Steelers Tame Lions, Bench Ben

Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Steelers topped the Detroit Lions 23-7, in their first preseason game.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger dressed but did not play.  "Big Ben" will miss the first 4-6 games of the regular season while serving a suspension stemming from an alleged sexual assault in Milledgeville, Georgia this spring.  Head coach Mike Tomlin benched his usual starter and split the game between Byron Leftwich, Dennis Dixon, and Charlie Batch.

Leftwich, expected to replace Roethlisberger as the starter, was largely ineffective, completing 6 of 10 passes for 43 yards.  He was replaced by Dennis Dixon who went 6 for 7 and racked up 128 passing yards.  Dixon made his mark with a 68 yard touchdown pass to sixth-round pick Antonio Brown.  Charlie Batch entered the game with just 4:12 left on the clock.

The Steelers, committed to returning to the running game this season, got a strong performance from Isaac Redman who carried the ball 15 times for 60 yards.  He also punched in a touchdown from the 1 yard line.

Kicker Jeff Reed added field goals from 35, 37, and 32 yards.

The game was delayed for 1 hour and 13 minutes following lightning and a heavy downpour of rain.