Kenny Pickett connected with George Pickens for an early touchdown and the Pittsburgh Steelers played four quarterbacks en route to a 27-17 win in their preseason opener over the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Pickett finished the game 6-of-7 passing for 70 yards, including his 33-yard scoring strike to Pickens. Mason Rudolph later added a 67-yard touchdown throw to Calvin Austin III, and Tanner Morgan and Mitch Trubisky also saw time at quarterback.
Anthony McFarland added a 14-yard rushing touchdown for Pittsburgh.
Baker Mayfield started the game for the Buccaneers and found Trey Palmer for an 8-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter. Mayfield went 8-for-9 passing for 63 yards before giving way to Kyle Trask, with whom he is competing for the team's starting quarterback gig.
Trask finished 6-of-10 passing for 99 yards and one interception. Tampa Bay trailed 27-7 after three quarters before a 10-point fourth quarter, in which John Wolford (10-for-17, 111 yards) hit Payne Durham for a late 3-yard TD.
--Field Level Media
Pittsburgh | Tampa Bay | |
Calvin Austin III | Player | Chase Edmonds |
2 | Attempts | 6 |
23 | Yards | 18 |
11.5 | Avg Yards | 3.0 |
0 | Touchdowns | 0 |
17 | Long | 8 |
Pittsburgh | Tampa Bay | |
Calvin Austin III | Player | David Moore |
2 | Receptions | 3 |
73 | Yards | 66 |
36.5 | Avg Yards | 22.0 |
1 | Touchdowns | 0 |
67 | Long | 38 |
Yards | Scoring | Defense | ||||||
Team | Tot | Rus | Pas | TD | FG | INT | Sck | FF |
Pittsburgh | 306 | 92 | 214 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4.0 | 1 |
Tampa Bay | 322 | 66 | 256 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3.0 | 1 |