Madden Monday: As for Steelers, ‘I don’t see any way to lose to Cincinnati,’ but ‘I’m not that impressed’
After seeing the Pittsburgh Steelers improve to 4-1 with a 23-9 victory over the 1-5 Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 The X has drawn two conclusions. The first one is that, by Friday morning, they’ll be 5-1. “I don’t see any way to lose to...
Feats of Strength: Supreme pass rush, minimizing Myles Garrett spark Steelers’ beatdown of Browns
Coming off a bye at 3-1 in a parity-crippled NFL, the Steelers were in a great spot entering Sunday’s game. It got even better when the opponent came on the field because that opponent was the Cleveland Browns. For all the talk this week that Cleveland may actually be Pittsburgh’s...
Football Footnotes: Striking similarities, vast differences make this Steelers-Browns game a close call
When the Cleveland Browns come to Acrisure Stadium, there’s usually a presumption that the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to have an easy day. Well, in the regular season anyway. Let’s not talk about that 2020-21 game in the playo…. EU IA FALAR QUE A BOLA OVAL ESTAVA VOANDO E TAL...mas.......
First Call: Steelers could have kryptonite for Dillon Gabriel’s ‘superpower’; horrible night for Philly sports
Friday’s “First Call” examines a potential tactical advantage for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense against Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Tyler Glasnow’s start may be forgotten given how that Dodgers-Phillies game ended Thursday night, but it sure was a good one. And a Penn State hockey player had a four-goal night —...
‘There’s a blend there’: Penguins’ mix of youth and veterans showing instant success, not just symbolism
On Tuesday at Madison Square Garden, new Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Muse rolled out an opening night starting lineup of veterans Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, along with rookies Harrison Brunicke and Ben Kindel. The symbolism wasn’t lost on anyone. The torch wasn’t ready to be passed, but...
Tim Benz: Penguins’ massive line combination provides unique challenge for opponents
With Bryan Rust injured and scoring options limited in 2025-26, new Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Muse is going to be challenged to distribute wingers up and down his lineup. For now, Sidney Crosby is skating with established veteran Rickard Rakell and rising prospect Ville Koivunen. That means Muse has to...
U mad, bro?: Readers skeptical of Steelers’ standing in AFC North, miffed about I-79 cow
The Pittsburgh Steelers just had a bye weekend. Nothing bad happened. In fact, it went pretty well. Every other team in the AFC North lost while the Steelers were idle. Pfft! I know, I know. I see where this is going. They are just setting us up for the inevitable...
First Call: Browns make a 2nd trade before facing Steelers; another ex-Pirate starts in MLB playoffs
The Cleveland Browns continue to tweak their roster in advance of their visit to Pittsburgh on Sunday. The Penguins are going to be part of a spotlight moment Thursday night. Another former Pirate is about to take the mound in a Major League Baseball playoff game. And there is an...
Mike Tomlin sees need for offensive improvement ‘in all areas’ before facing Browns’ tough defense
It’s not just teams in the AFC North that are struggling to find traction. Frankly, it’s the whole NFL. • There are no unbeaten teams left in the entire league, and it’s only Week 5. • The Eagles are 4-1 with the 30th-ranked offense in the NFL. Buffalo is 4-1...
First Call: Joe Flacco ‘welcomed’ trade to Bengals; Steelers and Ravens make roster moves
“First Call” for Wednesday has some roster moves for the Pittsburgh Steelers. We get Joe Flacco’s reaction to his trade away from Cleveland to Cincinnati. The Baltimore Ravens are trying to press some buttons. And a pair of former Pirates pitchers are squaring off in the Major League Baseball playoffs....
Tim Benz: From ‘big picture’ to little details, new Penguins coach Dan Muse shows promise in Game 1
During his weekly Tuesday press conference, Mike Tomlin got a few chuckles out of the Pittsburgh media when he proclaimed “I’m not a big picture guy” after being asked about the Steelers’ place within the suddenly rocky landscape of the AFC North. After just one game as the Penguins’ new...
Tim Benz: Don’t confuse future success for Mike Sullivan with the current state of the Penguins
Congratulations in advance to Mike Sullivan for winning a Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers. I mean, I don’t know that such a thing will ever happen — especially in Year 1 of his tenure at Madison Square Garden. But I just want to get out ahead and preemptively...
First Call: Patrick Queen’s warning about the Ravens; Mike Sullivan on coaching against the Penguins
Tuesday’s “First Call” has a signing of note by the Pittsburgh Steelers. We pass along an important reminder about the Baltimore Ravens from Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen. Mike Sullivan shares his thoughts about coaching against the Penguins. And Duquesne’s football team is honored for its home win last week. Make...
‘Nice to see those teams lose’: Steelers invigorated by AFC North struggles during bye
After the Pittsburgh Steelers wrapped up the first practice following their bye weekend, they weren’t bashful about acknowledging what they had witnessed within their own division during their downtime. “Every AFC North game, I watched,” linebacker Alex Highsmith said. “It was nice to see those teams lose this week. We’ve...
Tim Benz: Attempts to rebound result in very different outcomes for Pitt, Penn StateVideo
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi told a whopper of a lie during the opening comments of Saturday’s postgame press conference following the Panthers’ 48-7 drubbing of Boston College. “It was not my intention to mislead you guys as far as the quarterback goes, but I did what I felt like was...
First Call: Ravens still favored in AFC North; Steelers’ game in Ireland generates big money
Monday’s “First Call” features some surprising odds in the AFC North. The amount of money spent in Ireland during the Pittsburgh Steelers’ visit is through the roof. And there’s lots of college hockey news involving some Penguins prospects, Robert Morris and Penn State. Not believing what they are seeing Despite...
Madden Monday: ‘It’s amazing how bad the (AFC) North is’ — Steelers ‘should go 6-0 in that division’
The Pittsburgh Steelers just had a great week, and they didn’t even play. Mike Tomlin’s team was on its bye, and while the players rested following their win in Ireland last week, the rest of the AFC North lost. Cleveland fell to Minnesota in England, 21-17. The Cincinnati Bengals dropped...
For Robert Morris Hockey in 2025-26, the goal is ‘to be who we say we are’
Robert Morris hockey coach Derek Schooley has seen the predictions for his team in Year 3 of the relaunched program. The Colonials have been slotted anywhere from second to ninth in the 10-team Atlantic Hockey America conference. “We are somewhere between there on all of it. We’ll find out where...
Football Footnotes: How the Steelers can improve their offense during the bye
The Pittsburgh Steelers players won’t be on the field during the bye week. But hopefully the coaches are using the extra time to figure out ways to improve the offense. As good as 3-1 may feel right now, there is plenty of room for improvement, particularly on that side of...
First Call: Could Kenny Pickett, Russell Wilson really be moved again?; Gavin McKenna to make PSU debut
Friday’s “First Call” links Kenny Pickett’s name to trade speculation again. A pair of ex-Pittsburgh Pirates performed well in MLB playoff elimination games. Local college hockey is getting ramped up. And there is a full weekend of bounce-back potential for some regional college football teams. Pickett predicament Could ex-Steeler Kenny...
First Call: Steelers game in Ireland posts huge TV ratings; John Harbaugh fuzzy on Lamar Jackson’s status
Thursday’s “First Call” boasts some eye-popping ratings for Steelers-Vikings in Ireland. The Baltimore Ravens injury report is eye-catching as well. And in the Major League Baseball playoffs, one former Pirate nailed down a save for his team, while another is trying to extend his club’s season on Thursday. Early wake-up...
U mad, bro?: Mike Tomlin’s decision-making, Pirates’ failures anger fans
The Steelers are going into the bye weekend at 3-1 and in first place atop the AFC North. Nothing to complain about, right? Ha! That’s a good one! via GIPHY So long as Mike Tomlin is managing the clock and the Pirates are playing baseball, that’s never going to be...
Tim Benz: For Pirates fans, the MLB playoffs are a bittersweet reminder of what the sport can be — and what their team is not
A little after 7 p.m. I took a break from watching the Yankees-Red Sox playoff game between innings. I walked out on my back deck overlooking the North Side of Pittsburgh. The sunset was coloring the pastel skies over PNC Park, and I thought, “What a great night this would...
First Call: Lamar Jackson’s injury timeline; ex-Steelers DB heading to NFC South
Wednesday’s “First Call” has news about a departing Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back. Lamar Jackson could be down for a while in Baltimore. The Atlantic 10’s commissioner wants a bigger NCAA Tournament. And we check in on some former Pirates in the MLB playoffs. Pillaging the practice squad The Tampa Bay...
First Call: New details on Tyreek Hill’s awful ‘MNF’ injury; Browns also have a WR issue
Tuesday’s “First Call” has more information about Tyreek Hill’s gruesome injury on “Monday Night Football.” The Browns are dealing with wide receiver depth issues as well in advance of their game against the Steelers. The baseball playoffs are getting underway. And there is a quote from an MLB owner that...
