The Pittsburgh Steelers fell 17-0 to the New York Jets in a preseason matchup at Acrisure Stadium, according to the Post Gazette. Head coach Mike McCarthy led the Steelers in the contest, which served as the team’s second exhibition game of the summer. The offense failed to put points on the board, a sharp contrast to the team’s opening preseason victory where Pittsburgh defeated the Green Bay Packers 28-9.
Pittsburgh Steelers Shut Out 17-0 by New York Jets
With Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph sitting out the game, young quarterbacks Will Howard and Drew Allar split time under center, according to Steelers.com. Howard earned the start and played four series, completing 10 of 15 passes for 74 yards with an average of 4.9 yards per completion. However, Howard threw two interceptions on consecutive possessions late in the first half while in Jets territory. His first turnover occurred in the red zone on a third-and-4 from the 14-yard line when safety Andre Cisco intercepted a pass. His second interception came on a third-and-5 at the 37-yard line, where cornerback Samuel Womack III undercut a throw intended for Roman Wilson.
Rookie Drew Allar took over in the second half and finished with 110 yards on 11-of-23 passing. Allar’s most notable play came in the third quarter when he rolled out to his left under pressure and completed a 38-yard pass to tight end Lake McRee along the sideline. Later in the drive, a sack pushed the Steelers back, leading to a missed 44-yard field goal attempt by Laith Marjan. Allar also orchestrated a two-minute drill in the fourth quarter that ran out the clock without scoring.
Jets Offense and Defensive Highlights
The New York Jets capitalized on early opportunities, starting with a 10-play, 69-yard opening touchdown drive led by veteran quarterback Geno Smith. Smith completed all 7 of his pass attempts for 65 yards on the opening possession, culminating in a 10-yard play-action touchdown pass to tight end Jelani Woods. Preseason action also featured rookie Cade Klubnik at quarterback for the Jets, alongside backup quarterback Brady Cook, who threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Quincy Skinner Jr. over cornerback D’Shawn Jamison in the second half.
The New York defense secured two interceptions during the shutout. The performance marked a notable turnaround for a franchise that did not record a single interception during the previous campaign under head coach Aaron Glenn.
Standout Performances on Defense and Special Teams
Inside linebacker Elandon Roberts led all Pittsburgh defenders with five tackles, including four solo stops, according to Steelers.com and the Post Gazette. Playing in his first game after being signed the prior week, Roberts made a key fourth-down tackle to halt the Jets’ opening drive of the second half. Linebackers Carson Bruener and Jack Sawyer each recorded a sack, with Bruener also running over running back Kene Nwangwu and breaking up a pass on the final drive of the first half.
Strong safety DeShon Elliott returned to game action for the first time since suffering a season-ending knee injury the previous October. Despite allowing an early third-down catch and a touchdown at the goal line, Elliott later forced a fumble, though the Steelers were unable to recover it. On the ground, running back Kaleb Johnson led the offense with 10 carries for 39 yards and added 2 receptions for 15 yards.
Preseason Schedule and Next Steps
Following the shutout loss, the Steelers will complete their preseason schedule on Thursday against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Regular-season play for Pittsburgh is scheduled to begin on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.
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