Tim Benz stories, Page 99

The Steelers and Packers have one thing in common heading into their showdown Sunday. The Pirates will have plenty of company if they hit 100 losses. The ACC continues to muddle through 2021. And an ex-Steeler stood out on defense during “Monday Night Football.” All that in Tuesday’s “First Call.”...

Tyler Boyd’s characterization of the Pittsburgh Steelers was less than flattering after Sunday’s 24-10 Cincinnati Bengals win. The Pitt product and Clairton native said the Steelers “gave up” against his Bengals towards the end of their game Sunday afternoon at Heinz Field. “The last plays of the game for them,...

Now that the Pittsburgh Steelers have lost their first two home games to AFC teams who failed to make the playoffs a year ago, I’m left to ponder one weighty question. Where are the wins remaining on the schedule? I mean, even if the Steelers are to meet my relatively...

The Bengals are laughing all the way back to Cincinnati after a win against the Steelers. The Green Bay Packers are already significant favorites in advance of their game against the Steelers next week. And two former Steelers found their way into the end zone with their new franchises. All...

After a second straight loss to open the home slate of their 2021 schedule, 105.9 The X radio host and TribLIVE columnist Mark Madden isn’t messing around when it comes to forecasting what this means for the Pittsburgh Steelers. “Their season is over,” Madden said during this week’s “Madden Monday”...

For our weekly Pittsburgh Steelers “Airing of Grievances” after a 24-10 home loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, I could just say “the offense.” And leave it at that. I’d be justified. Just 45 yards rushing. Odd play selection. Multiple drops. Four sacks allowed. Two interceptions. Penalties all over the field....

Before Vontaze Burfict and Adam “Pacman” Jones played in Cincinnati, the Bengals had plenty of other irritating players for Steelers fans. Perhaps none was more grating than mouthy wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Yes, he of the infamous Terrible Towel desecration. Well, Houshmandzadeh is still taking shots at the Steelers. And...

I had a realization looking at the Steelers’ extended injury list in advance of Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Ben Roethlisberger’s iffy health status (pectoral injury) isn’t the chief concern. There was a time when the slightest whiff of an injury to Roethlisberger would send this city into a...

Friday’s “First Call” has Todd Haley discussing Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, video of Penguins legend Jaromir Jagr still scoring goals and news about Lamar Jackson’s absence from Baltimore Ravens practice. Also, the story of a kicker who helped beat the Steelers—and himself—at the same time. Going over old times Former...

During his time with the Steelers, I always found Mike Hilton to be one of the more friendly and genuine players in the locker room. An engaging person who really appreciated the role he earned while he was here. A role he eventually parlayed into a four-year, $24 million contract...

Thursday’s “First Call” tries to provide optimism for the Steelers run game. We found a little extra stress for Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor before his trip to Pittsburgh. Two former Pirates homer as their teams jockey for the postseason. And ex-Penguin Beau Bennett never ceases to entertain. Positive attitude...

The Steelers lost their home opener to the Las Vegas Raiders, and Pitt lost at home to Western Michigan. A weekend like that leads to a “U mad, bro?” edition like this. The messages I received from readers were venomous. Vindictive. Vicious. And, occasionally, vapid. I didn’t even include any...

During his postgame media Q&A Saturday, Pitt football coach Pat Narduzzi admitted that his team wasn’t in a properly energized or focused state of mind during a disappointing home loss to Western Michigan. That certainly got my attention. It did again on Monday when Narduzzi reiterated those complaints during his...

Wednesday’s “First Call” has an injury update on an important Cincinnati Bengal before the team visits Pittsburgh to play the Steelers this Sunday. We also take a deep dive into the Bengals offense, take a look at some shifting betting information and get a better understanding of Shane Baz’s Major...

Some put woes of the run game far down on the list of problems facing the Pittsburgh Steelers. To a certain extent, that’s understandable. There are plenty of other things to worry about. Injuries to star players. A passing game that’s struggling on offense, too. Spotty play in the secondary....

After getting ejected from Sunday’s loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, Steelers offensive lineman Trai Turner still may be allowed to play this week. At least one reporter is hearing some news on T.J. Watt’s status. We get injury updates on two important AFC quarterbacks. And ex-Pirate prospect Shane Baz...

As the Cincinnati Bengals get ready for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, it sounds like a few of their young offensive skill position players weren’t exactly thrilled with last week’s play calling. The Bengals (1-1) will come to Heinz Field fresh off a 20-17 loss to the Chicago Bears....

During his weekly press conference on Tuesday, expect Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin to be asked about the state of his team’s injury-depleted roster. You should expect an answer similar to this. “Such is life in the National Football League. Attrition through injury is inescapable in every NFL locker...

For all the problems that exist with the Pittsburgh Steelers run game — and there are many — 105.9 The X radio host and TribLIVE columnist Mark Madden is also concerned about the passing game. During the Steelers’ 26-17 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger got hit...

Monday’s “First Call” has an early look at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ odds of bouncing back from Sunday’s loss when they host the Cincinnati Bengals this week. Another chapter in the Chris Archer trade is about to be written. Gerrit Cole had a rough outing at Yankee Stadium. And we found...

On Saturday at Heinz Field, it was S.O.P — same old Pitt. On Sunday at Heinz Field, it was S.O.S — same old Steelers. Yet another upset loss to the Raiders franchise, their sixth in eight games since 2006. Yet another offensive catastrophe. Yet another give-back game in the standings...

Friday’s “First Call” features a harsh rebuke of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The injuries keep mounting in Baltimore. A shakeup for HBO’s “Hard Knocks” series. And cornhole is trying to become an Olympic sport. Seriously. I think. Tell us what you really feel NFL Hall of Famer Cris Carter didn’t...

Part of the reason why some Pittsburgh Steelers fans are convinced that their team has had so much trouble with the Raiders in recent years — five losses in seven tries since 2006 — is that the Steelers haven’t been emotionally prepared for the Raiders. The theory being that the Steelers...

For the Steelers, it could have been a case of necessity being the mother of invention. Or maybe a successful rollout of a grand plan. Either way, Mike Tomlin doesn’t want to talk much about the three-man rotation at outside linebacker we saw from his defense during Sunday’s Week 1...

All nine of the Steelers’ 2021 draft class members came from Power 5 conference programs. One benefit of that is the players come to the NFL having a feel for big-time football. The daily mechanisms and framework that exist on that scale. The pressures and expectations associated with being a...