The Pittsburgh Steelers got off to a similar start as last week on offense. There were no botched snaps, but no points for the starting offense and three sacks allowed. Lots of punts, some penalties, and not much positive to write home about. The defense looked better this week with just three points allowed, two total sacks, and an interception. Justin Fields led a field goal drive at the end of the half to tie it up. The score is tied at 3-3 for the Steelers and Bills at the half.
The offensive line was the story of the first half for the Steelers. Broderick Jones got beat repeatedly at right tackle.
With Fields getting two drives, I would imagine he gets a couple more to start the second half. He provided a little spark with his explosive 20-yard scramble at the end of the first half. The offense could use more of that.
The star of the first half was P Cameron Johnston. Nick Herbig deserves a shout out, too.
For reference, Pressley Harvin III averaged 43.8 yards per punt last season.
START OF 2ND HALF
The kickoff was returned to the 29 yard line.
1st and 10, Ray Davis off left tackle for 5 yards. 2nd and 5, Davis up the middle for 8 yards. Payton Wilson shaken up on the play. He went into the blue medical tent. Maybe a leg or ankle injury of some variety.
1st and 10, Davis bounced to the right for 6 yards. 2nd and 4, Davis off right tackle for 8 yards.
1st and 10, Davis off right tackle for 3 yards and a horse colar tackle tacks on 15.
1st and 10, Davis up the middle for 19 yards.
1st and goal, Zach Davidson called for a false start. 1st and goal from the 12, Darrynton Evans for five yards around the left end. 3nd and goal, Mark Robinson tackled Evans for a loss of 1. 3rd and goal from the 8, DiNucci incomplete to Justin Shorter in the end zone with good coverage by Darius Rush. The field goal is good. 6-3 Bills.
La’Mical Perine returned the kickoff to the 24.
1st and 10, Aaron Shampklin off left tackle for 4 yards. 2nd and 6, Fields designed run for 8 yards.
1st and 10, Shampklin off right tackle for 5 yards. 2nd and 5, Daijun Edwards tackled for a loss of 2. 3rd and 7, Fields escaped pressure, set his feet, and completed a pass to MyCole Pruitt for 8 yards and a first down.
1st and 10, Fields escaped a sack and scrambled 8 yards with a big roar from the crowd. Mason McCormick called for false start. 2nd and 7, Perine up the middle for 8 yards.
1st and 10, Fields complete to Connor Heyward for 15 yards. He hurdled a defender for a few extra yards.
1st and 10, Perine around the left end for 7 yards. 2nd and 3, Perine around the left end again for 3 yards.
1st and 10, Fields scrambled for two yards out of bounds with nobody open. 2nd and 8, Shampklin off right tackle for 4 yards. 3rd and 4, Shampklin up the middle for 2 yards. Timeout called by Buffalo with Tomlin keeping the offense on the field.
A designed run for Fields on 4th and 2. The Bills saw it coming from a mile away and he was tackled for a loss. Turnover on downs. The best drive of the night for the Steelers’ offense comes up empty.
1st and 10, Evans up the middle for 5 yards with a tackle by Isaiahh Loudermilk. 2nd and 5, DiNucci complete to K.J. Hamler for 9 yards. Ryan Watts made the tackle. Tyler Matakevich banged up on the play with an ankle injury of some variety. He seems fine on the sideline.
1st and 10, Evans around the right end for 14 yards.
END OF 3RD QUARTER
1st and 10, Frank Gore Jr. off right tackle for 7 yards. False start backed them up five yards. 2nd and 8, Gore up the middle for 7 yards. 3rd and 1, Gore up the middle for 3 yards.
1st and 10, Gore up the middle for 9 yards. 2nd and 1, Gore up the middle for 4 yards. The last two drives have been rough for the Steelers’ run defense.
1st and 10, Evans tackled for a gain of just 1. 2nd and 9, Evans up the middle for 10 yards.
1st and 10, Evans up the middle for 3 yards. 2nd and 7, DiNucci complete to Tyrell Shavers for 3 yards tackled by Zyon Gilbert. 3rd and 4, Gore up the middle for 1 yard with Willington Previlon bringing him down. The field goal is good. 9-3 Bills.
Fields coming back out for another series. An illegal formation on the Bills during that kickoff. The kickoff was run again and John Rhys Plumlee returned it to the 29.
1st and 10, Fields complete to Dez Fitzpatrick for 13 yards.
1st and 10, Fields incomplete to TE Matt Sokol. Nearly intercepted on a high pass. 2nd and 10, Fields complete to Jaray Jenkins for 5 yards. 3rd and 5, complete to Deuce Watts for 5 yards and a fresh set of downs.
1st and 10, Edwards off right tackle for 8 yards. 2nd and 2, Fields let it rip deep to T.J. Luther in the end zone, but he overthrew the ball for an incompletion. False start on everybody but the center. 3rd and 7, Fields somehow escaped a sack and hit Fitzpatrick along the sideline for 19 yards. What a play!
1st and 10, Fields scrambled for 7 yards. 2nd and 3, Perine up the middle for 2 yards. 3rd and inches, Perine tackled for a loss. They should probably just got for it at this point. Timeout called by the Steelers. 4th and 3, Fields incomplete intended for Heyward. Another turnover on downs on an otherwise good drive. Heyward probably should have caught that. It went off his hands.
A rare preseason renegade! The defense needs a big stop here to give the offense one last chance.
1st and 10, Gore up the middle for 8 yards. Timeout called. Bills called for a false start. 2nd a 7, gore up the middle for 2 yards. The Steelers’ last timeout called. 3rd and 5, Julius Welschof sacked DiNucci for a loss of 7.
The punt was returned by Scotty Miller, but a block in the back penalty called on Perine.
TWO MINUTE WARNING
Fields coming back in the game with a two-minute drill opportunity. There is 1:56 remaining in the game with no timeouts. They need to go 72 yards to score.
1st and 10, Fields sacked for a loss of 5. 2nd and 15, Fields caught his own fumble and then had the pass batted down. 3rd and 15, Fields complete to Perine for 4 yards. 4th and 12, Fields escaped two sacks and chucked the ball down the field for an incompletion out of bounds. That should wrap up the game.
That was… a game.
END OF GAME: 9-3 BILLS
