The Pittsburgh Steelers opened their preseason in strong fashion on Thursday night by beating the Green Bay Packers 28-9. The game marked the beginning of a new chapter for the franchise under head coach Mike McCarthy. While preseason games do not count towards the official standings, the contest gave fans plenty to talk about regarding the future of the team.
Key Takeaways
- The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Green Bay Packers 28-9 in their preseason opener.
- Rookie quarterback Drew Allar scored three total touchdowns in his official NFL debut.
- Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur called out his defense after a poor performance.
Rookie Quarterback Drew Allar Steals the Show
The biggest story of the night was the performance of rookie quarterback Drew Allar. The young signal caller was selected by Pittsburgh in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. With veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers planning to retire after one more season, Allar showed that the team may have a strong future ahead.
Allar made an instant impact during his time on the field. He threw two touchdown passes and added another score on the ground, giving him three total touchdowns for the night. One of his top plays was a big connection with fellow rookie Kaden Wetjen, which showed great execution between the two young players.
Head coach Mike McCarthy expressed satisfaction with how his young quarterbacks handled the game plan during the match. McCarthy is known for running a detailed program for his passing leaders during practice.
“Quarterback School is shorthand for his highly detailed process of teaching young signal callers the finer points of their position.”
Allar proved to be a fast learner during his first official NFL action under McCarthy’s guidance.
Quarterback Depth and Team Mistakes
Allar was not the only quarterback who had a good performance during the win. Fellow backup Will Howard also led the offense on a long scoring drive that put points on the board. The play of both young quarterbacks gave Steelers fans plenty of reason for optimism moving forward.
However, the game was not entirely smooth for Pittsburgh. The team suffered from sloppy execution at times and was called for 11 penalties throughout the contest. Despite these discipline issues, the squad managed to stay focused and control the game against Green Bay.
Big changes in team rosters and coaching staff are common across professional sports today, much like how Quinnen Williams signed a $105.9 million extension with the Dallas Cowboys to secure his team’s future. Pittsburgh is similarly building for its future by testing out young talent early in the season.
Packers Defense Struggles in Defeat
On the other side of the field, the Green Bay Packers had a tough night. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was not happy with his team’s effort and publicly called out the defense after the game. The loss exposed deep concerns on the defensive side of the ball for Green Bay as they prepare for the regular season.
Preseason results often reveal which teams are prepared and which still have work to do. As sports fans around the world follow big developments, such as news that legendary NBA coach Don Nelson passed away at 86, football fans are focusing on how young players will perform when the real games begin.
The Steelers will look to build on this victory in their upcoming preseason matchups. Coach McCarthy will focus on cleaning up the penalty problems while continuing to develop young quarterbacks like Drew Allar before the regular season officially kicks off.
