Lions Cut Steelers Lead in Half to 14-7 with Late 2nd Quarter TD

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions match up in the preseason finale for both teams on Saturday at Ford Field, and it was the Steelers fans who cheered loudest in the early going.

Pittsburgh went up 14-0 after a 31-yard touchdown run from Cordarrelle Patterson and then a one-yard scamper from La'Mical Perine in the first quarter.

But it was the Lions who owned the second quarter, with quarterback Hendon Hooker dominating with his legs and his arm. Hooker, who played the entire first half, set up the touchdown with a 19-yard run to the Pittsburgh 2-yard line just one play after running back Jake Funk ran for 15.

That set up a two-yard pass from Hooker to Funk in the corner of the end zone for the score. Hooker also connected with Isaiah Williams on a 17-yard play on a 2nd and 11 to extend the drive.

Hooker is 7-of-13 for the day with 63 yards and one touchdown and also leads the Lions in rushing with 34 yards on three carries. Funk has six carries for 27 yards.

Russell Wilson got in on the action early, leading Pittsburgh on its first scoring drive of the day on a 31-yard run by Cordarrelle Patterson that was set up by a Wilson 32-yard pass to George Pickens on a 3rd and 11 that kept the drive alive.

The Steelers' defense then got the game's first turnover of the game on a fumble recovery when Lion's quarterback Hendon Hooker was sacked and lost the ball.

Related: Steelers Score Second TD vs. Lions on La'Mical Perine Run

Fields was in under center on the drive and led a run-heavy series that ended with a La'Mical Perine one-yard scamper to push the Steelers' lead to 14-0. It was a six-play, 35-yard drive that took 3:33 off the clock after the turnover.

Both quarterbacks are playing well for the Steelers so far in the first quarter.

Wilson went 2-for-2 during his series for 26 yards, then Fields completed 2-of-2 passes for 27 yards as both are competing for the starting job in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 8.