The Carolina Panthers finished the 2018 preseason with a 39-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers tonight, and for the most part it was not a pretty sight at all. The defense struggled with tackling all night, the offense stalled in the first half, and the officials decided that a completely clean sack should be considered roughing the passer. All in all, it’s precisely what you would expect from a fourth preseason game. There were a few highlights, notably the combination of quarterback Kyle Allen and running back Reggie Bonnafon, but for the most part this was a disappointing effort all around. Thankfully, this game didn’t count in the standings. Trending up Kyle Allen: He played well tonight and should find a job on someone’s practice squad. Reggie Bonnafon: He also played well, and could find himself on the Panthers’ practice squad unless someone poaches him off waivers. Mose Frazier: I like what I saw from him tonight. I don’t think he makes the roster, but I do think he should at least be in the conversation for that No. 6 wide receiver spot. Trending down Literally every Panthers defender who was supposed to tackle someone: Seriously, it was bad tonight y’all. Comically bad, even. Blaine Clausell: Two holding penalties that negated quality gains by Kenjon Barner. That’s not a good look when you’re trying to make a final roster. Elijah Hood: I hate that he got injured in the first quarter because it deprived him of a chance to prove he belonged on the roster. Live updates FINAL SCORE: Steelers 39 - Panthers 24 4th quarter TOUCHDOWN PANTHERS: Kyle Allen completes a pass to Bug Howard, who then fumbles it into the endzone and somehow recovers it at the same time as a defender to invoke the “tie goes to the offense” rule for the touchdown. The extra point is good. Steelers 39 - Panthers 24 Kyle Allen and Reggie Bonnafon have looked good in the second half. It’s probably too little, too late for them, but they have performed well tonight. TOUCHDOWN PANTHERS: Reggie Bonnafon carries it in for the score. The extra point is good. Steelers 39 - Panthers 17 Kyle Allen has looked good tonight. I’d expect him to get a few calls for practice squad spots if he doesn’t end up there in Carolina. TOUCHDOWN STEELERS: It’s too easy at this point for Pittsburgh. The extra point is good. Steelers 39 - Panthers 10 The first play of the 4th quarter is either an interception or strip sack fumble returned to the one yard line. This is going swell, y’all. END OF 3RD QUARTER: Steelers 32 - Panthers 10 3rd quarter TOUCHDOWN STEELERS: Rudolph connects with Henderson, who makes an impressive one-handed grab in the end zone. The extra point is good. Steelers 32 - Panthers 10 Daeshon Hall sighting! He bursts through the line to sack Mason Rudolph on third down to force a punt. FIELD GOAL PANTHERS: Gano drills it from 54 yards out to cut into the lead. Steelers 25 - Panthers 10 Graham Gano out for a 54-yard field goal attempt. Allen has looked pretty decent so far. It’s the Kyle Allen show from here on out for the Panthers offense. The Panthers get the ball to start the second half. A nice return by Austin Duke is negated by a penalty, because of course it is. HALFTIME: Steelers 25 - Panthers 7 2nd quarter Panthers can’t get anything going and are forced to punt. TOUCHDOWN STEELERS: It’s almost like they’re playing against air at this point. Defense gets a penalty on the XP and the Steelers elect to move the ball to the 1-yard line and go for two. They convert. Steelers 25 - Panthers 7 The Steelers are carving up this backup defense. This is not a good sign at all for depth. Strip sack on Gilbert causes a fumble that is recovered by the Steelers. Welp. Blaine Clausell has now had two holding penalties negate nice gains by Kenjon Barner, in case you’re scoring at home. Smh. . . LOLOLOLOL at “roughing the passer” on this pic.twitter.com/Mn8qbQeBF9 — Mark Armstrong (@ArmstrongABC11) August 31, 2018 FIELD GOAL STEELERS: Boswell drills it through the uprights to extend the lead. Steelers 17 - Panthers 7 Somehow, the Panthers defense holds the Steelers to a field goal attempt. Apparently the tackling has been bad because it’s actually illegal to tackle. Two atrocious roughing the passer calls give the Steelers 1st and goal. Legit awful calls, those. The tackling is so bad, y’all. A nice run by Kenjon Barner is negated by a holding call against Blaine Clausell. It sets the Panthers back far enough that they are unable to make up the yardage and are forced to punt. Garrett Gilbert is in at quarterback. D.J. Moore back to return the punt, but he fair catches it—a solid business decision in my opinion. THE DEFENSE GOT A STOP! Taylor Heinicke's preseason numbers if he does not return for another drive: 24-36 323 yards 2 TD 1 INT 101.97 rating — Will Bryan (@Pantherstatsguy) August 31, 2018 Heinicke, likely done for the night, again above 100 in QB rating. Checks in at 102.1 after going 7-for-12 for 68 yards and a touchdown. — Bryan Strickland (@PanthersBryan) August 31, 2018 TOUCHDOWN PANTHERS: Heinicke hits Mose Frazier for the score! Gano’s XP is good. Steelers 14 - Panthers 7 Panthers offense is starting to move. Heinicke hits Evan Baylis for a nice gain to put the Panthers in the red zone. END OF 1ST QUARTER - Steelers 14 - Panthers 0 1st quarter A few positives on offense - Curtis Samuel, Cameron Artis-Payne and Damiere Byrd all look good so far tonight. TOUCHDOWN STEELERS: Dobbs launches one to Tevin Jones for the 27-yard touchdown. Boswell’s extra point is good. Steelers 14 - Panthers 0 The backup defense is so bad, y’all. The drive stalls at midfield. Palardy on to punt. 31-yarder. Steelers take over inside their 20. Cameron Artis-Payne having a solid outing on this first drive, showing that he deserves a spot on the roster. Elijah Hood (knee) will not return. — Max Henson (@PanthersMax) August 30, 2018 Taylor Heinicke in at quarterback. Damiere Byrd with a decent return on the kickoff. Panthers offense to start at the 20. TOUCHDOWN STEELERS: Dobbs scores on a quarterback keeper. Steelers 7 - Panthers 0 The Steelers are moving down the field at will. The backup defense is not looking good at all tonight. Elijah Hood is injured on the coverage of the kickoff. It looks like a left knee injury. He’s helped off the field and can’t put weight on his leg. Yikes. The Panthers kick off to start the game. The Panthers are in Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers tonight in the preseason finale. It’s mostly the battle of the backups for both teams, but it should be fun to watch some guys compete for a spot on the 53-man roster. Stay tuned for live updates! Pregame The Panthers travel to Pittsburgh on Thursday night to close out the 2018 preseason in the yearly matchup between the two teams. Due to a change in ownership of the Panthers, a game that was once called “The Annual Richardson-Rooney Cocktail Party” by a very handsome and intelligent Panthers blogger will now be known as the “Tepperware Party”. You know you love it. Anyway, this one doesn’t mean much except for the guys who are battling for roster spots. Because of that, we shouldn’t expect to see any key players in this meaningless game. But you’re still gonna watch, aren’t you? Admit it: You love the fourth preseason game even if it doesn’t mean jack squat. You love it because it’s still football. Because you’re gonna watch, here’s the info so you can tune in. Game day information What: Carolina Panthers at Pittsburgh Steelers When: Thursday, August 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET Where: Heinz Field (Pittsburgh, PA) TV: Panthers TV; Mick Mixon, Mike Rucker | NFL Network (replay 8/31 at 10 a.m. ET) Radio: 1110 AM WBT (local) Weather: 77°/62° / Scattered T’Storms / 6 mph NNW wind / 60% precip. (Complete forecast)<doc-sep>After a week away, I have returned to, once again, shoot first and apologize later with my real-time thoughts as the Pittsburgh Steelers wrap up their slate of four exhibitions and auditions against their annual finale-foe, the Carolina Panthers. Special thanks goes to Jeff Hartman who sub-jerked for me last week. As you already know and still I iriterate, a knee jerk reaction is an immediate and unthinking, emotional reaction. I can safely say that’s a true definition of your’s truly and a good lot of Steeler Nation. Here’s my real-time reactions. First Quarter This is starting out ugly. Dobbs proved on that bad snap that he can salvage busted plays. I realize this is not the best competition, but Josh Dobbs looks like a real player. Ryan Switzer is going to be exciting. Great trade already. is going to be exciting. Great trade already. I’m openly rooting for Bucky Hodges . . Didn’t know Jericho Cotchery was coaching receivers for Carolina. he was a quality Steeler. For the second week in a row, I’m impressed with the opposing team’s uniforms. I say this with a staunch record of heterosexuality...They look really good in those pants. Second Quarter Sutton looked bad on that TD catch. To quote Ben Affleck from Good Will Hunting, “Ya Suspect”. Ridley can still run. Berry has lost something. But enough to lose his job...we’ll see. I agree with Mike Tomlin, Marcus Allen needs to earn his spot tonight. needs to earn his spot tonight. Brian Allen is progressing week-to-Week. Could he be a special player down the road? Is there enough time? is progressing week-to-Week. Could he be a special player down the road? Is there enough time? Switzer can can Mr. Sophia Vergara and Jake Guentzel in the House. Cool. Im still on the Zach Banner Wagon. Maybe Brian Cox Jr. got flagged for his name. To me, that’s not a penalty. Another one? That was suspect too. But I’ll take it. They are going to get Dobbs killed. At this point he’s not going to get traded. He’s going to end up on the IR. Tevin Jones just dropped a shot to tell his grandchildren about this night forever. just dropped a shot to tell his grandchildren about this night forever. Seriously...Go for it on fourth down. I hate field goal attempts in preseason. How does this help a young player. Boswell doesn’t need the reps. Double-A. Adenyi and Adams make a good battery. Lavon Hooks doesn’t get enough credit. There’s going to be some good ex-Steelers floating around on other teams. doesn’t get enough credit. There’s going to be some good ex-Steelers floating around on other teams. RBs really have been picking up the blitz well. Mason really needs a TD here. Looks like someone’s been watching Ben a lot in practice. Everytime Mason runs, a lineman holds. Huge drop. But with the rule change. That should be a TD. Really nice job by both Rudolph and Jones. Those grandchildren will get an earful now. Rudolph has cojones. Going after Andre Smith will get him mad love from Steeler Nation. will get him mad love from Steeler Nation. How was that taunting? Wow! Brian Allen . Nice again. Third Quarter Boswell doesn’t need to be trying to tackle anybody in preseason. Thomas, Hooks and Huguenin look solid. and Huguenin look solid. Will Quadree Henderson complicate things here? No. Guess not? Mason is having his finest showing of the preseason. Bucky Hodges is really showing up tonight. That hustle on the Jones play will really speak to the coaching staff. is really showing up tonight. That hustle on the Jones play will really speak to the coaching staff. Rudolph has been victimized by his own receivers this entire preseason. Good to see Quadree score. That leap made me strain something on my couch though. I think Matt Thomas is a better option than Dirty Red at this point. Even though he’s Class of 17, Keion Adams is basically an extra draft pick this year. Fourth Quarter Great athletics by Matthew Thomas . Too bad he didn’t get in. I think there’s no question now that he just made the team. . Too bad he didn’t get in. I think there’s no question now that he just made the team. Pure muscle by Franklin. I want Jarvion on the PS. Malik Golden got hurt in this game last year. Talk about hard luck. He has talent. got hurt in this game last year. Talk about hard luck. He has talent. I feel bad for Marcus Allen as well. He just hit his fellow Nittany Lion with friendly fire. I like Brian Allen’s tenacity, but third week in a row...he jumped a route and got burnt. Please tell me Matthew Thomas is just cramping. He looks okay. My praise of Brian Allen may have been premature. Marcus Allen with ferocity! So...now as I replay the game more and more in my head, my perceptions will alter. But for now, you just got a glimpse of the first thoughts that popped in my mind. Feel free to get your groove on in the comment section.<doc-sep>The Pittsburgh Steelers closed out the preseason with an impressive win over the Carolina Panthers. The final score was 39-24 but this game was much more than the score. Head coach Mike Tomlin says the final game of the preseason is a final exam for players on the roster bubble and we saw some step up and others fall flat. Here are our winners and losers from the Steelers win. Winner-Josh Dobbs | Quarterback After Josh Dobbs’ impressive performance on Thursday night, he earned the right to stay on an NFL roster. There are no guarantees that will be in Pittsburgh but Dobbs was once again the best offensive player on the team. We are quietly hoping the Steelers find a way to keep him on the team but if not it will be great to see him continue his NFL career.<doc-sep>
The regular season is now upon us! As the Steelers prepare for their cuts on Saturday, there are a few takeaways from this shellacking of the Panthers. While there aren’t many, and some of them are just confirmation of what they thought was true before the game, the fourth preseason game is simply finishing off the last preseason battles on the roster. As a final note, they will also look for potential they believe they can hone by stashing on the practice squad, and they’re obviously looking for that in this game too. Thus, here are five takeaways from the victory over the Panthers: The Steelers will get compensation for Josh Dobbs Joshua Dobbs came to play Thursday night. This is the best Dobbs has ever looked in his tenure with the Steelers, and it clearly shows he has potential. Sure, he was doing these great things against future car salesmen, but it shouldn’t discredit the great traits we saw from him. He was incredibly comfortable and slippery in the pocket. He was extending plays the whole day and turning them into big plays. That ability to make something out of nothing is one of the reason Dobbs is going to have a market. This is not even mentioning his arm strength and mobility. He threw an absolute rope to Justin Hunter and used his legs to create plays and even score a touchdown. What you saw today was a young man confident in his abilities and showing off for the Steelers and other teams. His performance was so good, I actually have a thought that Landry Jones might actually be the one on the chopping block, but I doubt that happens. Regardless, Dobbs played himself into a potential 6th round pick today, so the Steelers will at least hopefully get some compensation for him in the event of a trade. Coty Sensabaugh is versatile, and good at being versatile Okay, is Sensabaugh a world beater at cornerback? Absolutely not. However, that does not tarnish any play he showed tonight. Sensabaugh had easily his best game this preseason and it was from the slot. He showed great coverage abilities from the slot, and his mirroring of receivers was fantastic. Tomlin preaches inside and outside leverage for corners, and Sensabaugh was giving some textbook examples of how to keep your leverage today. He also was a good blitzer bs Carolina. He showed off the speed he has and created havoc in the backfield for Panther QBs. If Sensabaugh can show he can play both slot and outside well enough, he could see himself rise up the depth chart. Regardless, he secured his 53-man roster spot tonight for sure. The Steelers will without question be keeping six cornerbacks. B.J. Finney is ready to start A strong pass blocker, explosive strength and jump, nimble on his feet, and impactful in his run blocking. What more can you ask for in an offensive linemen, especially when the guy plays multiple positions on the line. Finney is not just a backup level guy anymore, he is ready to play everyday. Ramon Foster is still better as it stands. Finney has a weird issue in pass blocking where he takes his outside foot and sometimes opens his hips up to the inside, but once that is fixed, this is just another of Munchak’s masterpieces. Finney looked like a man amongst boys tonight. He dominated every play from the snap, and in his reps with the ones this preseason, he has handled himself extremely well while filling in at either center or guard. The Steelers have a blessing of guard depth thanks to Finney and having a starting-level guard as your backup is always reassuring. Finney continues to improve as the seasons go by with Foster aging and going into a contract year. You have to ask if Foster might be playing his last year in Pittsburgh. Matt Feiler is the ultimate depth piece More on the offensive line, Matt Feiler played literally everywhere but left tackle this preseason. He played well at every position. Yet again, the Steelers have some of the best offensive linemen depth in the league and it continues to show just how valuable a chess piece like Feiler is. He looked great from center today and did not mess up even a snap.