A pair of 1-2 teams will try to avoid losing preseason records in the fourth and final tune-up before regular season action, when the Carolina Panthers (1-2) visit the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2) Thursday at Heinz Field.
Both teams are coming off troubling performances and could benefit from a positive performance to close out the exhibition season. Carolina lost 30-7 at New England last week after splitting two home games earlier in the month. Pittsburgh visited cross-state rival Philadelphia last week, falling 31-21 and getting mostly poor play from the starting offense and defense.
Not only did the Panthers lose last week, they also saw starting quarterback Cam Newton suffer broken ribs, so he will not play in Pittsburgh as he continues to try to heal before the Panthers season opener next Sunday, September 7 at Tampa Bay. He indicated earlier this week that he has “no doubt” he will be ready, but the lost preseason time has likely hurt his development with a mostly new receiving corps which now includes Jason Avant, former Steeler Jerricho Cotchery, and rookie Kelvin Benjamin. Derek Anderson will start in Newton’s place.
The Panthers continue to employ long-time running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, as well as tight end Greg Olsen. The offense will likely miss the presence of Steve Smith, who holds multiple franchise receiving records. Smith left for Baltimore in the offseason. On defense, the Panthers are highlighted by linebacker Luke Kuechly and safety Roman Harper, who replaces new Steeler Mike Mitchell.
Mitchell, alongside Troy Polamalu, will lead a Steelers defense that will be desperate to wash out the bad taste of the Eagles game last week. Very little went right for Pittsburgh as this unit could not get off the field on third down and could not stop LeSean McCoy. Tempers boiled in the third quarter when Polamalu angrily left a defensive huddle after falling behind 24-7 following a touchdown drive by the Eagles backup offense. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau then had the first team defense go back out for one more drive, one that netted no positive results. Another touchdown made it 31-7 at that point, giving the starters all week to dwell on the rough outing.
Todd Haley’s offense did not fare much better, scoring just once in the first three quarters (against better Eagles defenders). Kicker Shaun Suisham also missed a field goal. Starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is not expected to play, resting in advance of the team’s season opener vs. Cleveland. Backup Bruce Gradkowski will likely start, though that has not been confirmed by the team. Landry Jones will also probably have significant playing time.
Roethlisberger has posted respectable numbers in the first three preseason games, going 24-37 for over 300 yards and three touchdowns. He threw one interception, last week at Philadelphia. With little else to prove and the opportunity to rest, Tomlin will sit his franchise quarterback. Running backs Le’Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount have not yet been punished or suspended, so questions remain regarding their status heading into this game. Antonio Brown and Heath Miller remain as solidified targets in the passing game, while several others battle for position on the depth chart and for spots on the final 53-man roster.
The final roster cuts are required to be made by Saturday at 4 pm, so performances by those on the bubble in Thursday’s game could be crucial. Tune in Thursday at 7:30 on the local CBS affiliate, KDKA.
