Detroit Lions vs. Pittsburgh Steelers preseason score updates, highlights

Live update from the Detroit Lions’ second preseason game of the 2021 season.

It’s Saturday night football!

The Detroit Lions are visitors to the Pittsburgh Steelers for their second preseason game of the season. It will be the second big test for the Lions after losing a tight game to the Buffalo Bills last week in their preseason opener.

For those hoping to see the starting Detroit Lions lineup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who appear prepared to run a dress rehearsal, it appears you are in for disappointment. Based on warmups, the Lions appear ready to sit plenty of starters, including quarterback Jared Goff, left tackle Taylor Decker center Frank Ragnow and offensive weapons T.J. Hockenson and D’Andre Swift.

Still, we should get a good look at about half of the team’s starters and have a better idea of how their depth will measure up against a good AFC North team. So stick right here as we provide live updates from the game, including any highlights that come along.

Go Lions!

First quarter

The Lions defense took the field first, with its full first-team secondary on the field, but the rest full of reserves. They were able to get Ben Roethlisberger off the field quickly thanks to a three-and-out forced after Will Harris knocked down a pass to Eric Ebron (who also may have dropped it).

The Lions offense, led by Tim Boyle, managed a couple first downs. However, Boyle threw back-to-back poor passes to end Detroit’s first drive at midfield.

The Steelers offense got things going on the next drive thanks to a huge play from Roethlisberger. He found Diontae Johnson for 43 yards after the wide receiver had soundly beaten Jeff Okudah in coverage and Will Harris was late in over-the-top help.

Six plays later, Roethlisberger found tight end Pat Freiermuth for an 11-yard touchdown and an early 7-0 Steelers lead.

The Lions went three-and-out on offense after another overthrow from Boyle on second down and a third-down pass batted down at the line.

On the very first play of the drive, Roethlisberger dumped off a pass to running back Najee Harris, and despite reading the play well, Lions linebacker Jahlani Tavai couldn’t make the tackle, and Harris turned it up field for a 46-yard gain.

A few plays later, Roethlisberger would find Freiermuth in the end zone again, this time with Jalen Reeves-Maybin in coverage:

14-0 Steelers.

The Lions offense went three-and-out again after Boyle was called for a questionable intentional grounding penalty and Amon-Ra St. Brown couldn’t corral a deep pass.

Mercifully, the Steelers replaced Roethlisberger with Mason Rudolph on the next offensive drive.

Second quarter