The Steelers beat the Panthers without really trying to win the game.  Ben Roethlisberger completed his only pass attempt for 7 yards.  Charlie Batch followed him into the game and he completed both of his pass attempts for 15 yards.  Mike Reilly finished up the game by completing 5 of 7 passes for 65 yards.  Isaac Redman had a huge game carrying the ball 12 times for 79 yards (6.6 ypc) with 1 TD run.  WR Stefan Logan also had a game to remember.  He caught 2 passes for 27 yards and returned a kickoff for 28 yards.  But, his biggest play was when he returned a punt 80 yards for a TD.  The Steelers finished up with only 211 total yards in this game (137 rushing, 74 passing).

Safety Ryan Mundy led the way for the Steelers on D in this game with 6 tackles, a sack and a interception that he returned 31 yards for a TD.  CB Keenan Lewis was also busy with 10 tackles in this game.  The Panthers finished up with 320 total yards in this game (123 rushing, 197 passing).  The Steelers finished up the pre-season with a 3-1 record.

With Nate Washington off to the Titans as a free agent the Steelers needed someone to step into his role as the #3 WR.  Limas Sweed looks like he wants the job and nothing would make the Steelers’ happier.  Sweed was a high draft pick last season for the Steelers but he didn’t play like one.  He played in 11 games (0 starts) for the Steelers last season and he caught 6 passes for 64 yards (10.7 avg).  He has already caught more passes than that this pre-season in three game (7 rec, 107 yards, 15.3 avg).  The Steelers have their fingers crossed as Sweed needs to justify the faith that they have in him.

Rashard Mendenhall needs to get his act together this season.  Many had projected that he was going to kick Willie Parker to the bench but he hasn’t shown he’s ready for that kind of roll thus far in the pre-season.  In three pre-season games so far, Mendenhall has carried the ball 30 times for 98 yards (3.3 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He has also caught 2 passes for 16 yards (8.0 avg).  Mendenhall had his rookie season cut short after 4 games last season.  Hopefully he learned his lesson as he texted fellow Ravens’ rookie RB Ray Rice about how he was going to run all over them.  Rice then showed the defense what he said and in the game that week the Ravens’ defense broke his shoulder.  With his stats at the time he shouldn’t have been talking trash to anyone.  He played in 4 games (1 start) last season and he carried the ball 19 times for 58 yards (3.1 ypc).  He also caught 2 passes for 17 yards (8.5 avg) last season.  The Steelers need Mendenhall to step up as he’s not in the Big 10 anymore where he could simply run over defenders.

The Steelers really pushed the Bills around on Saturday Night.  Ben Roethlisberger started this game at QB and he completed 15 of 19 passes for 168 yards.  Charlie Batch followed Big Ben in this game as he was efficient also completing 7 of 9 passes for 79 yards.  Mike Reilly finished up this game completing all three of his pass attempts for 35 yards.  Rashard Mendenhall was busy in this game for the Steelers as he carried the ball 16 times for 48 yards (3.0 ypc) with a TD.  He also caught 2 passes for 16 yards in this game.  Isaac Redman also had a big workload in this game carrying the ball 13 times for 31 yards (2.4 ypc).  He also caught a pass for 19 yards.  Hines Ward was the leading receiver in this game for the Steelers catching 5 passes for 74 yards (14.8 avg).  Limas Sweed also had a decent game with 4 grabs for 34 yards (8.5 avg).  The Steelers were ball hogs in this game as they had possession of the football for a stunning 41:15 of this game while they rolled up 359 total yards (81 rushing, 278 passing).

Linebacker James Farrior led a awesome effort by the Steelers’ D with 4 tackles, a sack and a interception that he returned 22 yards for a TD.  The Bills could only muster 135 total yards of offense in this game (49 rushing, 86 passing).

The Steelers played this game without Ben Roethlisberger and it showed.  Charlie Batch was off all game completing only 5 of 14 passes for 63 yards.  Dennis Dixon had another decent outing completing 8 of 16 passes for 68 yards and rushing for 20 yards on 3 carries (6.7 ypc).  Rookie Mike Reilly finished up this game by completing 2 of 5 passes for 17 yards.  He also carried the football 2 times for 25 yards (12.5 ypc) in this game.  Rashard Mendenhall was the Steelers’ leading rusher in this game with 26 yards on 5 carries (5.2 ypc).  Willie Parker pitched in with 13 yards rushing on 4 carries (3.3 ypc) with a TD.  WR Martin Nance led the Steelers in the passing game with 2 receptions for 26 yards (13.0 avg).  The Steelers had 11 different receivers catch a pass in this game.  The Steelers only had the football for 24:32 of this game and they finished up with only 238 total yards (99 rushing, 139 passing).

Rookie DT Ziggy Hood was unstoppable for the Steelers in this game with 4 tackles and 2 sacks.  CB Keiwan Ratliff also had a outstanding game with 3 tackles and a interception.  The Redskins rushed for 167 yards on 41 carries (4.1 ypc) as the Steelers’ D seemed to wear down from being on the field so much.  But they were solid against the Redskins’ passing attack only allowing 137 yards thru the air.

The offense for the Steelers were sleepwalking for three quarters in this game as they were tied 3-3 heading into the 4th quarter.  Ben Roethlisberger completed 4 of 6 passes for 33 yards before a quick exit.  Charlie Batch even played less completing 1 of 2 passes for 45 yards.  The Steelers got a good look at #3 QB Dennis Dixon in this game as he completed 10 of 19 passes for 112 yards.  RB Isaac Rhodes was the star of this game for the Steelers rushing for 32 yards on 10 carries (3.2 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  Justin Vincent also was busy rushing for 26 yards on 9 carries (2.9 ypc).  Rashard Mendenhall looked no better than he did last season rushing for 24 yards on 9 carries (2.7 ypc).  Shaun McDonald led the way for the Steelers in this game with 69 yards receiving on 6 grabs (11.5 avg).  Limas Sweed pitched in with 2 catches for 56 yards (28.0 avg) in this game.  The Steelers have some things to work on as they only averaged 2.8 yards per carry and finished with only 288 yards of total offense.

The defense only gave up 10 points despite the Cardinals rolling up 329 yards (259 passing) of offense in this game.  CB Keiwan Ratliff led the way for the Steelers in this game with 6 tackles and a sack.  CB Roy Lewis, LB James Harrison and LB Donovan Woods each pitched in with 6 tackles apiece. 

The Steelers played a lot of regulars in this game but they got Ben Roethlisberger out of the game after one series of handing the ball off.  Byron Leftwich did not have a good game as he completed 6 of 14 passes for 82 yards.  Rookie Dennis Dixon finished up the game completing 5 of 9 passes for 42 yards and he also carried the ball 1 time for 11 yards.  Rashard Mendenhall led the Steelers in rushing with 79 yards on 21 carries (3.8 ypc) but he lost another fumble.  Gary Russell was also busy with 43 yards rushing on 14 carries (3.1 ypc).  Willie Parker was effective in his short time on the field with 4 carries for 34 yards (8.5 ypc).  Fullback Carey Davis pitched in with 11 yards on 3 carries (3.7 ypc) and he scored on a 6-yard TD run.  The Steelers finished up this game with 178 yards rushing on 44 carries (4.0 ypc) and they also completed 11 of 23 passes for 124 yards.

Linebacker Keyaron Fox continued his impressive preseason by leading the Steelers in tackles in this game with 9 and he also had a sack.  The Steelers held the Panthers to only 62 yards rushing on 25 carries (2.5 ypc).  The Panthers also completed 21 of 38 passes for 261 yards in this game.   Jeff Reed was the hero in this game once again as he nailed a 43-yard field goal as time expired.  The Steelers finish the preseason with a 3-1 record as they were impressive.

The Steelers won this football game with defense and special teams.  Aaron Smith, LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison led the Steelers’ defense with 5 tackles and 1 sack apiece in this game.  Jeff Reed nailed a 47-yard field goal with 4 seconds left to give the Steelers this win as he scored all 12 of the points for them.  The Vikings finished up with only 32 yards rushing on 22 carries (1.5 ypc) and they also completed 17 of 24 passes for 131 yards.

The Steelers’ offense might not have scored a lot of points in this game but they had possession of the football for a stunning 36:23!  Ben Roethlisberger had a so-so game completing 10 of 17 passes for 65 yards.  Byron Leftwich was pretty effective for the Steelers in this game as he completed 16 of 23 passes for 129 yards.  Rookie RB Rashard Mendenhall led the Steelers in rushing in this game with 79 yards on 15 carries (5.3 ypc) but he lost two fumbles, one of which led to the Vikings only TD.  Willie Parker did not look good in this game as he finished up with only 18 yards rushing on 10 carries (1.8 ypc).  WR Willie Reid was the Steelers’ leading receiver in this game with 5 catches for 55 yards (11.0 avg).  The Steelers finished up with 102 yards rushing on 31 carries (3.3 ypc) and they also completed 26 of 40 passes for 179 yards.

2nd year linebacker Lawrence Timmons is in a battle with Larry Foote for a starting job on the inside of the Steelers’ defense and he has really looked good this preseason.  Timmons is leading the Steelers in tackles with 12 and he also has a sack.  Timmons has really played well as the Steelers’ defense is also looking tight this preseason allowing only 267.0 yards per game and 17.0 points per contest.  Starting Timmons over Foote in the middle will really make the Steelers defense fast.

The Steelers have liked what they have seen out of rookie QB Dennis Dixon and RB Rashard Mendenhall so far this preseason.  Dixon is really a super athletic QB but it might take him a little while to improve his passing accuracy.  Still, he has a good arm and he will be able to learn from Ben Roethlisberger and Byron Leftwich this season while holding a clipboard.  Dixon has completed 12 of 24 passes (50%) so far this preseason for 109 yards without either a TD pass or an interception for a QB Rating of 62.7.  Dixon has really looked good when he takes off running out of the pocket as the has carried the ball 2 times for 54 yards (27.0 ypc) with a TD.  Rookie RB Rashard Mendenhall has been running hard this preseason so far but he’s not getting a lot of yards.  He has carried the football 18 times for 64 yards (3.6 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He will likely split carries with Willie Parker this season getting a lot of touches near the red zone.