The game was broadcast live on NFL Network and local affiliates at 7 p.m. ET, providing fans with an early look at emerging talent and backup battles. The Steelers entered the contest as 5.5-point favorites, according to the latest odds, and ultimately covered the spread in a matchup that largely played out as expected by expert projections.
Historically, the Panthers have struggled in this series, now holding a 1-8 all-time record against Pittsburgh. Their lone win came in 1996, while the Steelers have dominated every subsequent encounter, including both home and away games. Carolina is now 1-3 at home and 0-5 on the road versus Pittsburgh, underscoring a trend that continued in this preseason clash (Carolina vs. Pittsburgh series history).
On the field, Pittsburgh took an early lead with a 43-yard field goal by Ryan Fitzgerald in the first quarter. Skylar Thompson connected with Lance McCutcheon for a 24-yard touchdown in the second quarter, extending the Steelers’ advantage. Carolina answered with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Jack Plummer to James Mitchell just before halftime, but a last-second 38-yard field goal by Ben Sauls put Pittsburgh up 13-10 at the break.
The second half was controlled by the Steelers’ special teams, with Ben Sauls adding field goals of 50, 49, and 28 yards to close out the scoring. The Panthers’ offense, led by backup quarterbacks Jack Plummer and recently signed Bryce Perkins, struggled to generate momentum, managing just 10 points for the night. This continued a troubling preseason trend, as Carolina has now been outscored 60-23 over three exhibition games.
Analytically, the Steelers’ defensive unit stood out, with head coach Mike Tomlin giving some run to his starting secondary, including Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay, and Joey Porter Jr., to fine-tune communication ahead of the regular season. Pittsburgh’s backups, particularly Skylar Thompson and kicker Ben Sauls, proved reliable in key moments, while Carolina’s offensive reserves were unable to threaten consistently.
Pre-game predictions from NFL expert Larry Hartstein proved accurate, as he called for the Steelers to cover the spread and for the total to stay under 35.5 points, anticipating a defensive, low-scoring affair. The final tally of 19-10 reflected both the limited offensive firepower on display and the methodical approach from both coaching staffs in their preseason finale.
Looking ahead, the Steelers appear poised for a strong start to the regular season, buoyed by depth and special teams consistency. The Panthers, meanwhile, have questions to answer on offense as they finalize their roster and look to reverse a historical trend against Pittsburgh.