Steelers vs. Panthers, Preseason Week 3: Final Score and Highlights

The Pittsburgh Steelers will be on the road for two of their three 2025 preseason games, and this is the third, and final, preseason game of the season. The Steelers travel to play the Carolina Panthers with both teams looking for a victory in the exhibition season, but also to get their players more work before the real games begin.

This was the third game action for many of the Steelers players and the hope is the team can build off the success they saw throughout the first two weeks of the 2025 Preseason where they beat the Jacksonville Jaguars and lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Saturday night.

In this article we will highlight the most important aspect of the game, the highlights. By quarter we will have big plays, including scoring plays, right here as well as score updates as the game progresses.

Let the 2025 preseason continue!

1st Quarter

The Pittsburgh Steelers started the game with the football, and had several of their starters in the lineup for the first time this preseason. Unfortunately, their opening drive was marred with penalties. Even after a defensive pass interference call got the Steelers across midfield, the drive stalled and saw Cameron Johnston come on the field for the first punt of the game.

Starting with the football just outside of their own 20-yard line, the Panthers back-ups did work against a Steelers defense which had almost all of its starters outside of Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt playing. The Pittsburgh tackling was not good, but when the field go short the defense held strong and forced a field goal.

The 43-yard field goal was good, giving the Panthers a 3-0 lead with 4:20 remaining in the opening quarter.

A Steelers three-and-out gave the ball right back to Carolina, but the Panthers had a three-and-out of their own to follow.

The Steelers had possession of the football at the end of the 1st quarter.

Score after the 1st Quarter: Panthers 3, Steelers 0

2nd Quarter

The first play from the Steelers to start the second half saw Mason Rudolph throw an interception, giving the ball right back to the Panthers.

Panthers rookie safety Lathan Ransom picks off Rudolph!

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The Panthers faced a 3rd and 4 from the 5-yard line, and DeMarvin Leal looked as if he had the quarterback lined up, but Jack Plummer was able to escape. He looked in the end-zone, and his pass was intercepted by James Pierre for the Steelers first takeaway of the game.

A pick in the end zone gives the ball back to Pittsburgh

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Skylar Thompson entered the game, and took the offense quickly down the field. Chunk plays to Ke’Shawn Williams, and back-to-back throws to Scotty Miller got the offense in the red-zone. From there, it was Thompson who found Lance McCutcheon for the team’s first score of the game.

Skylar Thompson touchdown pass to Lance McCutcheon!

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Chris Boswell kicked the extra point, making the score 7-3 with 5:47 remaining in the half.

Carolina took the football and moved down the field to eventually face a 3rd and goal with just 22 seconds remaining in the half. Plummer was able to find a wide open receiver for the Panthers touchdown.

Jack Plummer to a WIDE OPEN James Mitchell for the score before the half

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The extra point was good, making the score 10-7, and it looked as if that score would carry into halftime, but Thompson went deep to Scotty Miller to put the Steelers in field goal range with just 4 seconds left in the half.

Skylar Thompson airs it out to Scotty Miller for a gain of 53 yards

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Ben Sauls 38-yard field goal was good, making the score 10-10 at halftime.

Score at Halftime: Panthers 10, Steelers 10

3rd Quarter

The Panthers started the second half with the football, but the drive didn’t last long before rookie Yahya Black dominated the offensive line on back-to-back plays, the second of his pressures resulted in a fumble which was recovered by the Steelers.

The great field position didn’t turn into a touchdown, but it did equate to points. Penalties pushed the ball backwards, and Ben Sauls’ kick was good, making the score 13-10 with 5:07 left in the 3rd quarter.

Following a short drive by the Panthers, the Steelers were on the move as the quarter came to a close.

Score after the 3rd Quarter: Steelers 13, Panthers 10

4th Quarter

The Logan Woodside led offense moved the ball into Carolina territory to start the 4th quarter, and the offense was able to put up another Sauls field goal to make the score 16-10 with 13:45 left in the regulation.

With both teams emptying their benches in the final frame of the preseason, there were more punts than big plays made. Nonetheless, with two minutes remaining the Panthers opened up the offense and moved the ball into Pittsburgh territory. The drive would stall, and the score Steelers would claim victory.

FINAL SCORE: Steelers 19, Panthers 10

Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the New York Jets in Week 1 of the NFL Regular Season.