Friday, the Pittsburgh Steelers settled some fans’ nerves with the team’s first preseason win, in Week 3, against the New Orleans Saints. The Steelers defeated the Saints 27-14 in the Superdome.
Here are three positives from the win.
Landry Jones steps up
Backup quarterback Landry Jones might have thought he was getting a free ride to the Steelers’ 53-man roster with the injury of backup quarterback Dustin Vaughan. However, the Steelers wanted to make Jones work for his roster spot, so the team signed quarterback Bryn Renner.
While Jones has had a difficult preseason—he threw four interceptions against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2 of the preseason—against the Saints, he improved immensely. Jones threw for 206 yards and completed 19 of 22 passes. Jones’ touchdown to wide reciever Sammie Coates showed promise for both players (Coates is proving himself to the Steelers’ staff, as well.)
Renner, who came into the game in the fourth quarter, threw no passes. Edge, thus far, would have to be Jones.
Big Ben to AB connection is music to fans’ ears
Ben Roethlisberger hasn’t played an NFL game since January, but if people were expecting him to be rusty, they got the opposite. Roethlisberger shook defenders in the Steelers’ first drive, which would lead to a Jesse James touchdown on a nice pass from Roethlisberger.
That was nice and everything, but what happened on the Steelers’ second drive was even better.
The connection between Roethlisberger and wide receiver Antonio Brown continues to be magic. Brown hauled in a pass from Roethlisberger on that second drive for 57 yards to put the Steelers up 14-0 on the Saints.
You’re NOT catching @AntonioBrown84.
Big Ben finds him for a 57-yard TD! ? #PITvsNO https://t.co/1lVYCsv41s
— NFL (@NFL) August 27, 2016
Roethlisberger and Brown are arguably the best quarterback-wide receiver duo in the NFL, and it seems like they’re only going to continue to get better.
Young defensive playmakers make plays
While cornerback Ross Cockrell certainly got robbed on a bad turnover call at the end of the second quarter, it was still a big play. Cockrell is giving Artie Burns, the Steelers’ first round draft pick who is currently out with an injury, a run for a starting position.
And linebacker Tyler Matakevich made a big play of his own, picking off Saints’ third-string quarterback Garrett Grayson toward the end of the fourth quarter. While the rookie from Temple University didn’t manage to run it back for a touchdown, he got right to midfield, giving the Steelers great field position.
What’s next?
The Steelers have one last preseason test against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday, September 1, at 7:30 p.m EDT. The game will be played at the Bank of America Stadium in North Carolina.
Image credit: Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports
