With veteran signal-callers Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph on the bench for Pittsburgh's second preseason tilt, it was the youngsters' time to shine on Friday night.
However, Will Howard and Drew Allar struggled to break through in their latest outings, leading the Steelers to zero points in 11 combined drives in a 17-0 loss to the visiting Jets.
The result was a disappointing one for coach Mike McCarthy, who saw standout play from both Howard and Allar in Pittsburgh's first preseason game.
"If I'm looking for one clean way to explain the production of going down from eight days ago today, the details and the execution wasn't as high," McCarthy said after the game, via ESPN.
The second-year Howard got the start, picking up one first down on the Steelers' first two drives. The next two marches ended in Howard interceptions in Jets territory.
On his first pick, Howard didn't see a streaking Andre Cisco when eyeing down Roman Wilson, his second read, on a third-and-4 in the red zone. On the second, the former sixth-round pick underthrew Wilson in the middle of the field, finding Samuel Womack instead. It was Howard's final pass of the game.
Those were two of just five incompletions for Howard on the night, who exited at halftime having completed 10 of 15 passes for 74 yards.
"I felt really comfortable in the pocket," Howard said. "I felt like I was going through my progressions well, especially early first and second down, and felt good about how I played, but those two turnovers will really, really make it sour."