The Pittsburgh Steelers kick off their season by hosting the San Francisco 49ers at Acrisure Stadium. There are a number of great storylines in this game to watch – the most obvious being Kenny Pickett and Brock Purdy facing off for the first time being the two most successful quarterbacks from the 2022 draft class so far. Both of them have a lot of pressure to live up to the hype that has built up over the last several months.
There is also the narrative of the two most recent NFL Defensive Players of the Year facing off against each other. There will be no shortage of comparisons on the broadcast, I’m sure. Also, Javon Hargrave returns to Pittsburgh for the second time since leaving the team in free agency – his first time as a member of the 49ers.
While it looked like San Francisco would be missing some players earlier in the week due to injury or contract disputes, all seems to be resolved and both teams should be at full strength. DL Larry Ogunjobi was the big question mark for the Steelers, but he will play today.
Thank you for joining the Steelers Depot game blog for another season. If this is your first time, welcome! If you refresh the page throughout the game, I do my best to curate the experience with live updates, interesting tweets, injury news, and video highlights. You can also scroll to the bottom of the page for a live chat room in the comment section where hundreds of fans gather each week. There will be a second post for the second half, so look out for the link at the very bottom of the article once the first half ends. Enjoy the game!
Steelers’ Inactive Players
QB Mason Rudolph (3rd)
T Dylan Cook
DE Armon Watts
CB Desmond King II
WR Gunner Olszewski
49ers Inactive Players
QB Brandon Allen (3rd)
OL Nick Zakelj
DL Kalia Davis
LB Dee Winters
LB Jalen Graham
TE Brayden Willis
RB Tyrion Davis-Price
Both teams are indeed full strength for this game. No excuses, and a great litmus test for both teams in week one.
The Steelers have won the coin toss and elected to receive. They want to go out there and make an early statement.
START OF GAME
The kickoff was knelt down for the touchback by Anthony McFarland Jr.
The first offensive play, Kenny Pickett connected with George Pickens in the middle of the field for a gain of 6. The second play a jet sweep that instantly broke down. Calvin Austin III got back to the line. Kenny Pickett evaded the first sack on 3rd down, but was sacked for a big loss. Pressley Harvin III’s punt went just 34 yards. Brock Purdy and the 49ers take over with good field position.
Purdy connected with Deebo Samuel for 6 yards. Back to Samuel on a tricky disguised handoff for a gain of 3. 3rd and 1 in Steelers territory, Elandon Roberts stuffed Christian McCaffrey who tried to go over top the pile. 4th and 1 and the 49ers are going for it. They went to George Kittle and converted. Elandon Roberts in coverage in the flat.
On 1st and 10, a toss left to McCaffrey for a gain of 9. Nearing the red zone on 2nd and 1, another McCaffrey handoff for a gain of 17. The 49ers are well within scoring position now.
1st and goal, and Purdy found Brandon Aiyuk wide open in the end zone in between Damontae Kazee and Patrick Peterson. 7-0 49ers.
It looks like Patrick Peterson slipped on that play. Purdy is already making him eat his words as he guaranteed an interception for himself. Still plenty of time to deliver on that promise.
Anthony McFarland Jr. took the kickoff to the 27 yard line. Najee Harris took the handoff and was tackled behind the line for Fred Warner. On 2nd and 12, a quick pass to Calvin Austin III for a gain of 8. 3rd and 4, Pickett tossed an interception to Charvarius Ward. Diontae Johnson was targeted and slipped on the play. The perfect preseason is not carrying over in any way, shape, or form.
Elandon Roberts darted into the backfield for the stop for no gain on McCaffrey’s first play. 2nd and 10, a big gain of 23 yards on the pass across the middle to Brandon Aiyuk.
On 1st and 10, Alex Highsmith brought down McCaffrey for a short gain, but a holding call negated the play. 1st and 20 from the 36 yard line and Purdy over the middle to George Kittle. Fitzpatrick in on the tackle for a gain of 6. 2nd and 14, Patrick Peterson broke up the pass over the middle. 3rd and 14, a small gain to Kittle. Mike Tomlin called a timeout prior to the field goal attempt. An offsides from the Steelers’ blocked field goal. Patrick Peterson called. The field goal is 5 yards easier. Moody attempted from 41 and the kick is good. 10-0 49ers.
Anthony McFarland Jr. returned the kickoff to the 32 yard line. He barely lost his footing and could have had more. Pickett sprint out to the left connected with Allen Robinson for a gain of 2. On 2nd and 8, Najee Harris for no gain. On 3rd and 8, Pickett missed Diontae Johnson over the middle. Another punt coming. Elandon Roberts false start on the punt. Pressley Harvin III’s punt went 54 yards returned 8 yards to the 32. The defense needs to kick start this team. The sloppy play is happening in all three phases.
A couple more first downs quickly for the 49ers. One, a 12 yard run up the middle for McCaffrey on 2nd and 10. If the Steelers win first down they must capitalize to get in favorable passing downs for their pass rush. Brandon Aiyuk got the team to the 33 yard line, but a false start backed the team up. 1st and 15 after the break.
END OF 1ST QUARTER: 10-0 49ERS.
Deebo Samuel with a gain of 18 and the 49ers are back in the red zone. Brock Purdy looks extremely sharp and the Steelers defense looks hapless.
Patrick Peterson in coverage on Brandon Aiyuk and the deep pass caught in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown. Peterson was right in position but the perfect throw and catch. 17-0 49ers.
It is looking bleak with zero signs of life on offense or defense. The best plays of the game have been Anthony McFarland Jr.’s slightly-above-average returns – not great.
Kenny Pickett dumped the ball off under pressure to Jaylen Warren for a loss of two. Chuks Okorafor called for holding on Bosa, but it was declined. Pickett tossed a would-be interception right to Fred Warner, but it was dropped. That was a bad throw through and through. 3rd and 15, Isaac Seumalo called for a false start. 3rd and 20, Kenny Pickett was shoestring tackled for no gain as he tried to scramble.
Pressley Harvin’s punt went deep for 56 and Ray-Ray McCloud was tackled quickly. Christian Kuntz called for a face mask penalty. Good field position again for the 49ers. This is a murphy’s law type of game – everything that can go wrong has gone wrong.
Cameron Heyward listed as questionable to return with a groin injury. On 1st and 10, an illegal formation backs the 49ers up. On 1st and 15, McCaffrey was stopped for a gain of 1. On 2nd a 14, Samuel picked up 7 over the middle. On 3rd, Purdy stepped up and connected with Brandon Aiyuk to convert. Levi Wallace called for a personal foul after the play. Half the distance to the goal. Back in the red zone.
On 1st and 10, McCaffrey bounced to the left sideline for a gain of 3. On 2nd, TJ Watt strip sacked Purdy chasing him down from behind. The 49ers recovered. Mike Tomlin challenging the call. Purdy seemed to have secured the ball underneath his body from behind. An awkward recovery, but I don’t think you can overturn this. The call on the field stands. 3rd and 7, offensive holding declined. Mike Tomlin is okay with the field goal attempt here. 20-0 49ers.
The 49ers get the ball back after the half, so Pickett and the offense must get some momentum on this drive to have any shot.
Anthony McFarland Jr. returned the kickoff to the 35. He is looking great and its only a matter of time before he breaks one of these for a touchdown. Jaylen Warren checked in for a carry on 1st down for a gain of just one brought down by Nick Bosa. On 2nd and 9, Fred Warner filled the hole to limit the Warren carry to just two. 3rd and 6, an incomplete pass intended for Pat Freiermuth. He went down awkwardly and may have hurt himself trying to catch the ball.
Pressley Harvin’s punt went out of bounds at the 24 yard line.
The Steelers have -3 yards this quarter which I believe makes it -1 on the game for them. An abysmal failure so far for Matt Canada, Kenny Pickett, and this offense.
On 1st down, Brock Purdy scrambled for a few yards. On 2nd, TJ Watt deflected the ball for an incompletion. On 3rd and 6, McCaffrey as a receiver converted right at the line to gain.
Cam Heyward is back in the game from his groin injury. On 1st and 10, Deebo Samuel gained a few yards around the left end. Cam Heyward re-injured on the play. He probably wasn’t ready to return. That groin is likely going to hold him out the rest of the game at least.
On 2nd and 5, Elijah Mitchell picked up 4. 49ers called a timeout to avoid the delay of game. McCaffrey got the toss left and converted around the corner up the sideline.
On 1st and 10, McCaffrey up the middle for a gain of two. On 2nd and 8, a safety blitz bringing Minkah Fitzpatrick unblocked, but Purdy stepped away from pressure and converted the first down.
TWO MINUTE WARNING.
Demarvin Leal is back in the game from his injury. Isaiahh Loudermilk and TJ Watt deflected the 1st and 2nd down plays. On 3rd and 10. Mike Tomlin called timeout prior to the snap. 3rd and 10, an illegal snap backs the 49ers up to 3rd and 15. Outside of field goal range, Purdy threw the ball away with pressure from Demarvin Leal. The punt was downed at the 5 yard line.
Here comes a two minute drill attempt with no timeouts. The offense has gained 1 net yard all game, so the odds are not good.
1:35 to go, 1st and 10 a completion to George Pickens who hurdled the defender and got out of bounds for a first down. A booth review overturns the team’s 1st down. Still zero first downs this half. 2nd and 1, Pickett dialed one up to George Pickens deep. It should have been a free play, but it wasn’t called. 3rd and 1, Najee Harris found a 22 yard run. He was hit out of bounds. So the 22 yard run turns into a 37 yard gain.
The offense finding some rhythm right before the half. A nice deep completion to Diontae Johnson with a nice block from Najee Harris to prevent the sack. On 1st and 10, Diontae Johnson another reception and he got out of bounds. 2nd and 2 with 00:46 in the half. Pat Freiermuth was targeted in the end zone, but he took a huge hit from Hufanga. Freiermuth shaken up on the play. I think he just had the wing knocked out of him. On 3rd and 3, incomplete to Diontae Johnson. They are going to have to kick the field goal. Can’t come out of this drive scoreless. Pickett should have had a touchdown to Johnson, but he threw it well behind him. The Steelers are going for it on 4th down.
4th and 3 and a completion to McFarland Jr in the flat. The spike kills the clock at 00:23. 1st and 10, a completion to George Pickens who got out of bounds. 3rd and 6 from the 7 yard line. Defensive holding called to give the Steelers a first down.
1st and goal. A touchdown to Pat Freiermuth. 20-7 49ers.
Something to build off of for the second half, but the 49ers get the ball back to start the half. That was a 95 yard drive. Something to examine and try to replicate for sure.
END OF HALF: 20-7 49ERS.
Join us for the second half here:
