Game Recap

Steelers 27, Bills 15 | Game recap, highlights, and stats to know

Aug 19, 2023 at 10:02 PM

Patrick Warren

Contributing Correspondent

The Buffalo Bills lost 27-15 to the Pittsburgh Steelers in their second preseason game Saturday night.

Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs, who did not play in last week's 23-19 win over the Indianapolis Colts, played in the Bills' first three drives. Allen threw for 64 yards on 7-for-10 passing but had two completions overturned due to penalties from the offensive line. On the second drive of the game, Allen threw a 35-yard pass to Gabe Davis, who ran out of bounds at the Pittsburgh 17-yard line. A holding call on offensive tackle Spencer Brown negated the play and the offense eventually had to punt facing 4th and 25.

Tight end Dalton Kincaid, the Bills' 2023 first-round draft pick, made his first catch of the preseason off a quick pass from Allen. Kincaid finished the night with 3 receptions for 45 yards.

Kyle Allen threw for 112 yards and a touchdown, going 12-for-15. He went seven-for-seven on the Bills' final drive of the game. Rookie receiver Justin Shorter caught three of Allen's passes on the drive, including a 17-yard touchdown.

Pittsburgh's scoring started early, with running back Jaylen Warren sprinting through the Buffalo defense for a 62-yard touchdown on the Steelers' first drive of the game. After allowing a 54-yard punt return, the Bills gave up another touchdown when quarterback Kenny Pickett found tight end Pat Freiermuth deep for a 25-yard touchdown.

The Bills had mixed results on special teams. Punter Sam Martin looked sharp, at one point booming a 57-yard punt from the back of the end zone. However, the Bills started seven of their 11 drives behind their own 20-yard line.

Quarterback Matt Barkley threw three interceptions, two of which were tipped at the line, and lost a fumble.

In addition to turnovers, penalties proved costly Saturday night. The Bills finished with 13 penalties for a loss of 93 yards.

Damar Hamlin, who played for the University of Pittsburgh and grew up in the area, entered the game for the first time late in the second quarter and immediately made an impact. Hamlin swarmed Pittsburgh running back Anthony McFarland, meeting him at the line for a gain of just a yard. Hamlin finished the game with 3 total tackles.

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Pittsburgh Steelers vs Buffalo Bills, Preseason, August 19, 2023 at Acrisure Stadium.

The Bills' first takeaway of the game came early in the fourth quarter, and immediately resulted in points for the offense. After a bad snap, Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Rudolph failed to recover a fumble, with defensive end Kameron Cline jumping on the loose ball to set the offense up at the Pittsburgh 2-yard line. Running back Jordan Mims walked into the end zone on the following play for the Bills' first score of the game.

Defensive ends Greg Rousseau and Kingsley Jonathan also finished the game with sacks.

Tight end Dawson Knox (finger), linebacker Tyler Matakevich (shoulder), defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (shoulder), linebacker Terrel Bernard (hamstring) and defensive tackle Eli Ankou (ankle) were all ruled out before the game. Defensive tackle D.J. Dale (back), edge rusher Shane Ray (hamstring), offensive tackle Tommy Doyle (leg) and quarterback Matt Barkley (right elbow) all sustained injuries during the game.

The Bills will travel to Chicago next week, taking on the Bears Saturday at 1:00 p.m. EDT.