The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of Steelers preseason Week 2 win vs Bills

The Good: Steelers Early Explosive Plays

In the preseason, we're looking for glimpses early in the first quarter of what the team will be once the games do start to matter. If Saturday evening was any indication, the 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers will be much better at picking up chunk yardage.

The Steelers came out of the gates red-hot against the Bills exploding for chunk yardage on three occasions. After being one of the worst teams in the NFL for explosive plays in 2022, it's refreshing to see the Black and Gold uniforms getting yards in bunches.

The first came from Jaylen Warren on his first and only touch of the game as he took the handoff through a well-blocked hole before he turned on the afterburners racing into the endzone for a 62-yard touchdown.

The next play wasn't from scrimmage, but it was yet another example of why Calvin Austin III is a dangerous asset for the Steelers this season. Austin's 54-yard punt return set up the Steelers offense at the Bills 25-yard line. It's the third time Austin has touched the ball for huge yardage in just the first two games.

The final explosive play ended the Steelers starting offense's night as Kenny Pickett connected with Pat Freiermuth deep over the middle for a touchdown, capitalizing on Austin's punt return.

Maybe fans want to see more in quantity from the starters in the preseason, but with the quality the unit has shown so far, there's little to complain about.