While the defense looked bad all game long in a 43-19 loss to the Buffalo Bills, the Pittsburgh Steelers at least had Michael Vick to be happy with on his first appearance for the team.
Vick, signed last week to compete for the number 2 quarterback spot, got involved in the action midway through the first quarter after a very short appearance from Ben Roethlisberger. Vick finished with 4-of-5 for 116 yards, was sacked once and tried to get out running once, not gaining more than a yard.
He didn’t show any kind of rust, which was obviously a big concern. He completed a 63-yard pass to Martavis Bryant on his first play from scrimmage, and although he didn’t throw a touchdown pass like Landy Jones did, he was far more accurate, and is probably the favorite to end up as the leading backup to Roethlisberger.
Besides Vick, Mike Tomlin was very unhappy with how his defense performed, giving up 43 points and 542 yards of offense. The starting defense allowed 128 yards of offense and two touchdowns on the first six plays from scrimmage. They allowed Fred Jackson 41 yards on the opening play, and linebacker Ryan Shazier slipped to allow Charles Clay a 67-yard touchdown.
We continue to be slow starters and that’s disturbing. Some of those guys, quite frankly, look like the walking dead.