Steelers rusty on offense
PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Steelers’ preseason couldn’t be going much better. Their offense is barely scoring. Brad Johnson and rookie Tarvaris Jackson each threw for a touchdown and the Minnesota Vikings got production from starters and backups alike in beating the Steelers, winning 17-10 Saturday night in the Steelers’ first home game since their Super Bowl championship.
Ben Roethlisberger, a surprise starter because of his right thumb injury, threw for a touchdown on the Steelers’ opening drive before the offense basically shut down for the rest of the game.
Just as in a 21-13 loss to Arizona last weekend, the Steelers’ execution was spotty, with mistakes, incorrect pass routes and turnovers. They had a fumble and an interception in their final two possessions of the first half.
So far, the Steelers are playing much like they were a year ago, when their starters didn’t score a touchdown on offense in the preseason before going on to win the franchise’s first Super Bowl in 26 years. So much for the importance of exhibition play; Roethlisberger had thrown only one other preseason TD pass in three years before doing so Saturday.
Roethlisberger was listed as questionable after spraining a right thumb ligament in practice Wednesday, then played one series for the second game in a row. He got the offense into the end zone so quickly, throwing a 16-yard scoring pass to Cedrick Wilson with less than 5 minutes gone, he was pulled after only six plays.
In two games, Roethlisberger is 6-of-8 for 59 yards and has shown no effects of the June 12 motorcycle accident that left him with a broken jaw, nose and a concussion, among other injuries.
Both starting quarterbacks had no problems moving their offenses, with Johnson going 9-of-11 for 71 yards while throwing a 12-yard scoring pass to tight end Jermaine Wiggins on Minnesota’s first possession after the Steelers’ touchdown.
But it was Jackson, the second-round draft pick from Alabama State, who got the Vikings offense moving again in limited playing time – just as he did during a relatively brief but effective appearance during a 16-13 loss Monday to Oakland.
He didn’t have to scramble for yardage as he did while running for 36 yards against the Raiders, but was more accurate as a thrower by completing 9 of 11 passes for 80 yards. His 6-yard touchdown pass to Jason Carter early in the third quarter put the Vikings up 17-7.