Steelers Dominate in Blowout Win Over Bills
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers got off to a fast start and never looked back. They led by two touchdowns less than five minutes into their second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills and rolled to a 27-15 win in the first game played at Acrisure Stadium this football season.
Set up with poor field position on the Steelers' own 14-yard line, Kenny Pickett moved the sticks with completions to George Pickens and Allen Robinson but Jaylen Warren carried the offense to the endzone by himself, rushing 62 yards through the Bills defense for a touchdown thanks to good blocks on the edge from Dan Moore and Diontae Johnson.
The Bills' ensuing possession was not nearly as successful as the Steelers forced them into a three-and-out. Calvin Austin's 54-yard punt return got Pittsburgh back in business and, one play later, Pickett hit Pat Friermuth over the middle for a 25-yard touchdown and put the home team up 14-0 in a flash.
Buffalo earned their first first down of the game with 9:38 left in the first quarter and started to roll. Josh Allen connected with Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis to gain 44 yards through the air but three consecutive penalties brought them to an insurmountable third and 34.
Mitch Trubisky replaced Pickett on the ensuing drive and the rest of the second-team offense followed. That unit picked up one first down on a 12-yard catch and run from Anthony McFarland before Pressley Harvin was brought on for his first punt of the day.
The Steelers defense continued to dominate, forcing the Bills into a punt from their own 14 yard line after gaining just three total yards. Trubisky and company took over to start the second quarter but a 15-yard loss on a sack proved too much to overcome and Harvin punted again.
The Bills began to find their footing on offense with the second-team in, driving for 12 plays and 70 yards before Cole Holcomb tipped a Matt Barkely pass over the middle, which Elijah Riley plucked out of the air for an interception.
The Steelers were on the verge of adding to their 14-point lead when Trubisky hit Connor Heyward for a 19-yard gain to the Buffalo 24 yard line, but an illegal hands to the face penalty on rookie tackle Spencer Anderson wiped out the big play and led to another punt.
But Joey Porter Jr. took the ball right back for the Steelers, picking off Barkley at the 30 yard line and after tacking on another personal foul penalty for the Bills, Trubisky and the offense came back out at the 13 yard line. It took six plays from inside the redzone, but the Steelers cashed in on their good field position when Trubisky connected with Heyward for a three-yard touchdown right before the halftime buzzer.
The Bills received the ball to start the second half but didn't hold onto it for long, just two plays to be exact. On second and seven, Chandon Sullivan blitzed from the nickel corner spot, then tipped and intercepted another Barkley pass, leading to a 35-yard field goal from Chris Boswell to make it 24-0 with 11:47 to play in the third quarter.
Pittsburgh added to their lead on the ensuing possession after Nick Herbig flew off the edge to force a fumble from Barkley's hands. Tanner Muse jumped on the loose ball and the Steelers cashed in three points on a 39-yard field goal from Chris Boswell with the gifted possession.
The Bills finally got on the board with 13:16 left in the game. After Mason Rudolph fumbled a snap from Kendrick Green, Jordan Mims scored on a one-yard touchdown run to make it 27-7.
Rudolph and the third-team offense moved the ball up over midfield but their drive stalled inside the 40 yard line. He threw an interception-worthy pass that would have gone for a pick-six if Kyron Brown had been able to corral it. Instead, the ball hit the turf on third down and Pittsburgh punted again.
The Steelers defense came up with another stop and it was time for Tanner Morgan to take his first snaps with 5:04 to play in the game. He led the Steelers to a quick three-and-out, capped by a crushing sack from Cameron Kline.
Kyle Allen opened a two-minute drill for the Bills with four consecutive completions, including a 27-yard completion to former Steeler Jace Sternberger. Justin Shorter capped the long march with a 17-yard touchdown reception to make it 27-13 with 54 seconds to play. Darrynton Evans ran in the two-point conversion.
That put a bow on what was still a decisive, top to bottom win for the Pittsburgh Steelers in their first game in front of home fans at Acrisure Stadium.
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Joey Porter Jr. Intercepts First Pass with Steelers
