Steelers vs. Falcons Live Blog: Atlanta Shutout in Finale
The Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers are wrapping up their preseason schedule tonight in one final face-off at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
While entering warmups, Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder was not dressed, signaling that he likely won't be playing in tonight's game. This means that backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke will likely draw the start.
The same cannot be said for the Steelers, who are expected to play their starters in the final game ahead of the Sept. 10 season opener. Second-year pro Kenny Pickett will start under center for Pittsburgh.
Even with the starters sitting, tonight is a key game to figure out what the Falcons depth will look like. With the team making its final roster cuts to get down to 53 players by Tuesday, this game could be the last chance for bubble players to make an impact.
Here's what you need to know ahead of tonight's game ...
WHAT: Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0) at Atlanta Falcons (1-0-1)
WHERE: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (75,000)
WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, 7:30 p.m. ET
TELEVISION: WAGA-TV Fox 5 / FuboTV (try it free)
RADIO: WZGC-FM 92.9 The Game
TICKETS: SI Tickets
BETTING: SI SportsBook
SPREAD: Steelers -4.5 (-111), Falcons +4.5 (-111)
TOTAL: 38.5 (o -111, u -111)
MONEYLINE: Steelers -225, Falcons +170
FIRST QUARTER
Kenny Pickett's first pass goes for two yards, followed by a three-yard rush from Najee Harris. Diontae Johnson beats wins at the line of scrimmage for a 33-yard completion.
Jaylen Warren explodes through the hole for a six-yard gain, followed by Harris rushing for a first down as the Steelers offensive line bullies the Falcons in the trenches.
On second and 10, George Pickens breaks away for a long 35-yard reception.
Harris walks into the endzone. Chris Boswell converts the point after.
8 plays 92 yards in roughly four minutes as the Steelers starters score seven with ease on the Falcons.
7-0 Steelers, 10:56 to go in the first quarter
Taylor Heinicke opens the game, and Godwin Igwebuike loses four yards. Oh no, T.J. Watt slams Heinicke for a sack, a loss of seven yards. Followed by a three and out as Fitzpatrick drops what would have been a first down.
Steelers get the ball back, 9:27 to go in the first quarter
Pickett is four for four after Harris catches a pass for 16 yards and then rushes for five yards. Warren closes the drive by rushing for a diving eight-yard touchdown. So far, the Steelers starters are looking like too much for the Falcons backups, with two touchdowns in two drives.
14-0 Steelers, 8:09 remaining in the first quarter
The Steelers' defense continues to rush Heinicke en route to the offense, going three and out after failing to convert on fourth and one.
Steelers Second String Takes The Field
Second-string quarterback Mitchell Trubisky converts for 16 yards on first down.
Running back Anthony McFarland rushes for 31 yards after the Falcons defense fails to Breon Borders contain the rush. Bruising full-back Connor Heyward rushes for eight yards to get the first.
FALCONS DEFENSE COMES ALIVE! Demone Harris sacks Trubisky on third down. Steelers settle for a field goal.
Steelers lead Falcons 17-0, 1:26 left in the first quarter
Third-string quarterback Logan Woodside completes his first pass to Matthew Sexton for five yards. The quarter ends after a rush for no yards on second and five.
Steelers 17-0 End of first quarter
Woodside throws for five yards converting on third down to extend the drive as the team kicks off the second quarter.
After a five-yard completion to wide receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, the drive comes to a close, with the team punting it to the Steelers with 12:59 remaining in the first half.
Steelers' first drive of the second quarter
McFarland continues to run angrily and carries the ball for a first down.
On third and five, the Steelers pick up the first down with Trubisky converting to Heyward for 11 yards.
A false start from Pittsburgh helps stop the bleeding of Atlanta's defense. On second and 17, Trubisky throws for seven yards. On third down, a holding from the Falcons' Natrone Brooks in the secondary forces a new set of downs.
On third and six, Trubisky airs to out, but Falcons' Borders creates a poor pass interference on an uncatchable pass, helping extend the Steelers drive.
McFarland rushes for a five-yard touchdown extending the Pittsburgh lead. Also worth noting, Steelers quarterbacks haven't thrown a single incompletion. Boswell hits his kick.
Steelers up 24-0 with 5:42 remaining in the first half
Woodside breathes some life into Atlanta completing a pass to Keilahn Harris for 26 yards and a fresh set of downs...False start by the offense. Every time things seem to change, Atlanta follows up the penalty by allowing a sack for a loss of nine yards.
Another Falcons drive ending in a punt. Sexton makes matters worse by running out of bounds forcing the team to punt again on fourth and 24.
Falcons Punt, Steelers get the ball back with 3:17 remaining in the first half and a 24-0 lead.
Wide receiver Gunner Olszewski catches the ball and breaks a tackle on what looked like it would be the first punt for Pittsburgh, gets eight yards, and extends the drive as the game enters the two-minute warning. 10 passes and 10 completions for the Steelers so far.
THEY DID IT! Finally, the Falcons force an incompletion Natrone Brooks breaks up a pass...and the momentum goes back to the Steelers as Trubisky scrambles for 24 yards down to Atlanta's 34-yard line.
On third and eight, Mike Jones Jr. sacks Trubisky forcing the first Steelers punt of the night.
Falcons get the ball down 24-0 with 1:13 remaining in the half
Arcega-Whiteside picks up 14 yards as the team spends its second timeout of the half. Pressure forces Woodside to throw the ball short of Arcega-Whiteside, who seems to be his favorite target.
Joey Porter Jr. commits a pass interference giving the team a fresh set of downs, but the team fails to muster a scoring drive before the clock expires.
Steelers lead 24-0 against the Falcons at halftime
The second half begins as Woodside fights to earn the third quarterback spot. He opens by completing a pass to Josh Ali for eight yards. After another pass gets a first down, he gets sacked for a six-yard loss but evens things out with a six-yard rush on the next play. On third and 10, he completes a pass for 13 yards to Sexton.
This is the best Woodside has looked. He completes another pass to Arcega-Whiteside for 13 yards. A pass for 11 yards combined with a penalty on the Steelers for unnecessary roughness advances the ball to the Pittsburgh 23-yard line, and it looks as though this could be the Falcons' first scoring drive.
Again the Falcons shoot themselves in the foot, fumbling. Pittsburgh gets the ball back with 9:02 in the third.
Steelers' first drive of the Second Half
Xazavian Valladay rushes for seven yards. Third-string quarterback Mason Rudolph scrambles for the first down.
Valladay picks up another five, then gets fed again for seven yards and a first down. Rudolph and the Steelers stall out on this drive, thanks to some good defense from Atlanta. Pittsburgh punts the ball to the Falcons.
Falcons ball down 24-0 with 4:11 remaining in the third quarter
Woodside moves around the pocket and completes to Harris for 19 yards. First and 15 following a false start, now second and 15 due to a smart incompletion from Woodside under pressure. On third and 12, Woodside narrowly avoids a sack for four yards on a backyard football play, underhanding the ball to Parker Hesse, but his heroics ultimately aren't enough as the team is forced to punt.
Steelers' ball leading 24-0 with 1:31 remaining in the third quarter
The Steelers' drive features three rushes, but they come up short as the fourth quarter will begin with them facing fourth and one from their own 26-yard line.
FOURTH QUARTER
Rudolph rushes for the first down and picks up a new set of downs. Rudolph fails to hit an open wide receiver after an overthrow. On third and 15, Rudolph passes for 16 yards, and a facemask adds 15 more yards onto the play. The Steelers' drive stalls, and they're forced to punt.
Falcons Ball down 24-0 in the fourth with 11:28 remaining
Woodside throws for a first down on a pass to Harris. Harris catches his sixth pass for another first down. The third-stringer continues to impress as he looks comfortable running the offense, but again a Falcons drive ends with a punt.
Steelers Ball up 24-0 in the fourth with 7:44 remaining
The Steelers go three and out, shaving less than two minutes off the clock.
Falcons Ball down 24-0 in the fourth with 6:06 remaining
The Falcons one-up the Steelers 3 and out by getting stuffed and turning the ball over on downs.
Steelers Ball up 24-0 in the fourth with 4:12 remaining
Three passes, three incompletions, AAAAAAND a missed field goal. So much for the trifecta. B.T. Potter misses wide to the left, preventing three points from being added.
Falcons Ball down 24-0 in the fourth with 3:16 remaining
Woodside gets stripped and sacked for a fumble. He's visibly in pain holding his right arm after being slammed by Rosche. A tough way for him preseason to potentially come to a close.
Steelers get the Ball up 24-0 in the fourth with 3:09 remaining
After two plays, the Steelers enter the two-minute warning facing third and six from the Falcons 21-yard line. Andre Smith has a beautiful hit for a five-yard loss, and the Falcons use a timeout. Atlanta prevents the Steelers from scoring, as the team turns the ball over on downs due to an endzone pass where the receiver failed to get his feet down.
Falcons Ball down 24-0 in the fourth with 1:48 remaining
Good news, Woodside is back out on the field and throwing. Pushing the ball down the field as the team runs a two-minute drill. They pick up two first downs, but a seven-yard sack ends the Falcons preseason.
Final Score: Steelers win 24-0 over the Falcons
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