In his inaugural game at the helm of the Pittsburgh Steelers, head coach Mike McCarthy witnessed a standout performance from rookie quarterback Drew Allar, who helped the team secure a convincing 28-9 preseason victory against the Green Bay Packers. Allar, selected in the third round of the draft, displayed poise beyond his years, completing ten of thirteen attempts for 154 yards, delivering two touchdown passes and adding a rushing touchdown of his own.
His composure and quick decision‑making left a strong impression on the new coach, suggesting that he could be a valuable piece of the Steelers' future offensive plans. The Steelers’ offense was a well‑balanced machine throughout the contest, outgaining the Packers 385 yards to 160.
Complementing Allar’s heroics was wide receiver Will Howard, who caught seven of nine passes for 86 yards and orchestrated a scoring drive that culminated in a touchdown. Howard’s ability to find space and make contested catches added another dimension to Pittsburgh’s aerial attack and highlighted the depth of talent among the team’s younger players. Backup quarterback Mason Rudolph also saw limited action, performing efficiently and further intensifying the competition for the backup role behind veteran starter Aaron Rodgers on the Packers’ side.
The Packers, meanwhile, gave a brief look at their own rookie, Jordan Love, who entered the game for a short stint. The most notable contribution for Green Bay came from rookie kicker Trey Smack, who proved reliable by converting field goals from 58, 38 and 37 yards, providing a bright spot in an otherwise challenging outing.
Elsewhere in the preseason slate, the Las Vegas Raiders suffered a 27-14 defeat at the hands of the Arizona Cardinals. The Raiders’ top draft pick, No. 1 overall selection Fernando Mendoza, managed to throw a touchdown pass in his first preseason appearance, connecting with fellow rookie Jack Bech for a six‑yard score. Mendoza completed ten of sixteen attempts for 97 yards, becoming the first number‑one draft choice since Baker Mayfield in 2018 to record a touchdown in his debut preseason game.
Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins also contributed a touchdown during a brief cameo for Las Vegas, underscoring the depth of experience the Raiders possess. Arizona built its lead through flawless passing from Jacoby Brissett and former Raider Gardner Minshew, while third overall pick Jeremiyah Love showcased his rushing ability with 58 yards on eleven carries, further cementing his status as a dual‑threat prospect. In Indianapolis, former first‑rounder Anthony Richardson returned from injury, delivering a mixed performance in a 13-13 draw against the New England Patriots. Richardson threw for 145 yards and scored on a one‑yard quarterback sneak, but also turned the ball over twice—once via a fumble and once through an interception—contributing to the Colts’ four total turnovers.
New England’s offense, led by Tommy DeVito, completed thirteen of twenty‑two passes for 128 yards and found the end zone with a touchdown pass to Kyle Williams. The tie was ultimately broken by a 61‑yard field goal from Spencer Shrader late in the game, while Patriots’ kicker Anthony Borregales missed a potential game‑winning attempt, leaving the outcome in the Colts’ favor. The Tennessee Titans opened their preseason campaign with a 19-13 win over the San Francisco 49ers, featuring a debut from No.
1 overall pick Cam Ward. Ward orchestrated a 95‑yard touchdown drive on the opening possession, but finished with modest statistics: five completions on ten attempts for just 25 yards, and an inability to connect with rookie wideout Carnell Tate. Tony Pollard scored the Titans’ sole touchdown, and veteran kicker Joey Slye added four field goals, three of which traveled beyond the 50‑yard line, highlighting the special teams’ strength.
San Francisco’s backup quarterback Kurtis Rourke impressed on his return from injury, completing twelve of fourteen passes for 101 yards before exiting with a rib injury. Rookie receiver De'Zhaun Stribling contributed seven catches for 63 yards, showing promise for the 49ers’ receiving corps. On the West Coast, the Los Angeles Chargers opened their preseason with a dominant 27-7 victory over the Houston Texans. Undrafted running back Amar Johnson, now in his second season, was a focal point, rushing for two touchdowns and adding a two‑point conversion, while also making a spectacular 55‑yard reception.
With starters Justin Herbert and C.J. Stroud resting, rookie quarterback Trey Lance stepped in, completing twelve of twenty passes for 164 yards, and Davis Mills threw Houston’s only touchdown pass.
Additionally, freshman quarterback DJ Uiagalelei threw a late‑game touchdown, helping the Chargers pull away in the second half. The Cincinnati Bengals secured a 16-14 win against the Detroit Lions, thanks in part to veteran Joe Flacco, who entered the game after Joe Burrow’s early exit.
Burrow had completed five of six passes for 39 yards in the opening series before handing the reins to Flacco, who found rookie tight end Jack Endries for a touchdown. Kicker Evan McPherson added three field goals, including a 56‑yard effort, while the Bengals capitalized on three turnovers forced by Detroit. Detroit’s undrafted rookie quarterback Luke Altmyer threw for 130 yards and delivered a late touchdown, keeping the Lions in contention until a late interception by Russ Yeast sealed the result for Cincinnati.
Overall, the preseason action provided a wealth of insight into emerging talent, depth‑chart battles, and the readiness of teams ahead of the regular season. Fans can look forward to watching all four weeks of NFL preseason games live on Sky Sports, with the regular season kickoff slated to begin with a Super Bowl rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots on September 10.
For those seeking a contract‑free streaming option, the NOW platform offers live NFL coverage and additional sports content.