In his inaugural outing as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike McCarthy was greeted with an impressive performance from rookie quarterback Drew Allar, who helped the team secure a 28-9 triumph over the Green Bay Packers in a preseason matchup. Allar, a third‑round selection, displayed poise beyond his years, completing ten of his thirteen attempts for a total of 154 yards. He found the end zone twice through the air and added a rushing touchdown, showcasing a blend of arm talent and mobility that delighted the new coaching staff. Allar's composure under pressure was evident throughout the game.
He consistently made smart reads, avoided forcing throws, and demonstrated an ability to extend plays with his feet when necessary. His two passing touchdowns came on well‑executed drives that highlighted his growing chemistry with the receiving corps, while his rushing score underscored his willingness to take the ball into the flat and finish plays himself. McCarthy praised Allar after the game, noting that the youngster’s decision‑making and calm demeanor were exactly what the Steelers need from a future leader at the position.
The Steelers' offense as a whole outperformed the Packers, amassing 385 total yards compared with Green Bay’s 160. A key contributor was backup quarterback Will Howard, who threw for 86 yards on seven of nine completions and orchestrated a touchdown drive that further padded the Steelers’ lead. Howard’s efficient play added depth to Pittsburgh’s quarterback room and intensified the competition for the backup role behind veteran starter Aaron Rodgers, who is expected to lead the Packers. Mason Rudolph also saw limited action, delivering a concise but effective performance that kept his status as a viable backup option intact.
His brief stint added another layer of intrigue to the Steelers’ quarterback hierarchy as the preseason progresses. On the Packers’ side, Jordan Love entered the game for a short spell, but the most notable moment for Green Bay came from rookie kicker Trey Smack. Smack proved to be a bright spot for the visitors, successfully converting three field goals from 58, 38, and 37 yards, demonstrating both leg strength and accuracy that could make him a reliable scoring option in the regular season.
Meanwhile, in a separate preseason contest, Las Vegas Raiders’ highly touted No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza made his debut against the Arizona Cardinals. Although the Raiders fell 27-14, Mendoza managed to throw a six‑yard touchdown pass to fellow rookie Jack Bech, becoming the first top draft pick since Baker Mayfield in 2018 to record a touchdown in his first preseason appearance. He completed ten of sixteen attempts for 97 yards, showing flashes of the arm talent that justified his selection at the very top of the draft.
Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins also contributed a short but effective cameo for the Raiders, delivering a touchdown pass that added to the scoring summary despite the overall loss. Arizona, on the other hand, built its advantage on precise passing from Jacoby Brissett and former Raider Gardner Minshew, while third‑overall pick Jeremiah Love (spelled Jeremiyah in the original report) impressed with 58 rushing yards on eleven carries, showcasing his dual‑threat capability. In Indianapolis, former first‑rounder Anthony Richardson returned from injury in the Colts’ preseason opener against the New England Patriots, which ended in a 13-13 stalemate. 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’ total of four turnovers.
New England’s offense was led by Tommy DeVito, who completed thirteen of twenty‑two passes for 128 yards and a touchdown to tight end Kyle Williams. The tie was ultimately broken when Spencer Shrader nailed a 61‑yard field goal for the Colts late in the fourth quarter, while Patriots’ kicker Anthony Borregales missed a potential game‑winning attempt, leaving the contest deadlocked. Over in Tennessee, No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward experienced a mixed debut as the Titans edged the San Francisco 49ers 19-13.
Ward orchestrated a 95‑yard touchdown drive on the opening possession, but his overall passing output was modest—only 25 yards on five of ten completions, and he failed to connect with rookie wideout Carnell Tate. Nevertheless, the Titans’ only touchdown came from Tony Pollard, and kicker Joey Slye added four field goals, three of which traveled beyond the 50‑yard line, underscoring his leg strength.
San Francisco’s backup quarterback Kurtis Rourke impressed in his return from injury, completing twelve of fourteen passes for 101 yards before exiting with a rib injury. Rookie receiver De'Zhaun Stribling made a notable contribution, hauling in seven catches for 63 yards. The Los Angeles Chargers opened their preseason campaign with a 27-7 victory over the Houston Texans, highlighted by undrafted running back Amar Johnson’s two touchdowns and a spectacular 55‑yard reception.
Johnson, now in his second NFL season, also added a two‑point conversion, helping the Chargers pull away in the second half. With starters Justin Herbert and C.J. Stroud resting, backup quarterback Trey Lance completed twelve of twenty passes for 164 yards, while Davis Mills threw Houston’s lone touchdown pass. Additionally, DJ Uiagalelei delivered a late touchdown, further cementing the Chargers’ dominance after halftime.
In Cincinnati, veteran quarterback Joe Flacco entered the game in relief of Joe Burrow and threw a touchdown pass to rookie tight end Jack Endries, contributing to a 16-14 preseason win over the Detroit Lions. Burrow had started the game, completing five of six passes for 39 yards before handing the reins to Flacco. Kicker Evan McPherson added three field goals, including a 56‑yard effort, and the Bengals capitalized on three turnovers forced by Detroit. The Lions saw undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer throw for 130 yards and a late touchdown, keeping his team in contention until a late interception by Russ Yeast sealed the result.
All of these preseason contests set the stage for the upcoming regular season, with the NFL’s opening week slated to feature a high‑profile rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots on September 10. Fans can catch every preseason game live on Sky Sports, and the league’s full slate will be available for streaming without a contract through the NOW platform.