Steelers vs. Buccaneers Preseason Week 1: 1st quarter in-game update

It had been over 200 days since the Pittsburgh Steelers set foot onto Heinz Field for a football game. That clock was reset on Friday night when the Steelers hosted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1 of NFL Preseason action. While this game lacked the star power of Ben Roethlisberger, Maurkice Pouncey, Joe Haden and plenty others, it was enough to satiate the rabid Steelers fan base who have been craving football for months.

The Steelers started the game on defense, and the start was certainly forgettable. While the only starter actually playing for Pittsburgh was Terrell Edmunds, Jameis Winston orchestrated a 12-play drive ending in a touchdown to give the Buccaneers a quick 7-0 lead before Pittsburgh’s offense even touched the football.

Joshua Dobbs had the reigns of the Steelers’ offense to start the game, and announced his presence with authority after he hit James Washington for a 44-yard completion on the second offensive play of the game. However, a second down sack after the big play pushed the Steelers out of field goal range, and forced Jordan Berry on for the first punt of the game.

The Buccaneers, this time quarterbacked by Blaine Gabbert, were aided by a roughing the passer penalty on a third down play which kept their drive alive. They are on the cusp of field goal range at the end of the first quarter.