Live updates: Lions score 14 straight, tied with Steelers at halftime in preseason finale

Posted by Admin August 24, 2024 NFL

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Ukwu gets strip-sack fumble, Lions score again on the ground to tie game up at halftime

Hooker goes down the middle and completes a pass to Davis for 15 yards, then Jefferson runs for seven yards as the Lions take their second timeout. Hooker scrambles left on second down and gets out of bounds to stop the clock, as it’s first-and-goal for Detroit. Jefferson gains three yards on first down as the Lions use their final timeout. Jefferson finishes the job from one yard out for the touchdown, and with the extra point the Lions tie the game up. The Steelers kneel it out as we go into halftime tied. (End of first half)

Bates’ kickoff goes out of bounds for a flag, which lets the Steelers start their next drive at their own 40. Allen’s first down pass is a short completion to Miller, who breaks a tackle for two yards on the last play before the two-minute warning. After we come back, Allen is stripped sack by Isaac Ukwu as the Lions recover the fumble and will start in great field position for the offense. (1:53)

Funk, Hooker lead Lions to first scoring drive, now trail 14-7 to Steelers late in second quarter

Here comes the Lions offense again. On first down they go to play-action, and this time it’s James Mitchell who drops the ball. Hooker finally gets time to make a completed pass to Kaden Davis for his first catch of the day, then the Lions run on third-and-1 as Funk gets just enough for a rare Lions first down. Lions go empty on first down as Hooker makes a dangerous pass that’s dropped by Peoples-Jones on the outside. Funk finds a hole on second down as that’s the first drive today with multiple first downs for the Lions. Funk gets the ball but is tackled behind the line for a loss. On second down, Hooker and Williams connect for a 17-yard gain and another Lions first down. Hooker’s screen pass to Funk is batted down by a Steelers defender, but Funk yet again gets a first down on a 15-yard run down the middle. On the next play, Hooker scrambles and makes a few Steelers miss to make it first-and-goal at the Steelers’ 2-yard line. Funk gains nothing on first down, but Hooker finds Funk in the flats for a 2-yard passing touchdown as the Lions offense finally shows life. Jake Bates makes the extra point as Jared Goff and the Lions celebrate on the sideline. (2:33)

Kyle Allen now comes in as the Steelers’ third quarterback of the half. Jonathan Ward runs right for a three-yard gain on first down, then the blocking on play-action falls apart and allows James Houston to get an easy sack on Allen. Third-and-14 is a completed pass to Miller short of the sticks, with the Steelers punting to Williams who gets a 14-yard return. (7:35)

Now the Lions offense comes out for their fourth drive today, still looking for a drive to last longer than six plays. Funk gets a toss that only gains two yards, then Hooker misses Zylstra on an easy roll-out pass to make it third-and-8. The Lions offense is still struggling as they have to burn their first timeout after sideline miscommunication, then rookie lineman Giovanni Manu is called for a false start. Hooker is sacked yet again as this offensive line has been dominated so far, with the fourth down punt going out of bounds at the Steelers’ 30. (9:37)

Fields and Jefferson connect again on first down for 12 yards, then Marcus Haynes sheds two Lions tackles before finally being taken down at the Steelers’ 36. Fields tries to thread the needle on a first down pass to Scotty Miller, but the pass is low and dropped. On second down Perine runs up the middle for a small gain of two yards, then the Lions get a third down sack on Fields thanks to Ty Summers. The Steelers punt to the Lions’ 20, as Williams makes a good return to the Lions’ 36-yard line. (11:04)

(Start of 2nd Quarter) Lions start the next quarter on second-and-17 after the sack, as Hooker misses his target badly. He has to scramble on third down but only gains six yards, as Jack Fox puts out a booming punt deep in Steelers’ territory as they’ll start at their own 12. (14:01)

Hooker, Lions feel the pressure from Steelers defense, trail 14-0 after first quarter

Hooker and the Lions are looking to sustain a long drive now. Hooker completes a short pass to Zylstra for a yard, then Jefferson takes a run up the middle for five more. On third-and-5, Hooker runs away from the pressure and takes it himself for the first down on a 9-yard scramble. But the Steelers defensive line is overpowering right now as Hooker takes his fourth sack of the quarter for the final play in the first 15 minutes. (End of 1st Quarter)

Lions load the box on first down as Aaron Shampklin can only gain a yard on the run. Shampklin gets five more on the ground on second down, then on third down Fields doesn’t expect the snap and it takes multiple Lions to take him down as the defense finally gets a stop. On the punt, Williams makes a decent return but the Lions are called for holding. (2:20)

Isaiah Williams makes another play in the preseason, as he returns the kickoff from the eight to the Lions’ 45-yard line. Jermar Jefferson gains three yards on a first down run, then loses three yards on second down. Hooker’s pass to Donovan Peoples-Jones is well short as the Lions go three-and-out and Hooker has struggled early. The Steelers will start from their own 18 after commercial. (4:35)

Hooker fumbles on first drive, Steelers score again for 14-0 lead

Looks like Justin Fields now comes in at QB for this second Steelers drive. They start at the Lions’ 35 after the fumble, as Patterson gains two yards on the ground on the first down run. Fields completes a short pass to Van Jefferson for five yards, then Fields dives ahead for four yards and the first down. Fields continues his momentum with a great pass down the seams to MyCole Pruitt for 22 yards and a first-and-goal. The Lions stop the Steelers on a short run, but are penalized for defensive holding to make it first-and-goal at the 1-yard line. Fields runs outside on first down but is downed short of the goal, but La’Mical Perine finishes it off for the easy 1-yard touchdown run. Even after being penalized for a false start, Chris Boswell still makes the extra-point as the Steelers are now up two scores. (6:05)

The Lions will start their first drive at their own 32 after a good return from Jake Funk. Hendon Hooker makes the start for the Lions and completes his first pass to Zonovan Knight for eight yards. Knight gets the ball again on an outside run for one yard, then Hooker makes a quick pass to Shane Zylstra for an 8-yard completion and a first down. Hooker gets sacked on back-to-back plays, then gets stripped of the ball as the Steelers recover the fumble for the game’s first turnover. (9:38)

Steelers get big plays in air and on ground, score TD on opening drive

(Start of 1st Quarter) Russell Wilson will start at quarterback for this opening drive, handing the ball off to Najee Harris for five yards on a first down run. Second down is a screen pass to George Pickens as Brandon Joseph makes a great open field tackle for a 6-yard loss. Then on third-and-11, Wilson connects with Pickens again near the sideline for a 32-yard gain and a first down. Another first down run from Cordarrelle Patterson is blown up by Steven Gilmore and Josh Paschal for a 2-yard loss, but Patterson gets another carry down the middle and runs away for the 31-yard touchdown. The extra-point is good and the Steelers take a 7-0 lead. (12:47)

Kickoff

Here we go, the final 2024 preseason game for the Lions. They’ll finally be debuting their new home blue uniforms today against the Steelers’ classic white uniforms with yellow and black pants. Lions kickoff to the Steelers, and a penalty on the Lions will have the Steelers starting at their own 40.

Preview

The Lions’ preseason tune-up is almost complete, as they’ll play their final exhibition at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. They’ll look to end their preseason with another win, after defeating the Chiefs on a last-second field goal from kicker Jake Bates.

Just like the previous two contests, don’t expect to see most of Detroit’s starters take the field before the season opener against the Rams, but there will still be plenty of position battles before the 53-man roster is finalized next week.

Keep an eye out for the wide receivers, as there are still decisions about who will make the cut behind starters Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Kalif Raymond. Isaiah Williams has impressed, as the undrafted rookie out of Illinois leads all Lions receivers with 10 catches for 106 yards in the first two preseason games.

The Steelers will also be settling their position battle at quarterback between new additions Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Wilson is expected to start the preseason finale, while Hendon Hooker is projected to start for the Lions after an up-and-down performance last week.

Follow along here for live updates from Detroit News contributor Kameron Goodwill.