The Pittsburgh Steelers first-team units came out swinging at the beginning of the game. The Steelers earned a quick 14-0 lead over the Detroit Lions with a touchdown drive each by Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Wilson only played the one drive, indicating the quarterback competition was never really a consideration. Fields played three drives.
The defense also gave the Lions a run for their money with two sacks and a forced fumble by Nick Herbig and a sack by Keeanu Benton in three plays on the opening drive.
The Lions tied up the game after a Kyle Allen sack fumble to set up the short field for Hendon Hooker and the Detroit Lions.
First half stats below.
START OF 2ND HALF
1st and 10, Zonovan Knight off left tackle for 3 yards. 2nd and 7, Hooker complete to Zylstra for 12 yards.
1st and 10, Hooker incomplete deep. 2nd and 10, Knight off right tackle for 3 yards. 3rd and 7, Hooker scrambled for 8 yards.
1st and 10, Knight off right tackle for 1 yard. 2nd and 9, Hooker fumbled and recovered at the end of a 10-yard scramble.
1st and 10, Hooker complete to Kennedy for a loss of one with Zyon Gilbert making the tackle. 2nd and 11, Hooker complete to Zylstra for 8 yards. 3rd and 3, Knight up the middle for 5 yards.
1st and 10 in the red zone, Knight off left tackle for 2 yards. 2nd and 8, Hooker scrambled for 7 yards. 3rd and 1, Knight stuffed by Mark Robinson for no gain. False start makes it 4th and 6 which will likely force the field goal. Field goal was no good. Turnover on downs.
1st and 10, LaMical Perine off left tackle for 2 yards. 2nd and 8, Perine stuffed for no gain on the right end. 3rd and 8, Kyle Allen complete to Dez Fitzpatrick for 59 yards on a catch and run. Defensive pass interference declined.
1st and 10, Aaron Shampklin got beat to the edge for a gain of just one. 2nd and 9, Allen incomplete deep left, but illegal use of hands on Detroit.
1st and 10, Shampklin up the middle for no gain. 2nd and 10, Shampklin off right tackle for a gain of 5. 3rd and 5, Allen missed Connor Heyward in the flats. Matthew Wright field goal is good from 26 yards. 17-14 Steelers.
The kickoff had a holding penalty on the return team. They will begin at their own 19.
1st and 10, Jefferson off left tackle for 3 yards. 2nd and 7, Cameron Sutton intercepted the pass and punted the ball out of excitement. Sutton was cut by the Lions this offseason.
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Daijun Edwards in at running back, and he got tackled for a loss of 4 on 1st down. 2nd and 14, Edwards up the middle for 7. 3rd and 7, incomplete to Jaray Jenkins along the sideline. Initially ruled in, but ended up incomplete. The punt was fair caught at the 12.
1st and 10, Hooker complete to Alexander for 3 yards. 2nd and 7, Hooker scrambled for 10 yards up the middle.
END OF 3RD QUARTER 17-14 STEELERS
1st and 10, Hooker complete deep to Alexander for 29 yards and a horse collar penalty on Kyahva Tezino for an extra 15 yards.
1st and 10, Hooker scrambled for 12 yards.
1st and 10, Hooker scrambled for 8. That makes 93 yards on 10 rush attempts for Hooker. 2nd and 2, Jefferson up the middle for 4 yards.
1st and goal, Jefferson up the middle for 7 yards and a touchdown. 21-17 Lions.
John Rhys Plumlee returned the kick to the 44 for a 38-yard return. He was tackled by K Jake Bates.
1st and 10, Plumlee in at quarterback and he kept the ball for a 4-yard gain. 2nd and 6, Plumlee complete to Fitzpatrick for 5 yards. 3rd and 1, handoff to Perine for a few inches. 4th and inches, false start on Mason McCormick. McCormick is finally getting some center snaps. Johnston’s punt went 43 yards for a fair catch at the 8-yard line.
1st and 10, Funk off left end for 1 yard. 2nd and 9, Jake Fromm complete to Kennedy for 10 yards.
1st and 10, complete to Alexander for 14 yards.
1st and 10, Funk up the middle for 4 yards. 2nd and 6, Fromm nearly sacked and incomplete. False start backs them up 5 yards. 3rd and 11, Fromm complete deep middle for 21 yards with Zyon Gilbert and Kiondre Thomas in coverage.
1st and 10, Fromm complete to Calhoun for 16 yards with Thomas in coverage again.
1st and 10, Funk off left end for 3 yards. 2nd and 7, Funk around the right end for 5 yards. 3rd and 2, Funk dropped the touchdown pass from Fromm. 4th and 2, delay of game. 4th and 7, Darius Rush offsides. Penalty was declined and field goal is good. 24-17 Lions.
1st and 10, Shampklin up the middle for 4 yards. 2nd and 6, Plumlee complete to Jenkins for 17 yards.
1st and 10, Shampklin lost 3 yards attempting to go off left end. 2nd and 13, Plumlee complete to Quez Watkins for 10 yards. 3rd and 3, incomplete to Copeland. 4th and 3, complete to Watkins for a big gain, but a flag down on the play. Ineligible receiver erased the play. 4th and 8, Joey Fisher called for a false start after erasing the big play. That forces the punt. Johnston’s punt rolled out of bounds at the 14.
1st and 10, Fromm complete to Alexander for 14 yards.
TWO MINUTE WARNING
The Lions got a first down and forced the Steelers to deplete their timeouts. Ryan Watts down injured face down in the turf. It looks like a serious scene. His neck snapped back after getting shoved into a block. Thankfully Watts was able to walk off the field on his own after that scary situation.
The Lions end the game in victory formation.
The Steelers have their first winless preseason since 2013.
END OF GAME – 24-17 LIONS
