Panthers Beat Steelers 18-6 In Final Preseason Game After Short Rain Delay

After a 15-minute delay due to a thunderstorm, the Carolina Panthers finished their offseason with an 18-6 home victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night.

Panthers Beat Steelers 18-6 In Final Preseason Game After Short Rain Delay

All of the Panthers’ points came from field goals, all six scored by kicker Graham Gano. Nevertheless, head coach Ron Rivera remains confident in his team, which finished 2-2 in the preseason.

“I think we are headed in the right direction,” Rivera said. “By no means ae we where I want to be, but I feel very comfortable with us. I think we did some really good things during the preseason. Again, going back to last week I would have really liked for us to get the ball into the end zone. You move the ball like we did, and it’s disappointing.

“But looking at what we did in the whole preseason, I’m obviously pleased with that. I think there were some really good things in the first two games, and as I said in the third game the only thing that bothered me is we didn’t finish the plays.”

Four out of Carolina’s five first-half drives led to field goals as the Panthers gained a comfortable 12-0 lead. Pittsburgh sacked quarterback Joe Webb twice on third down to force the Panthers’ first two field goals. The Steelers finished the preseason 1-3.

It was the 14th straight year the two teams finished the preseason against each other.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin did not play running back Le’Veon Bell, who will miss the first three games due to a suspension for missed drug tests.

Although Tomlin stated afterwards that “We have some decisions to make,” in reality there may be just one or two jobs that could be won on Friday night. By 4 pm Saturday, (Sept. 3) teams must cut their rosters down from 75 to 53.

Anthony Chickillo (foot) and defensive end Ricard Mathews (neck) exited the game early but Tomlin said they were not significant injuries. Rookie linebacker Travis Feeney left with a concussion.

Quarterback Landry Jones started his third preseason game, but Tomlin pulled him before halftime and replaced him with Bryn Renner, making his second and final appearance with the Steelers after they claimed Zach Mettenberger off waivers one day earlier.

Jones completed 4 of 5 passes for 29 yards and was sacked once.

The Steelers did, however, start their top three rookies, including the first appearance this summer in a game by first-round draft pick Artie Burns at cornerback. Sean Davis, their second-round pick, was at safety and Javon Hargrave, their third-rounder, at nose tackle.

Rivera, meanwhile, did not use starting quarterback Cam Newton nor his backup, Derek Anderson. 

River and general manager have a few difficult decisions facing them heading into Saturday’s deadline for the 53-man roster, including at running back and wide receiver.

“We are going to break this tape down tomorrow and really get after it,” Rivera said. “We are going to do it quickly because obviously we play Thursday night (in the season opener at Denver).”

CHARLOTTE, NC – SEPTEMBER 01: Daryl Richardson #38 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs the ball against the Carolina Panthers in the 3rd quarter during their game at Bank of America Stadium on September 1, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)