Steelers/NFL category, Page 340
Ben Roethlisberger ready to support Mason Rudolph in Steelers’ finale against Browns
Ben Roethlisberger won’t be in the huddle Sunday in Cleveland. Where he will be is on the practice field this week, on the sideline against the Cleveland Browns and in the ear of Mason Rudolph as the Pittsburgh Steelers backup quarterback makes his first start of the season. With the...
Year in Review: Pandemic-altered 2020 Pittsburgh sports seasons won’t soon be forgotten
When historians proclaim 2020 as a sports year unlike any other, no hyperbole will be attached to such sentiment. The coronavirus pandemic that affected so many lives across the world also drastically altered the sports landscape, causing major events to be canceled or postponed and impacting athletes from the professional...
Ben Roethlisberger: Steelers offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner ‘should get a lot more credit’Video
There is a perception among many fans and some in the national media that Randy Fichtner is the problem with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ inconsistent offense. A very important man, though, has his coordinator’s back. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger wanted to answer Fichtner’s critics in the wake of what were 4½ listless...
Chase Claypool honored as Steelers rookie of year, Ben Roethlisberger for media cooperation
There was little drama surrounding any consideration for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ rookie of the year award. Even without a first-round pick for the first time in more than five decades, the team’s top choice was a runaway winner. Receiver Chase Claypool on Wednesday was announced as the recipient of the...
Browns facility reopens after temporary closure following 2 more positive tests
Just when it appeared the Pittsburgh Steelers would make it through to the end of their season without another coronavirus-related issue, the status of their regular-season finale was — at least temporarily — put into question. The Steelers’ opponent for their 1 p.m. Sunday game, the Cleveland Browns, announced late...
Steelers’ Mike Hilton named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Mike Hilton was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week on Wednesday, three days after having an interception and fumble recovery during a win against the Indianapolis Colts. It was the second such honor in the career of the undrafted rookie. Despite missing 4½ games this...
First Call: Kevin Greene praises T.J. Watt in last interview, more coronavirus concerns for Browns
Recently released interview clips with former Steelers great Kevin Greene reveal his thoughts on current star T.J. Watt. The Cleveland Browns have more coronavirus issues. The gambling line on their game against the Steelers has shifted dramatically. And an AFC contender may have a significant injury issue heading into the...
U mad, bro?: Readers rant about Steelers strategy, Josh Bell trade, JuJu ‘Yelping’ Primanti Bros.
We are three days removed from a Steelers win. Enough happy holiday levity. I’m done with Christmas feel-good drivel. Let’s get back to our nuts and bolts. Let’s get back to what made “Breakfast With Benz” great. The “Four A’s”: Angst. Agitation. Animosity. Anger. Time to get the gravel in...
Tim Benz: Impact of Steelers win over Colts? Opposing defenses will tell that story
A popular question this week in Pittsburgh has been how to view the Steelers in the wake of their victory against the Indianapolis Colts. Are they back to being the team that looked like a threat to go 16-0? Or was that win just a victory to stop the downward...
Browns add 2 more players to crowded covid-19 list ahead of game with SteelersVideo
CLEVELAND — With their biggest game in years just days away, the Cleveland Browns added two more players to their lengthy covid-19 list. Starting safety Andrew Sendejo and rookie tight end Harrison Bryant were placed on the list Tuesday, giving Cleveland eight players on the list. It is not yet...
Mason Rudolph to get shot against Browns while Steelers rest Ben Roethlisberger
Mason Rudolph will return to the site of HelmetGate on Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers visit Cleveland. His turn at quarterback isn’t based on a chance for redemption after he was clubbed on the head with his helmet courtesy of Browns defensive end Myles Garrett the last time the Steelers...
Mike Tomlin explains decision to let clock run late in 1st half of Steelers’ win against Colts
With the Pittsburgh Steelers trailing by 14 points late in the first half Sunday, Mike Tomlin was shaken when his defense gave up a 68-yard screen pass that could have set up the Indianapolis Colts for another score. No matter that the big gain was called back because of a...
Mike Tomlin: NFL has contacted Steelers about players not wearing masks in postgame dance video
Could the Pittsburgh Steelers become the latest team to be punished by the NFL for players not wearing masks during a postgame celebration? Coach Mike Tomlin acknowledged Tuesday that the organization has heard from the league about a celebration dance video that was posted by wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster in...
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin announces Mason Rudolph as starting QB against BrownsVideo
Mason Rudolph will be the starting quarterback Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers return to Cleveland for the first time since the helmet-swinging fiasco marred the end of their game at FirstEnergy Stadium in November 2019. Rudolph will replace starter Ben Roethlisberger, who is being rested until the start of the...
First Call: JuJu pans Primanti Bros., a Steeler is mad at the refs, Bill Belichick has a tantrum
JuJu Smith-Schuster versus a sandwich shop. Bill Belichick has a hissy fit. And how to bet on Steelers versus Browns. Pfft! And you said 2020 brought us nothing good. Here’s Tuesday’s “First Call.” JuJu Smith-Schuster…. Yelper First, the Buffalo Bills. Then, the Cincinnati Bengals. Now … Primanti Bros.? Yes, JuJu...
Is Steelers win over Colts a ‘false dawn’ or a ‘rediscovery’ of earlier 2020 blueprint?
If the usual 68,400 Steelers fans had been in attendance at Heinz Field Sunday, my guess is 68,399 of them would’ve exited the stadium saying, “I never saw that coming.” And the other guy would have been lying. Given the way the Steelers had played over the last four games...
Newest veteran Steeler Avery Williamson happy to finally be part of division winner
To say that Avery Williamson had a career game Sunday might be a stretch. But it might not be an exaggeration to say his big effort came in the most consequential game of his seven-year career. In his third start for the Pittsburgh Steelers — less than two months after...
AP source: NFL fines Ravens $250,000 for covid violations
The NFL fined the Baltimore Ravens for violating covid-19 protocols, a person with direct knowledge of the punishment told The Associated Press on Monday. The team was not docked draft picks for the violations, which led to a coronavirus outbreak and the rescheduling of the Ravens’ Thanksgiving night game against...
The 90 minutes that possibly saved the Steelers’ seasonVideo
Staring at a seemingly almost-certain fourth consecutive loss, its offense appearing as impotent and predictable as ever, its defense suddenly powerless to stop the opponent and a fast-charging old rival licking its proverbial chops for the chance at them a week later, things looked about as bleak as can possibly...
5 things we learned: T.J. Watt making strong push for NFL defensive player of year awardVideo
Five things we learned from Steelers 28, Colts 24: 1. Award season It isn’t known whether outside linebacker T.J. Watt will play much — if at all — in the season finale at Cleveland on Sunday. With the AFC North title decided and the Steelers guaranteed of finishing no lower...
Madden Monday: Ben Roethlisberger ‘was the power and the glory’
Once the Steelers blew a goal-to-go sequence in the third quarter of Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts, one thought went racing through my mind. “So, how is Tristan Jarry going to do as the Penguins full-time goaltender this year?” Why not? Time to start thinking about hockey, right? The...
First Call: Colts mad at refs, Baker Mayfield blames himself, Ravens looming, Pirates perspective
Monday’s “First Call” shows us that the Indianapolis Colts aren’t handling their loss against the Steelers particularly well. The Ravens may be back to Heinz Field soon. Baker Mayfield is blaming himself for the Cleveland Browns’ humbling loss. And a slap-in-the-face reality check about the Pirates’ trade of Josh Bell....
Steelers defense regains form as offense awakens vs. Colts
A sputtering offense shouldered most of the blame for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ collapse in December, and deservedly so. But a once-dominant defense was not without culpability during a fall from 11-0 to three consecutive defeats. Eight plays into the second half of Sunday’s game against Indianapolis, the Colts already had...
Tim Benz: Pass game, Mike Hilton lead ‘Feats of Strength’ as Steelers storm back vs. Colts
Given the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive woes of late, I’m struggling to best express my level of surprise with how they turned momentum in the second half of their 28-24 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday afternoon at Heinz Field. Perhaps, sticking with the tone of the season, I’ll borrow...
Locked in as No. 2 or 3 seed, Steelers could elect to rest starters in finale
In the immediate aftermath of the euphoria associated with one of the biggest comebacks in franchise history Sunday, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was noncommittal about his plans for the team’s regular-season finale seven days later. “We’ll ponder those possibilities (Monday),” Tomlin said after a 28-24 win against the Indianapolis...
