The Steelers opened their preseason schedule with a 27-17 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Friday night.
The first-team offense opened the scoring halfway through the first after Kenny Pickett found George Pickens for a 33-yard score. After Tampa Bay tied it in the early minutes of the second, running back Anthony McFarland reclaimed the lead with a 14-yard rush, and Clemson rookie kicker B.T. Potter ended the first half with a 30-yard field goal.
Potter pushed the lead to 13 with a 43-yard kick in the first two-and-a-half minutes in the third. Calvin Austin III then took a pass from Mason Rudolph 67 yards for the Steelers final touchdown. The Bucs tried to rally in the fourth, getting a field goal from Rodrigo Blankenship and a three-yard touchdown pass from John Wolford to Payne Durham, but the Steelers defense stayed resilient and held Tampa Bay through the closing minutes.
A very pleased Coach Mike Tomlin liked what he saw from his team in the preseason opener, but what really caught his attention was the efforts from his younger players.
Pickett finished the game 6-of-7 with 70 yards and the touchdown to Pickens. He said the Steelers did what they planned on doing.
Rudolph was the leading passer, going 7-of-12 with 132 yards and a touchdown. Austin led the receiving core with 73 yards on two receptions.
One of the under-the-radar contributors was rookie safety Trenton Thompson out of San Diego State, who hauled in one interception and one tackle in Friday’s game.
After an off day today, the Steelers return to St. Vincent on Sunday in preparation for their next preseason game August 19th against Buffalo.
NFL
Around the AFC North, Cleveland fell to Washington, 17-15, and Cincinnati lost to Green Bay, 36-19.
Six more games are scheduled for today.
Comments