appeared just like the stage was organising for Pittsburgh to have an opportunity to kill clock and both rating a game-winning landing or kick a game-winning discipline objective. Nonetheless, Pickett was sacked on a fourth-and-1 attempt from the Seattle 45-yard line, which flipped the script for Drew Lock to probably be the preseason hero. That storyline, nonetheless, lasted only one play as Lock was sacked, fumbled the soccer, and the Steelers protection recovered to present the ball again to the offense to go win it. 

With new life, Pickett and the Steelers offense traveled 43 yards to the top zone on 5 performs to leap out to the lead with three seconds left and win the sport. 

Play of the sport

George Pickens’ inventory is flying via the roof. The Steelers’ second-round choose has impressed primarily upon arrival in Pittsburgh and has made various spotlight performs all through coaching camp. Properly, that continued Saturday evening in his first style of preseason motion. 

Pickens hauled in a outstanding landing seize on a well-thrown ball by Mason Rudolph. On a third-and-13 try from the Seattle 26-yard line, Rudolph lofted a cross in the direction of the back-right pylon of the top zone. After Pickens received a step on his defender, he secured the over-the-shoulder catch and — most notably — saved each ft in bounds.

Whereas it is nonetheless early, it seems like Pittsburgh might have discovered one other star receiver on the draft. 

What’s subsequent

From right here, the Steelers will head out on the highway for the one time this preseason once they sq. up with the Jacksonville Jaguars subsequent Saturday. In the meantime, the Seahawks will head residence to Lumen Discipline and await the Chicago Bears. These two NFC squads will open up Week 2 of the preseason on Thursday.