First Call: Kenny Pickett’s bizarre throw; Mason Rudolph and Mitch Trubisky toss TDs; Steelers are home ’dogs to Cincy

Tim Benz
Monday, Dec. 30, 2024 6:35 a.m. | Monday, Dec. 30, 2024 6:35 a.m.

Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett throws a pass Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys in Philadelphia.

Monday’s “First Call” has the day, time and early line on the Steelers-Bengals game. All three of Pittsburgh’s quarterbacks from 2023 played Sunday for their new teams — with varying results.

And, it turns out Marlon Humphrey did have some repercussions for that taunt on the way into the end zone against the Steelers in Baltimore two weeks ago after all.

How things have changed

Back on Dec. 1, the Steelers beat the Bengals, 44-38, in Cincinnati to improve to 9-3. The Bengals fell to 4-8 and looked to be toast for the playoffs.

Since then, the Steelers have lost three of four and are languishing at 10-6. Meanwhile, the Bengals have won four in a row to level off at 8-8. Their playoff hopes are still alive, and they could qualify with a win and losses by Denver and Miami.

Now the Bengals are coming to Acrisure Stadium as 2½-point favorites (via Bet Rivers.com) over the Steelers in Week 18. The NFL has placed that game as an 8 p.m. kickoff on Saturday.

The Bengals have won two of their past three games on the North Shore. But the Steelers have won six in a row at home against AFC North foes. The Steelers’ last defeat at home against a divisional opponent was when they dropped a 16-14 contest to the Ravens with Tyler Huntley and Anthony Brown at quarterback against Mitch Trubisky.

A win for the Steelers would keep them in the hunt for the AFC North crown, but the 11-5 Ravens would have to lose to the 3-13 Browns.

The Steelers lost three in a row last year as well. They dropped four in a row early in the 2022 season.

Shortened appearance

After relieving Jalen Hurts last week, Kenny Pickett got a start as the Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback Sunday. Hurts was still dealing with a concussion.

The former Steeler put up some decent numbers and had a few highlights. Pickett was 10 of 15 for 143 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions as the Eagles rolled over Dallas, 41-7.

That Kenny Pickett - DeVonta Smith connection ???????? pic.twitter.com/Dn7voNxy3r

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 29, 2024

Plus, the former Pitt standout accounted for a touchdown on the ground and hit a 49-yard bomb to DeVonta Smith.

However, Pickett was also responsible for one of the strangest plays you’ll ever see when he appeared to sack himself by holding onto the ball too long through a throw after his arm was contacted by a Dallas defender.

The full Kenny Pickett clip shows his wrist getting hit, moving the ball in his hands, leading to his awkward throw.

It’s not as bad as much of Twitter will make you believe. pic.twitter.com/u4YVHwKGxR

— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) December 29, 2024

Also, Pickett had to leave the game early with a rib injury, thanks to a hit from Penn State product Micah Parsons. His ribs were bothering him coming off of last week’s game as well. Tanner McKee came in and completed 3-of-4 passes for 54 yards and two touchdowns.

During the game, Saquon Barkley rushed for 167 yards on 31 carries. The former Penn State Nittany Lion passed the 2,000-yard mark on the season. He has 2,005 yards and needs 101 in Week 18 against his former club, the New York Giants, to eclipse Eric Dickerson’s NFL single-season record of 2,105 yards for the Los Angeles Rams in 1984.