Offensive stars shine in Steelers victory over Saints
It was just a small sample, but the Steelers first-team offense showed the rest of the NFL what it is capable of in a 27-14 victory over the Saints Friday night in the third preseason game.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, receiver Antonio Brown and running backs Le’Veon Bell and DeAngelo Williams all saw their first action of the summer in the Superdome and all looked to be in mid-season form.
That was especially the case for Roethlisberger, who started the game, played two series and retired for the evening with his team ahead, 14-0.
Pittsburgh took the opening kickoff and methodically marched down the field on a 15-play, 75-yard drive that ended when Roethlisberger found second-year tight end Jesse James in the end zone for a five-yard touchdown pass. The play was vintage Roethlisberger, as he scrambled to his right, stepped up in the pocket and found James all alone.
The Steelers second series was shorter in terms of plays (four), but longer in terms of yards (79). However, it ended in a score just the same, when Roethlisberger hit Brown down the left sideline for a 57-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0.
Unlike the first two preseason games, Pittsburgh’s offense was quick and up-tempo. By Roethlisberger’s estimation, the unit worked out of the no-huddle for 90 percent of his plays.
By the time No. 7 finally exited for the night, he had completed 12 of 17 passes for 163 yards and the two touchdowns.
The first-team defense was impressive in its own right, Friday night, as it limited the Saints offense to punts on its first two series and got consistent pressure on quarterback Drew Brees.
Backup quarterback Landry Jones came on to direct Pittsburgh’s third offensive series and, unlike eight days earlier when he threw four first half interceptions against the Eagles, he looked much more comfortable surrounded by all of the offensive starters with the exception of Brown, who called it a night after his touchdown.
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Jones completed all four of his passes on a six play, 68-yard drive–including a pretty 36-yard pass to receiver Markus Wheaton down the right sideline–and looked poised to lead a third-straight touchdown drive. Unfortunately, after a short pass to Bell out of the backfield, the fourth-year running back fumbled, and New Orleans recovered.
Brees then orchestrated a 12-play, 78-yard touchdown drive that ended when he found receiver Willie Sneed in the end zone for a 14-yard strike. The drive was aided greatly by a holding penalty on veteran cornerback William Gay that occurred when the Saints were facing second and 22.
Late in the second quarter, Jones orchestrated his only touchdown drive of the night that ended when he found a wide-open Sammie Coates in the end zone to make it 21-7.
By halftime, the offense had totaled an impressive 296 yards–including 264 through the air–and looked every bit like the juggernaut many are predicting it will be during the regular season.
Jones started the second half and led a field goal drive that was set-up by a 58-yard pass to the suddenly capable-looking Coates. Chris Boswell split the uprights on a 40-yard attempt to make it 24-14.
For the night, Jones more than responded to the critics that dogged him over the first two weeks by completing 19 of 22 passes for 206 yards and a touchdown.
The aforementioned Coates also answered the bell for the first time this summer, catching the only two passes thrown his way for 66 yards and a touchdown.
On the defensive side of things, again, the front-seven generated a consistent pass rush all night, as players like Jarvis Jones, Stephon Tuitt and rookie defensive lineman Javon Hargrave (who recorded the only sack for the defense) were in the opponents back field all night.
Unfortunately, star defensive end Cam Heyward left the game in the first half with an ankle injury and was seen standing on the sidelines in a walking boot in the second half. (The extent of this injury was not disclosed by head coach Mike Tomlin after the game.)
Also, reserve inside linebackers Steven Johnson and Tyler Matakevich recorded late interceptions to put the finishing touchdowns on the victory.
Next up for the Steelers is a trip to Carolina to take on the defending NFC champion Panthers next Thursday night at 7:30 p.m.
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