Big Cat Country
The Jacksonville Jaguars kicked off the Liam Coen era with a day of offensive promise. However, penalties, drops, and early defensive struggles ruled the day, with the team falling 31-25 to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the team’s lone 2025 home preseason game.
Here’s everything you need to know from Jacksonville’s Preseason Week 1 loss.
Live blog:
Catch up on all the big plays and best moments from tonight’s game in our live blog!
Game Recap:
Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin seemed to prefer the route of resting his key players, with a total of 23 Steelers sitting out this one, namely:
1st Quarter
The Jacksonville preseason action kicked off with an early penalty, a false start by RT Anton Harrison before a play had been run. However, the starting offense was able to overcome the 1st and 15, converting a midfield fourth and 1 via a Dyami Brown rush. The 12-play, 44-yard drive would eventually stall after a Walker Little block in the back penalty forced another behind-the-sticks scenario, this one 1st and 20. K Cam Little would convert the 41-yard field goal to open up the scoring. (Jaguars 3, Steelers 0)
With little resistance, the Steelers offense, led by backup QB Mason Rudolph, would immediately advance down the field on a 65-yard drive. The Pittsburgh second team offense would convert two third-down conversions with ease against the Jacksonville starting defense with Rudolph capping the drive with a 19-yard touchdown throw to TE Darnell Washington. (Jaguars 3, Steelers 7)
2nd Quarter
The opening preseason drive would be the only one for the Jacksonville offense on Saturday, with Nick Mullens and the Jaguars’ second team offense taking the field after the Pittsburgh touchdown. Mullens would open the drive with the first explosive offensive play, an 18-yard throw to a wide-open Joshua Cephus. However, that 12-play, 36-yard drive would also stall on third down with a Tank Bigsby incompletion. The team would make the field goal attempt just a little more difficult after being flagged for 12 men on the field on the initial attempt. Nevertheless, Cam Little would eventually drill the 40-yard attempt. (Jaguars 6, Steelers 7)
The Jacksonville defense would fare better on their second drive, with the second-team defense facing the Pittsburgh second team. Jacksonville would give up an early first down before a Dawuane Smoot sack of Rudolph would force a second and 20. CB Travis Hunter, while not making the stat sheet on the drive, seemed to be the primary read for Rudolph, forcing Mason to hold the ball and force the sack. The Steelers would not convert the third and 20, punting back to Jacksonville.
The Steelers would then rest Rudolph for the remainder of the game, going with third-string QB Skylar Thompson. The Jacksonville...
