PITTSBURGH — Whatever Mike Tomlin wanted to see from his players in the first preseason game, he didn't have to look hard to find a lot of positives.
And most of it came from an offense that struggled to find production last season.
It began with a much-needed fast start from quarterback Mitch Trubisky, featured big running plays by running back Anthony McFarland and receiver Steven Sims and more of the same from prized rookie George Pickens, who brought his Saint Vincent College magic to the North Shore.
Most of all, it included what the crowd so desperately wanted to see — hometown hero Kenny Pickett throwing the winning touchdown with three seconds remaining to beat the Seattle Seahawks, 32-25, at Acrisure Stadium.
"Very special," Pickett said. "Really the whole night was special."
Pickett, playing on the field for the first time since Nov. 20 where he starred for Pitt, threw a 24-yard touchdown to undrafted receiver Tyler Vaughns after linebacker Mark Robinson had a strip-sack on quarterback Drew Lock that linebacker Tuzar Skipper recovered with 1:10 remaining.
It was the second touchdown produced by Pickett, who said he heard the chants of "Kenny, Kenny" after each score. He completed his first 10 passes for 61 yards and finished 13 of 15 for 95 yards and a 132.6 passer rating.
"I've been here so long and I've never been able to go to a Steelers game," Pickett said. "The first one I have as an NFL player, to finish that way in that stadium with a lot of family and friends was awesome."
Trubisky got his Steelers career off to a good start when he led the offense on a seven-play, 90-yard scoring drive on the opening series, completing 3 of 5 passes for 47 yards and a 13-yard touchdown to slot receiver Gunner Olszewski that put on display one of the reasons he was signed in free agency.
Trubisky rolled to his left to escape pressure and threw across his body to Olszewski standing alone in the left corner of the end zone.
"I was excited all day," Trubisky said. "I was waiting all day for the opportunity and I had to wait all around for the night game. I was just amped up, ready to go, and wanted to lead the team right down the field and score right away, and it was a good way to start the game and set the tone."
Trubisky played only two series before giving way to Mason Rudolph, who needed only three plays after a 38-yard punt return by Sims to produce a touchdown — a 26-yarder to Pickens over cornerback Coby Bryant in the right corner of the end zone.
Rudolph and Pickens connected again on a 17-play field goal drive, this time for only 8 yards, but the rookie receiver showed why he has wowed everyone at training camp. He caught the pass by stretching his hands over cornerback Michael Jackson along the sideline and still managing to tap his feet inbounds.
"George has shown great spatial awareness, the ability to get feet down, make those contested catches, all camp," Rudolph said. "So I wasn't surprised."
Pickett started the 75-yard scoring drive with a rollout pass to tight end Jace Sternberger and ended it the same way — rolling to his right and throwing a 3-yard touchdown to Warren, who extended the ball across the goal line. When he converted the two-point attempt with a quick throw in the middle of the field to Heyward, the crowd reacted as though he had just beaten the Baltimore Ravens in a playoff game.
McFarland, who has done little in two seasons, looked like the player the Steelers envisioned when they made him a fourth-round pick in 2019. He rushed seven times for 56 yards that included a 24-yarder on third-and-1 on the third play of the game. McFarland has always been fast, but he found openings and hit holes like never before.
The Steelers finished with 185 yards rushing on 27 attempts (6.9 average), a good start for a team that finished 29th in the league in rushing in 2021. But it was the play of the quarterbacks that stood out for Matt Canada's offense.
"It was a good first-time out for all three quarterbacks," Coach Mike Tomlin said.
Gerry Dulac: gdulac@post-gazette.com and Twitter @gerrydulac.
