Pittsburgh, Pa. (WGR 550) - In the second preseason game of the 2023 season, the Buffalo Bills were romped to the tone of a 27-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium.
The Steelers secured the victory and did so quite early, scoring on their first two possessions of the game and keeping the Bills out of the end zone until the game was already out of hand. The Bills, meanwhile, stumbled out of the gate and failed to score until the fourth quarter.
After receiving the opening kickoff, the Steelers got on the board thanks to a 62-year run from running back Jaylen Warren, as he found the end zone for the early score.
The Bills went three-and-out on their opening possession, and then proceeded to give up a 54-yard punt return by Calvin Austin, setting up the Steelers in prime position to extend their lead.
It only took one play for the Steelers to find the end zone for the second time, as Pickett found third-year tight end Pat Freiermuth for a 25-yard score.
The rest of the first half was relatively uneventful after the two teams traded punts on four-consecutive possessions.
The Bills started their starting players in this preseason game on Saturday, including the likes of quarterback Josh Allen and wide receiver Stefon Diggs. After three unsuccessful drives on offense, Allen came out of the game for Matt Barkley under center.
In his brief amount of work, Allen went just 7-of-10 for 64 yards.
On Barkley's first drive of the game, he was intercepted in the red zone, but the Steelers were unable to make anything of the ensuing possession and punted.
Two plays into the following Bills drive, rookie defensive back Joey Porter Jr. intercepted Barkley, and the Steelers made good on the turnover this time around.
After taking over for starter Kenny Pickett, former Bills quarterback Mitchell Trubisky found tight end Connor Heyward from three yards out in the waning moments of the first half to give the Steelers a 21-0 lead heading into the locker room.
The second half did not start out much better for the Bills, as two plays into their opening drive, Barkley was intercepted for the third time on a tipped pass by Chandon Sullivan. The Steelers went backwards one yard on five plays, but were still able to put points on the board with a Chris Boswell 35-yard field.
The ensuing Bills drive ended prematurely again, as the Steelers defense forced a fourth Barkley turnover, this time by way of a strip sack. The Steelers added another field goal courtesy of Boswell to make it 27-0.
After punting to open the fourth quarter, the Bills defense recovered an errant snap over the head of the Steelers' third string quarterback, Mason Rudolph. The Bills immediately took advantage of the takeaway, as the following play saw Jordan Mims run it in from two yards out for the Bills' first points of the game, making it 27-7.
The teams exchanged punts on their next three drives before Buffalo put up the final points of the game.
The Bills then put together an eight-play, 90-yard drive with 54 seconds left in the game, as Bills quarterback Kyle Allen hooked up with rookie wideout Justin Shorter from 17 yards out. The Bills then successfully converted a two-point conversion to make it 27-15.
The Steelers then kneeled out the remainder of the clock to end the game.
LISTEN LIVE TO WGR:
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GAME RECAP
First Quarter:
- 7-0 PITTSBURGH: Steelers touchdown (12:23) - Jaylen Warren breaks free for a 62-yard touchdown run. (Chris Boswell's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 6 plays, 86 yards, 2:37
- 14-0 PITTSBURGH: Steelers touchdown (10:37) - Kenny Pickett finds Pat Freiermuth for a 25-yard touchdown pass. (Chris Boswell's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 1 play, 25 yards, 0:05
Second Quarter:
- 21-0 PITTSBURGH: Steelers touchdown (0:03) - Mitchell Trubisky hits Connor Heyward for a three-yard touchdown pass. (Chris Boswell's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 6 plays, 13 yards, 1:03
Third Quarter:
- 24-0 PITTSBURGH: Steelers field goal (11:47) - Chris Boswell's 35-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 5 plays, -1 yard, 2:31
- 27-0 PITTSBURGH: Steelers field goal (4:42) - Chris Boswell's 39-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 8 plays, 36 yards, 4:22
Fourth Quarter:
- 27-7 PITTSBURGH: Bills touchdown (13:16) - Jordan Mims rushes for a two-yard touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 1 play, 2 yards, 0:04
- 27-15 PITTSBURGH: Bills touchdown (0:54) - Kyle Allen tosses a 17-yard touchdown pass to Justin Shorter. (Buffalo's two-point conversion attempt is successful)
Drive info: 8 plays, 90 yards, 1:56
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What's next?
The Buffalo Bills will close out the 2023 preseason on the road next week at Soldier Field against the Chicago Bears. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550.