In his inaugural contest as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike McCarthy oversaw a commanding preseason triumph against the Green Bay Packers, a game highlighted by the standout performance of rookie quarterback Drew Allar. Allar, a third‑round draft selection, demonstrated poise beyond his years, completing ten of thirteen attempts for a total of 154 yards. He found the end zone twice through the air and added a rushing touchdown, ultimately accounting for three of the Steelers' 28 points in the 28‑9 win.
Allar's efficient passing and decisive decision‑making impressed McCarthy, who praised the youngster’s composure under pressure. The young signal‑caller’s ability to deliver accurate throws on a variety of routes helped Pittsburgh dominate time of possession and yardage, outgaining the Packers 385 yards to 160.
In addition to Allar’s heroics, backup quarterback Will Howard made a strong impression, completing seven of nine passes for 86 yards and orchestrating a scoring drive that further cemented the Steelers’ offensive superiority. The game also featured a brief but efficient stint by Mason Rudolph, who added depth to the quarterback room and intensified the competition for the backup role behind Aaron Rodgers on the Green Bay roster. Speaking on the Packers’ side, Jordan Love saw limited action, while rookie kicker Trey Smack proved reliable, converting three field goals from distances of 58, 38 and 37 yards, providing a bright spot for Green Bay despite the loss.
Elsewhere in the preseason slate, the Las Vegas Raiders fell 27‑14 to the Arizona Cardinals. Top overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza, who had been touted as a potential franchise quarterback, finally threw his first preseason touchdown pass, connecting with fellow rookie Jack Bech for a six‑yard score. Mendoza finished 10‑of‑16 for 97 yards, becoming the first No. 1 overall selection since Baker Mayfield in 2018 to record a touchdown in his first preseason appearance.
Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins also contributed a short touchdown pass for the Raiders, showcasing the depth of experience on the roster. Arizona’s offensive success was built on precise passing from Jacoby Brissett and former Raider Gardner Minshew, while third‑overall pick Jeremiah Love displayed his dual‑threat capability by rushing for 58 yards on 11 carries, underscoring the Cardinals’ balanced attack. The Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots opened their preseason campaigns with a 13‑13 stalemate. Former first‑round pick Anthony Richardson returned from injury and posted a mixed performance: he threw for 145 yards, scored on a one‑yard quarterback sneak, but also committed a fumble and threw an interception, contributing to Indianapolis’ four turnovers.
New England’s offense, led by Tommy DeVito, completed 13 of 22 passes for 128 yards and found the end zone with a touchdown to Kyle Williams. The game was ultimately decided by a 61‑yard field goal from Colts kicker Spencer Shrader in the closing moments, while Patriots’ kicker Anthony Borregales missed a potential game‑winning attempt, leaving the contest tied.
In Tennessee, the Titans secured a 19‑13 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in their exhibition opener. First‑overall pick Cam Ward experienced a roller‑coaster debut: he engineered a 95‑yard touchdown drive on the opening possession but ended the game with only 25 passing yards, completing five of ten attempts and failing to connect with rookie wideout Carnell Tate. Tony Pollard provided the sole Titans touchdown, and veteran kicker Joey Slye was perfect from distance, nailing four field goals, three of which exceeded 50 yards.
The 49ers’ backup quarterback Kurtis Rourke impressed before exiting with a rib injury, completing 12 of 14 passes for 101 yards. Rookie receiver De'Zhaun Stribling contributed seven catches for 63 yards, showing promise for San Francisco’s receiving corps. On the West Coast, the Los Angeles Chargers opened their preseason with a dominant 27‑7 win over the Houston Texans. Undrafted running back Amar Johnson, now in his second season, scored twice and hauled in a spectacular 55‑yard reception, while also converting a two‑point attempt.
With starters Justin Herbert and C.J. Stroud resting, rookie quarterback Trey Lance stepped in, completing 12 of 20 passes for 164 yards.
Davis Mills threw Houston’s lone touchdown pass, but the Chargers pulled away in the second half, aided by a late touchdown pass from DJ Uiagalelei. The Cincinnati Bengals also claimed a narrow 16‑14 victory, this time over the Detroit Lions. Starting quarterback Joe Burrow completed five of six passes for 39 yards before handing the reins to veteran Joe Flacco, who delivered a touchdown connection to rookie tight end Jack Endries.
Kicker Evan McPherson added three field goals, including a 56‑yard effort, while the Bengals capitalized on three turnovers forced by Detroit. Lions’ undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer threw for 130 yards and a late touchdown, but a late interception by Russ Yeast sealed the game for Cincinnati. Overall, the preseason action offered a wealth of storylines: emerging rookies making immediate impacts, veteran players providing leadership, and several teams fine‑tuning their rosters ahead of the regular season.
Fans can continue to follow the drama as the NFL prepares for the upcoming season, with all four weeks of preseason games available to stream live on Sky Sports. The excitement builds toward the season‑opening Super Bowl rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots on September 10, and viewers can enjoy contract‑free streaming of NFL action and other sports through the NOW platform.