The Pittsburgh Steelers made their Heinz Field preseason debut against the Green Bay Packers on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in the North Shore and leave with a 24-19 victory for their first preseason win.
The game opened with the Packers first-team offense facing up against the Steelers first team defense and the result was one we hope won’t be the norm for this unit when they’re up against top-rated offenses like the Packers.
In their first offensive series the Packers went 80 in 10 plays in 5:06 to paydirt and converted on their two-point conversion to go up 8-0 before everyone had even settled into their seats.
The Steeler’ offense responded with a lackluster performance but thanks to a Jordan Berry 42 yard punt to pin the Packers down on their own one-yard line. Within three plays James Harrison sacked Aaron Rodgers for a safety with help from rookie linebacker Bud Dupree on the play.
The Steelers first-team offense started the second quarter with the clear mission of scoring a touchdown so that they could get off of the field. The Steelers went in a no-huddle offense for their 7-play drive to go 51 yards in just over three minutes. Ben Roethlisberger connected on a 5 yard pass to Markus Wheaton to put the Steelers up 9-8 just a few minutes into the second quarter.
Ben Roethlisberger would leave the game going 11 for 14 for 100 yards and a touchdown.
Unfortunately the biggest headlines from this game will come from the injuries. On the first offensive series of the game Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey was carted off with an ankle injury and would not return. Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt would follow the same path with an ankle injury and a ride to the locker room on a cart.
Steelers backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski played only a few snaps before he left the game with a finger/hand injury. The Packers weren’t immune themselves from the injury bug as they lose wide receiver Jordy Nelson to an apparent ACL injury.
Green Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby connected on a 55-yard field goal early in the third quarter but the Steelers, behind Landry Jones were able to crawl and scrap their way back into the lead. Garrett Hartley made a 46-yard field goal to bring the Steelers within seven points and then Tyler Murphy caught a 22-yard pass from none other than Landry Jones for a touchdown and the lead in the fourth quarter.
Aug 23, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree (48) looks on prior to playing the Green Bay Packers at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The subsequent two-point conversion failed but within another series Jones had the Steelers within striking distance again and this time connected with Shakim Phillips for a 20-yard touchdown pass and another failed two point conversion.
Jones ended the day going 10 of 19 for 172 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, basically making it impossible to just flat out cut him at this point because those numbers have “you can stay on the roster to hold the clipboard” written all over them.
Other players that made positive impacts in the game were running back DeAngelo Williams, who went for 20 yards on 4 carries, Tyler Murphy had 61 receiving yards on four receptions and a touchdown and Sammie Coates and two receptions for 60 yards.
Steelers rookie linebacker Bud Dupree certainly made his presence known on the field with two tackles and a sack and Shamarko Thomas had six total tackles and a sack of his own.
Who are some players you thought stood out in the Steelers’ first preseason victory?
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