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Russell Wilson slogs through a rusty preseason debut. Josh Allen sits as Bills top Steelers 9-3
PITTSBURGH (AP) Russell Wilson has been playing football for a long time. He's well-versed in the rhythms of a season. The highs and lows and everything in between.
So while Wilson was less than thrilled after his first five series with the Pittsburgh Steelers produced little in a 9-3 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday night, he also was hardly concerned.
Pittsburgh's offense has so many new parts - from offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to a pair of quarterbacks in Wilson and Justin Fields to rookie center Zack Frazier - that it's going to take time to figure things out.
“So there are a lot of good (things) that goes unseen sometimes,” Wilson said. “And there’s some things that, we also have to fix and get right. And so that’s the diligence that we have to have.”
There's certainly plenty for the Steelers to work on after another shaky offensive performance, particularly by a line that allowed four sacks and 10 quarterback hits, making it tough for Wilson or Fields to get going.
“We didn’t do a good enough job protecting the quarterback,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “That can’t be a problem for us. We’ve got to be better than we were tonight in that area.”
The 35-year-old Wilson, slowed by a calf injury for much of training camp, completed 8 of 10 passes for 47 yards. He also took three sacks during five scoreless series.
Wilson’s longest completion went for 12 yards, and that was on a little flip to running back Jaylen Warren, who did most of the work on the play. The downfield passing that’s one of the reasons the Steelers took a flyer on the nine-time Pro Bowler never materialized, though George Pickens almost made an acrobatic grab down the sideline in the second quarter.
Fields fared marginally better, finishing 11 of 17 for 92 yards. He also ran for a team-high 42 yards, showcasing the versatility that led the Steelers (0-2) to trade for him in March, though he was also stopped for a loss on a fourth-down run in the third quarter that ended a scoring threat and threw incomplete on fourth down at the Buffalo 20 in the final minutes.
“We got into the red zone a couple of times,” Fields said. “But I think next week we’re just going to have to turn those drives into points.”
Tyler Bass kicked three field goals for the Bills (1-1), who were more engaged against Pittsburgh than during a lifeless loss to Chicago last week, even with Josh Allen watching from the sideline.
Buffalo coach Sean McDermott kept his franchise quarterback out of the lineup following a pregame thunderstorm that made the field slick and forced fans to clear the stands twice.
Mitch Trubisky started and completed 9 of 13 passes for 86 yards while getting booed in the stadium where he played his home games the previous two years. Buffalo ran for 169 yards against a Steelers defense that played without star linebacker T.J. Watt, who was given the night off.
Greg Rousseau had 2 1/2 sacks for the Bills. Undrafted rookie free agent linebacker Joe Andreessen - a Buffalo-area native who played at the University of Buffalo - had 12 tackles to make a case he deserves a longer look, particularly with starter Matt Milano out indefinitely with a torn biceps.
“When a young guy gets an opportunity and he makes the most of it, it’s fun to watch,” McDermott said. “Especially a local guy.”
INJURIES
Bills: Marquez Valdes-Scantling, one of several wide receivers looking for playing time, exited in the first half with a neck injury. Trubisky (knee), TE Quintin Morris (shoulder) and DT Austin Johnson (calf) also left early.
Steelers: RB Jaylen Warren tweaked his hamstring in the first half and did not return. Rookie LB Payton Wilson exited in the second half with a concussion.
UP NEXT
Bills: Host Carolina next Saturday.
Steelers: At Detroit next Saturday.
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Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
Time of Pos | 29:28 | 30:32 |
1st Downs | 14 | 13 |
Rushing | 9 | 5 |
Passing | 4 | 8 |
Penalty | 1 | 0 |
3rd Down Conv | 2-10 | 4-13 |
4th Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-3 |
Total Net Yards | 245 | 219 |
Total Plays | 55 | 58 |
Avg Gain | 4.5 | 3.8 |
Net Yards Rushing | 167 | 106 |
Rush Attempts | 34 | 27 |
Avg Rush Yards | 4.9 | 3.9 |
Net Yards Passing | 78 | 113 |
Comp. - Att. | 12-18 | 19-27 |
Yards Per Pass | 3.7 | 3.6 |
Penalties - Yards | 8-50 | 6-50 |
Touchdowns | 0 | 0 |
Rushing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Passing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Other | 0 | 0 |
Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
Fumbles - Lost | 0-0 | 1-0 |
Int. Thrown | 1 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 5-52.8 | 5-56.8 |
Return Yards | 98 | 146 |
Punts - Returns | 5-63 | 5-56 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 2-35 | 4-88 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 1-2 |
Red Zone Eff. | 0-3 -0% | 0-2 -0% |
Goal to Go Eff. | 0-1 -0% | 0-0 -0% |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
M. Trubisky
11 QB
1 FPTS
|
M. Trubisky | 9/13 | 86 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
B. DiNucci
11 QB
0 FPTS
|
B. DiNucci | 3/5 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
R. Davis
22 RB
5 FPTS
|
R. Davis | 8 | 58 | 0 | 19 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
F. Gore Jr.
20 RB
4 FPTS
|
F. Gore Jr. | 8 | 41 | 0 | 9 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Evans
37 RB
3 FPTS
|
D. Evans | 7 | 37 | 0 | 14 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Cook
4 RB
3 FPTS
|
J. Cook | 6 | 25 | 0 | 8 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Johnson
26 RB
0 FPTS
|
T. Johnson | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Trubisky
11 QB
1 FPTS
|
M. Trubisky | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. DiNucci
11 QB
0 FPTS
|
B. DiNucci | 3 | -1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
Z. Davidson
84 TE
3 FPTS
|
Z. Davidson | 1 | 1 | 27 | 0 | 27 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Q. Morris
85 TE
4 FPTS
|
Q. Morris | 4 | 2 | 20 | 0 | 17 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Coleman
0 WR
2 FPTS
|
K. Coleman | 3 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Hamler
19 WR
1 FPTS
|
K. Hamler | 1 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Knox
88 TE
1 FPTS
|
D. Knox | 1 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Valdes-Scantling
81 WR
1 FPTS
|
M. Valdes-Scantling | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Hollins
13 WR
2 FPTS
|
M. Hollins | 2 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Cook
4 RB
3 FPTS
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J. Cook | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Shakir
10 WR
1 FPTS
|
K. Shakir | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Shavers
80 WR
1 FPTS
|
T. Shavers | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Shorter
18 WR
0 FPTS
|
J. Shorter | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Gilliam
41 FB
0 FPTS
|
R. Gilliam | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
J. Andreessen
44 LB
|
J. Andreessen | 7-5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Ingram
46 DB
|
J. Ingram | 6-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Hardy
25 CB
|
D. Hardy | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. Rousseau
50 DE
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G. Rousseau | 3-1 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Johnson
7 CB
|
T. Johnson | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Jones
45 LB
|
D. Jones | 3-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Elam
5 CB
|
K. Elam | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Oliver
91 DT
|
E. Oliver | 2-1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Jonathan
59 DE
|
K. Jonathan | 2-0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Benford
47 CB
|
C. Benford | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Cline
96 DL
|
K. Cline | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Couch
33 DB
|
T. Couch | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Douglas
31 CB
|
R. Douglas | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Delaney
29 DB
|
D. Delaney | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Deen
53 DT
|
B. Deen | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Rapp
9 SAF
|
T. Rapp | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Williams
93 DE
|
D. Williams | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Bothroyd
97 DE
|
R. Bothroyd | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Williams
42 LB
|
D. Williams | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Brown
32 CB
|
K. Brown | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Williamson
36 DB
|
K. Williamson | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Solomon
56 DE
|
J. Solomon | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
T. Bass
2 K
9 FPTS
|
T. Bass | 3/3 | 31 | 0/0 | 9 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
S. Martin
8 P
|
S. Martin | 5 | 52.8 | 0 | 59 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
A. Isabella
87 WR
0 FPTS
|
A. Isabella | 2 | 17.5 | 18 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
D. Hardy 25 CB
0 FPTS
|
D. Hardy | 5 | 12.6 | 31 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
J. Fields
2 QB
7 FPTS
|
J. Fields | 8 | 42 | 0 | 20 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Perine
38 RB
3 FPTS
|
L. Perine | 6 | 20 | 0 | 8 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Harris
22 RB
1 FPTS
|
N. Harris | 4 | 17 | 0 | 9 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Shampklin
33 RB
1 FPTS
|
A. Shampklin | 4 | 15 | 0 | 5 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Edwards
31 RB
0 FPTS
|
D. Edwards | 2 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Q. Watkins
16 WR
0 FPTS
|
Q. Watkins | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Warren
30 RB
3 FPTS
|
J. Warren | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Patterson
84 RB
1 FPTS
|
C. Patterson | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 | 1 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
D. Fitzpatrick
82 WR
5 FPTS
|
D. Fitzpatrick | 2 | 2 | 32 | 0 | 19 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Heyward
83 TE
4 FPTS
|
C. Heyward | 3 | 2 | 20 | 0 | 15 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
V. Jefferson
11 WR
4 FPTS
|
V. Jefferson | 4 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 11 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Miller
|