Refocused, NFL Preseason Week 4: Pittsburgh Steelers 39, Carolina Panthers 24

(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Carolina Panthers on Thursday evening, 39-24 continuing the fourth full week of preseason action in the NFL.
PFF’s ReFocused series this season features immediate takeaways and a key to the victory from two Senior Analysts who graded the performance, watching every player, on every play of the game.
Pittsburgh Steelers 39, Carolina Panthers 24 Analyst Takeaways On the surface, Kyle Allen’s stat line, going 25-for-36 for 250 yards and a touchdown, looks impressive.
The second half saw Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph scramble to his right only for a Panthers linebacker to over pursue and leave his man wide open for a touchdown, summing up the night for the defense.
Carolina’s pass-rushers played well and were able to get heavy pressure on the Pittsburgh quarterbacks.
Pittsburgh’s receivers had no problem getting open against the Panthers defense.
Wide receiver Tevin Jones had himself a game, scoring two touchdowns and making big plays in the passing game.
He had another sure touchdown right down the seam that was dropped.
Outside linebacker Keion Adams was a constant menace, routinely being found in the backfield causing pressure, while Matthews Thomas produced the trifecta, registering a sack, forced fumble and recovery all on the same play to open the fourth quarter.
With the ball at the Steelers 19-yard line, the Panthers had a chance to reduce the deficit to two scores, but with Thomas not only forcing the fumble but returning it all the way to the Carolina one-yard line, the Steelers were able to score quickly and put the game out of reach.