The idiom “a knee jerk reaction” means that you respond to something in an equally unthinking way. That’s something as sports fans that we typically do, and if it’s in an unthinking way then I definitely qualify. Knee jerks apply especially if you are a full blood Yinzer, or even just a part Yinzer, who am I fooling it’s more like if you are a Steeler fan in general. As is the custom, I compile my knee-jerk thoughts and publish them immediately after each Steelers game (my son Kyle might have a few things to say as well). It’s my version of running my mouth first and apologizing later (if at all). So with that being said, it’s time to react to the Steelers Preseason Week 1 game against Tampa Bay. Let’s get this going, HERE……WE……GO!!!

1st Quarter

• 20 minutes until game time and I’m already a little bummed out as KDKA is reporting that Joey Porter Jr. is not dressing for tonight’s game.
• Old man Charlie Batch on the call on KDKA TV.
• Looks like in the extreme heat of Florida the Steelers may give Boswell the night off as well.
• I must pay my respects to BAD and start off by saying Baker Mayfield sucks.
• Kwon Alexander with a stop on third down, followed by a Bucs penalty when they were going to go for it on 4th down leads to a punt.
• Muuuttthh! And that’s a Pittsburgh Steelers….. First down.
• Bob Pompiani called him Mount Washington!!
• Diontae Johnson with a first down catch.
• And then again, for another first down.
• Pickett a Pickens! Pickett a Pickens! Pickett a Pickens!!!! Steelers 7, Bucs 0.
• Kwon Alexander stuffed that run.
• The defense holds and forces another Tampa Bay punt.
• Kenny Pickett’st night is finished. He was six out of seven for 70 yards and a touchdown.
• Broderick Jones is also in the game.
• The third down pass from Trubisky was not near a receiver. Steelers go three and out.
• Kwon Alexander with another stick, but they throw a flag. I don’t understand what it takes to make a clean tackle anymore.
• End of the first quarter. Steelers 7, Bucs 0.

2nd Quarter

• Mayfield gets the Passover top of Pierre for a touchdown. That pass should have been knocked down. Steelers 7, Bucs 7.
• Trubisky on the first play throws an interception. Kyle asked me how we ever thought he was good.
• Isaiah Loudermilk blew up the run on 4th down. Steelers take over.
• Calvin Austin III is fast.
• Connor Heyward with a first down catch.
• Anthony McFarland breaks it to the right side for a touchdown. Steelers 14, Bucs 7.
• Nice pursuit by Mark Robinson on that run.
• Trenton Thompson with an interception. Steelers take over.
• Mason Rudolph in at quarterback down, and comes up short on his first throw.
• Connor Heyward takes a hand off for 5 yards.
• Kendrick Green holds and wipes out of 17-yard run by Anthony McFarland.
• Kendrick Green then with a terrible snap. He probably just played himself right off of this team.
• Rudolph then sacked on 3rd and 32. That series went sideways mostly due to Kendrick Green.
• Elijah Riley with a good tackle on the punt. He’s had a couple nice plays tonight.
• At least number 53 on defense is playing a little better, as Nick Kwiatkowski gets a sack.
• The Steelers get it back with 1:10. Can they make anything happen?
• Fourteen yards to Gunner Olszewski followed by another pass completed to Connor Heyward and the Steelers are already in field goal range.
• Rudolph is sacked. He looks very jumpy in the pocket.
• B.T. Potter comes on to end the first half with a field goal. Steelers 17, Bucs 7.

3rd Quarter

• Calvin Austin III draws an interference penalty on the first play.
• Darnell “Mount” Washington picks up a first down.
• Cody White has to catch that ball if he wants to make this roster.
• B.T. Potter sneaks it inside the left upright. Steelers 20, Bucs 7.
• Nick Herbig and DeMarvin Leal having a meeting of the minds at the quarterback location.
• Nice cutback run by Greg Bell.
• Calvin Austin III is fast. He blows by the defense for a touchdown. Steelers 27, Bucs 7.
• Armon Watts with some nice pressure on the quarterback.
• Keeanu Benton stuffs that run in the backfield.
• Nick Herbig gets to the quarterback again.
• Looks like Keeanu Benton is limping towards the locker room. Not good. They’re reporting it’s an ankle.
• End of the third quarter. Steelers 27, Bucs 7.

4th Quarter

• Fumbled exchange between the center and the quarterback for the Steelers. Turnover sets the Bucs up inside the Steelers 10 yard line. The turnover is now actually under review. The call was overturned. And it actually should have been when looking at the replay.
• The very next play Tanner Morgan throws an interception.
• Another holding call on Tampa negates the touchdown run.
• Breiden Fehoko gets a piece of the third down pass. Bucs settle for a field goal. Steelers 27 Bucs 10.
• Hakeem Butler had the ball go through his hands. That’s been an issue with him.
• The defense makes a stop on 4th down. Steelers get the ball around midfield.
• The Steelers drive the ball down to field goal position but one bad play takes them back to midfield and now a punt.
• Mark Robinson has quietly had a very nice game tonight.
• Tampa scores a touchdown with just under 2 minutes to play. Steelers 27, Bucs 17.
• Why does Tampa keep calling timeouts was under a minute to go in a preseason game and they are down 10 points?
• Boy does Todd Bowles look foolish now. He took those timeouts to get the ball back and they fumble the punt and the Steelers recover.
• Victory formation for the Steelers. 3-2-1 win

Once again, I just fired off what was going through my head at the time. All reactions were in real time. Basically, it is the equivalent of watching the game with me (and Kyle), you just don’t have to go to another room because I am screaming at the television (sometimes Kyle does). Now time to process it, some quick analyzing for the Scho Bro Show, and then put it behind me as we move toward Preseason Week 2 and the 2023 Steelers home debut against the Bills. Make sure you get your voice heard in the comments below.