The Steelers are still looking for their first win of the preseason, as they fell to 0-2 with their 23-21 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Steelers first-team offense, which didn’t see the field in the preseason opener last week, made quick work of the Jaguars defense. Roethlisberger completed a pair of passes to Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell, moving the chains. Bell then added on with a 16-yard scamper off the right side.
Two plays later, on third and five Roethlisberger connected with second-year wide receiver Martavis Bryant on a 44-yard touchdown on a play-action pass.
The Steelers elected to go for two and Roethlisberger scrambled in the pocket before finding Markus Wheaton to his left in the front of the endzone.
That was the only series for most of the Steelers veterans on offense, as after a three-and-out by the Jaguars offense, Roethlisberger, Bell, Brown, Heath Miller and Maurkice Pouncey were replaced.
Roethlisberger finished the evening 3-for-3 for 59 yards and a touchdown before yielding way to Landry Jones.
The first team defense stopped the Jaguars on a three-and-out in their opening possession.
In the second defensive series, James Harrison made his 2015 debut as he and Bud Dupree subbed in for Jarvis Jones and Arthur Moats. Harrison immediately made an impact, sacking Jacksonville quarterback Blake Bortles.
The Jaguars were later able to move the ball 45 yards down the field against most of the Steelers starters, using the ground game with Robinson and Toby Gerhart. The Steelers defense held at their own 18, and forced Jacksonville to settle for a Josh Scobee field goal that made the score 8-3.
After Roethlisberger’s first and only drive, Jones was substituted in and would finish the game as the Steelers’ quarterback.
With disappointment, the offense continued to struggle without Big Ben, but found some traction late in the game.
Early contributions from DeAngelo Williams, finishing with 28 yards on six attempts, and Darrius Heyward-Bey, three catches for 30 yards, gave the Steelers encouragement for the depth in two key areas of the Steelers’ offense.
With even more Steelers defensive starters on the bench, the Jacksonville first-team offense was again able to move the ball down field, moving from their own 17 all the way to the Steelers four-yard line, when the Jaguars went for it on fourth-and-goal.
The Steelers secondary had the routes covered, but Jarvis Jones lost contain on the right side of the Steelers defense and Bortles was able to scramble to his left and dove for the pylon to give the Jaguars the lead. The play would be the last of the game for Bortles, who finished 11-of-15 for 118 yards.
Scobee’s extra point made the score 10-8 Jacksonville with 6:05 remaining in the first half. Going into the last few minutes of the first half, Chad Henne was able to launch a 31 yard touchdown pass to Clay Harbor and took a 17-8 advantage headed into the break.
Fresh off halftime the Steelers looked to gain some momentum on offense and gets Jones to find a rhythm with his receivers.
However, slip ups on specials teams still seem to be a bit of an issue for a team that has had its fair share of hiccups in this part of the game.
The game began to play at a faster pace in the closing minutes of the game. After a 38-yard successful field goal by Garrett Hartley in the third quarter, the Steelers headed into the fourth quarter down 17-11.
Just under 8 minutes left in the game and another good field goal by Hartley, the Steelers pulled within striking distance, 17-14.
On the ensuing kick return the Steelers were able to strip and recover the ball on the Jaguars’ 17-yard line.
Jones then hooked up with a tight pass to C.J. Goodwin who caught the go ahead score and give the Steelers a 21-17 lead.
The following drive by the Jaguars took advantage of covering linebackers as quarterback Stephen Morris escaped the pocket multiple times running for 25 yards. Morris would eventually sneak over the goal line and give the Jaguars a late 23-21 lead.
After a failed fourth down attempt and a perfectly executed 30 second 3-and-out, Jones was given one final attempt to drive the ball down field, however, a sack on fourth down with 17 seconds left sealed the fate for the Steelers as they would tally their second loss, 23-21.
The Steelers next game will be played for the first time this year at Heinz Field against the Green Bay Packers next Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
Alan Saunders also contributed to this report.
