The NFL does a great job to keep its fans invested every month during the offseason. There’s free agent signings, the combine, the NFL Draft and the start of training camp. But let’s face it, eventually, football fans just want to see a game. Although it was just a preseason game, the Steelers took to the field on Saturday night, as they traveled to New York to take on the the Giants.
Ultimately, the Steelers lost to the Giants 20-16, dropping to 0-1 in the preseason after a 0-4 campaign last year.
On the Steelers first drive of the game, the running game dominated the play calling, and it was a bubble screen to Dri Archer that set up Shaun Suisham for a 26-yard field goal to give the Steelers a 3-0 lead. The Giants responded, however, as similar to last year, the Steelers fell victim to a big play, as Rashad Jennings broke free for a 73-yard scamper to give the G-Men the 7-3 lead.
With the Steelers trailing 13-9 in the fourth quarter, Howard Jones scooped and scored a ruled lateral from Ryan Nassib to Thomas Gordon after Vic So’oto batted the pass to give the Steelers a 16-13 lead. The Giants went on to score again, and subsequently won the game.
Three positives from the game:
1. Dri Archer — Archer has the ability to be a true difference maker for this team. While he did find out that the players on the field are quicker than those he faced in the MAC in college, he’s a threat anytime he touches the ball. On offense, he lined up at receiver and running back, which showed his versatility. Todd Haley called him his own version of Jamaal Charles, and while that’s a stretch, Archer showed that he’s something special.
2. Jarvis Jones – With the Giants pinned in their own zone, Jones beat his man easily and took Manning down, which led to a three-and-out for the Giants.
3. Discipline – In a lot of preseason openers, penalty flags are flying around early and often. However, on Saturday, the Steelers accumulated only five penalties.
Three negatives from the game:
1. Stephon Tuitt – Now, it’s not that Tuitt played horrible, but on the third play of the game, Eli Manning was able to get Tuitt to jump offsides. The drive ultimately ended in a punt, but still, with Cam Heyward out, Tuitt can’t afford too many mistakes in his showcase.
2. Brad Wing – The former LSU standout pinned the Giants inside their own 15-yard-line with his first punt, but his second punt, kicked from the Steelers 14-yard-line, was downed at their own 35-yard-line. Yikes.
3. Third-down efficiency – The Steelers were just 2-of-11 on third-down attempts through the first three quarters (via Steelers.com).
Don’t let the overreaction theater happen yet. After all, that’s what preseason is all about.
The Steelers will return to the field next Saturday as they’ll play host to the Buffalo Bills.
