In his inaugural outing as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike McCarthy was delighted by an outstanding performance from rookie quarterback Drew Allar, who helped his team secure a convincing 28-9 preseason triumph over the Green Bay Packers. Allar, a third‑round selection, displayed poise beyond his years, completing ten of his thirteen attempts for a total of 154 yards.
He threw two touchdown passes and added a rushing score, showcasing both his arm talent and his ability to make plays with his legs. Allar's composure in the pocket and his quick decision‑making impressed McCarthy, who praised the young signal‑caller for his calm demeanor against a seasoned defensive unit.
The rookie’s efficiency helped the Steelers dominate statistically, outgaining the Packers 385 yards to 160. In addition to Allar's heroics, fellow rookie Will Howard made a notable contribution. Howard completed seven of nine passes for 86 yards and orchestrated a drive that culminated in a touchdown, further underscoring the depth of the Steelers' emerging talent pool.
Backup quarterback Mason Rudolph also saw limited action, performing efficiently and adding to the competition for the second‑string role behind veteran Aaron Rodgers on the Packers' roster. Speaking of the Packers, Jordan Love entered the game for a brief stint, while rookie kicker Trey Smack provided a bright spot for Green Bay by nailing field goals from 58, 38 and 37 yards, demonstrating his leg strength in the early stages of his NFL career. The preseason action extended beyond Pittsburgh and Green Bay. In Las Vegas, the Raiders' top draft pick, quarterback 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 overall pick to record a preseason touchdown since Baker Mayfield in 2018. He completed ten of sixteen attempts for 97 yards, providing a glimpse of the potential that the Raiders hope to unlock. Veteran Kirk Cousins, now with the Raiders, also contributed a short but effective touchdown drive, adding experience to the young roster. Arizona, on the other hand, built its lead through precise 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.
In Indianapolis, former first‑rounder Anthony Richardson returned from injury for the Colts' preseason opener 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, including a fumble and an interception, as the Colts committed four turnovers in total. New England's offense was led by Tommy DeVito, who completed thirteen of twenty‑two passes for 128 yards and a touchdown to Kyle Williams. The game was ultimately decided by a 61‑yard field goal from Spencer Shrader, which gave the Colts a late‑game edge, while Patriots' kicker Anthony Borregales missed a potential game‑winning attempt.
The Tennessee Titans faced the San Francisco 49ers in their preseason opener, with top draft pick Cam Ward at the helm for Tennessee. Ward led a 95‑yard touchdown drive on the opening possession but finished the game with modest statistics: five completions on ten attempts for 25 yards, and an inability to connect with rookie wideout Carnell Tate.
Nevertheless, the Titans secured a 19‑13 victory, thanks in large part to Tony Pollard's lone touchdown and Joey Slye's four field goals, three of which traveled beyond the 50‑yard line. San Francisco's backup quarterback Kurtis Rourke impressed upon 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, adding to the 49ers' offensive options. The Los Angeles Chargers opened their preseason campaign with a 27‑7 win over the Houston Texans.
Undrafted running back Amar Johnson, now in his second season, was a standout, scoring two rushing touchdowns and converting a two‑point conversion. With starters Justin Herbert and C.J.
Stroud resting, the Chargers relied on Trey Lance, who completed twelve of twenty passes for 164 yards, while Davis Mills threw Houston's only touchdown pass. Additionally, DJ Uiagalelei delivered a late touchdown, helping the Chargers pull away in the second half.
In Cincinnati, veteran quarterback Joe Flacco entered the game in relief of Joe Burrow during the Bengals' 16‑14 preseason victory over the Detroit Lions. Burrow had completed five of six passes for 39 yards 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, 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, giving Detroit a chance to rally before safety Russ Yeast sealed the win with a decisive interception. Fans can look forward to watching all four weeks of NFL preseason action live on Sky Sports as teams fine‑tune their rosters ahead of the regular season kickoff, which begins with the highly anticipated Super Bowl rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots on September 10.
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