Pickett’s late TD pass lifts Steelers to victory

PITTSBURGH — Kenny Pickett threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tyler Vaughns with three seconds to play to lift Pittsburgh past Seattle 32-25 on Saturday.

Pickett, the first-round draft pick by the Steelers (1-0) in 2022, is competing with Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph to replace retired two-time Super Bowl winner Ben Roethlisberger as starting quarterback.

Pickett, a former University of Pittsburgh standout, played the second half and finished 13 of 15 for 95 yards and two TDS. Pickett was sacked, forcing a turnover on downs, but had a chance to win the game when linebacker Mark Robinson sacked Drew Lock and forced a fumble on the next play.

Pickett responded with a five-play, 43-yard drive capped by his TD pass to Vaughns.

Lock and Geno Smith are in a competition to replace Russell Wilson the starting QB for the Seahawks (0-1). Wilson was traded to Denver in the offseason. Smith played the first half, going 10 of 15 passing for 101 yards and running for a TD. Lock was 11 of 15 for 102 yards and two scores.

All three Steelers quarterbacks threw TD passes. Trubisky and Rudolph threw scoring passes in the first quarter, while Pickett converted on his first NFL series and led the Steelers on a winning drive.

Trubisky, who played most of the first quarter, finished 4 of 7 for 63 yards. Rudolph ended the half, going 9 of 15 for 93 yards. Trubisky was the No. 2 overall pick by Chicago in 2017, while Rudolph served as Roethlisberger’s backup the past four seasons.

■ Panthers 23, Commanders 21: At Landover, Md., Baker Mayfield started at quarterback for Carolina (1-0) and was 4 of 7 passing for 45 yards. Sam Darnold took over with the Panthers in the red zone after running back Antonio Gibson lost a fumble for Washington (0-1) and threw an 8-yard TD pass to wide receiver Rashard Higgins. Carson Wentz was 10 of 13 passing for 74 yards in his Commanders debut. Washington rookie running back Brian Robinson Jr. ran for 26 yards and a TD on six carries.

■ Dolphins 26, Buccaneers 24: At Tampa, Fla., Jason Sanders kicked four field goals, including a 53-yarder that put Miami (1-0) ahead to stay with seven minutes left. Skylar Thompson threw for 218 yards and a TD for the Dolphins. Jose Borregales’ 49-yard field-goal try for Tampa Bay (0-1) hit the right upright and bounced away as time expired. Kyle Trask played the final three quarters for the Bucs, going 25 of 33 passing for 258 yards with a TD.

■ Bears 19, Chiefs 14:

At Chicago, linebacker Jack Sanborn had an interception and a fumble recovery in the third quarter for Chicago (10), leading to a TD and a field goal. Justin Fields was 4 of 7 passing for 48 yards on three possessions for the Bears. Patrick Mahomes played one series for Kansas City (0-1), going 6 of 7 passing for 60 yards and a TD. Safety Justin Reid, the Chiefs’ emergency kicker, kicked an extra point.

■ Broncos 17, Cowboys 7: At Denver, Josh Johnson was 16 of 23 passing for 172 yards and two TDS for Denver (10), which led 17-0 at halftime after Brandon Mcmanus’ 52-yard field goal to end the second quarter. Ben Dinucci was 9 of 16 passing for 112 yards and a TD for Dallas (02), which was whistled for 17 penalties for 129 yards. Cooper Rush started at QB for the Cowboys and was 12 of 20 for 84 yards with an interception.

■ Bills 27, Colts 24: At Orchard Park, N.Y., Tyler Bass kicked a 46-yard field goal as time expired for Buffalo (1-0), which scored on three straight possessions in the final 8:10 to overcome a 14-point deficit in its ninth straight preseason win. Matt Barkley was 18 of 24 passing for 224 yards for the Bills. Matt Ryan was 6 of 10 passing for 58 yards over four series in his debut for Indianapolis (0-1).

■ Texans 17, Saints 13: At Houston, Jeff Driskel threw a 6-yard TD pass to rookie Johnny Johnson III in the final minute for Houston (1-0), which failed to get a first down in two drives led by starting QB Davis Mills. Mills was 3 of 3 passing for 14 yards. Andy Dalton was 5 of 5 passing for 51 yards and a TD in his lone possession in his debut with New Orleans (0-1).