In his inaugural outing as the Pittsburgh Steelers' head coach, Mike McCarthy witnessed an impressive performance from rookie quarterback Drew Allar, who led the team to a convincing 28-9 preseason triumph over the Green Bay Packers. Allar, a third‑round selection, demonstrated poise beyond his years, completing ten of thirteen attempts for 154 yards, delivering two touchdown passes and adding a rushing score of his own.
His composure and quick decision‑making impressed the new coach, suggesting a promising future for the young signal‑caller. The Steelers' offense was a well‑balanced machine throughout the contest. Wide receiver Will Howard emerged as a reliable target, catching seven of nine passes for 86 yards and orchestrating a touchdown drive that helped Pittsburgh dominate the time of possession. The Steelers amassed 385 total yards compared to Green Bay's 160, underscoring the effectiveness of McCarthy's early game plan and the depth of talent on the roster.
Mason Rudolph also saw limited action, performing efficiently and adding to the competition for the backup quarterback role behind Aaron Rodgers on the Packers' side. The Packers, meanwhile, gave a brief look at their own rookie quarterback, Jordan Love, who entered the game for a short stint. The most notable special‑teams highlight for Green Bay was rookie kicker Trey Smack, who converted three field goals from 58, 38, and 37 yards, showcasing his leg strength and accuracy.
The preseason action continued across the league with several other notable performances. In Las Vegas, No.
1 overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza made his preseason debut for the Raiders, connecting on a six‑yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Jack Bech. Mendoza completed ten of sixteen attempts for 97 yards, becoming the first top‑draft pick since Baker Mayfield in 2018 to throw a touchdown in his first preseason game.
Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, also with the Raiders, contributed a short but effective touchdown drive, adding experience to the young squad. Arizona's offense, led by Jacoby Brissett and former Raider Gardner Minshew, executed flawlessly, building a comfortable lead over the Cardinals. Additionally, third‑overall pick Jeremiyah Love displayed his dual‑threat ability, rushing for 58 yards on eleven carries, further cementing his status as a versatile playmaker.
On the East Coast, the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots locked horns in a 13‑13 stalemate. Former first‑round pick Anthony Richardson returned from injury and posted 145 passing yards, a one‑yard quarterback sneak for a touchdown, but also suffered a fumble and an interception, contributing to four total turnovers for Indianapolis. New England's Tommy DeVito threw for 128 yards and a touchdown to Kyle Williams, keeping the Patriots in the contest. The tie was ultimately broken when Spencer Shrader nailed a 61‑yard field goal for the Colts late in the game, while Patriots' kicker Anthony Borregales missed a potential game‑winning attempt.
In the Western division, the Tennessee Titans faced the San Francisco 49ers, with No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward leading the Titans to a 19‑13 victory. Ward orchestrated a 95‑yard touchdown drive on the opening possession but finished with modest passing numbers—five completions on ten attempts for 25 yards—and struggled to connect with fellow rookie Carnell Tate. Tony Pollard provided the lone Titans touchdown, and kicker Joey Slye was perfect from distance, converting four field goals, three of which exceeded 50 yards.
San Francisco's backup Kurtis Rourke impressed before exiting with a rib injury, completing twelve of fourteen passes for 101 yards, while rookie receiver De'Zhaun Stribling hauled in seven catches for 63 yards. The Los Angeles Chargers opened their preseason schedule with a dominant 27‑7 win over the Houston Texans. Undrafted running back Amar Johnson, now in his second season, scored twice and recorded a spectacular 55‑yard reception, while also converting a two‑point attempt. With starters Justin Herbert and C.J.
Stroud resting, backup quarterback Trey Lance completed twelve of twenty passes for 164 yards, and Davis Mills threw Houston's only touchdown pass. Freshman quarterback DJ Uiagalelei added a late touchdown, cementing the Chargers' control of the second half.
In the Midwest, the Cincinnati Bengals edged the Detroit Lions 16‑14 in a tightly contested preseason matchup. Starting quarterback Joe Burrow threw five of six passes for 39 yards before yielding to veteran Joe Flacco, who connected with rookie tight end Jack Endries for a touchdown. Kicker Evan McPherson contributed three field goals, including a booming 56‑yard effort, while the Bengals capitalized on three turnovers forced by Detroit.
The Lions saw undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer throw for 130 yards and a late touchdown, but a late interception by Russ Yeast sealed the result for Detroit. These preseason contests offered fans a glimpse of emerging talent, strategic adjustments, and the depth of each roster as teams fine‑tune their lineups ahead of the regular season.
With the Super Bowl rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots slated for September 10, fans can follow all four weeks of NFL preseason action live on Sky Sports or stream the games contract‑free via NOW, ensuring they stay up‑to‑date on every development before the official kickoff of the new NFL season.