Friday Football Footnotes: Photo of Ja’Marr Chase, Minkah Fitzpatrick during Steelers win goes viral; ex-Pitt Panther rips Bill Belichick
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This week’s edition of “Friday Football Footnotes” has a viral moment from last week’s Steelers-Bengals game. A former Pitt Panther tears into Bill Belichick. Aaron Rodgers looks to keep his run of dominance going against the Chicago Bears.
And Duquesne may not be the huge underdog you’re expecting them to be out in Hawaii this weekend.
Caught on camera
During the Steelers’ 23-20 overtime win in Cincinnati, Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase was caught on camera giving Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick — how can I say this — “the double bird”?
The ol’ two-gun salute. The double “you’re No. 1.” At least one outlet has already turned the photo into a T-shirt.
Chase laughed off the attention the shot is getting.
Asked Ja'Marr Chase if Steelers Minkah Fitzpatrick triggered double bird with trash talking. You bet he did. #RuleTheJungle pic.twitter.com/qzU6ACScSu
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) September 14, 2022
That picture should add some fuel to the already hot fire between these two teams and those two players.
Chase had 10 catches for 129 yards and a touchdown Sunday against the Steelers. Fitzpatrick had an interception for a touchdown and a game-saving block of an extra point.
Shady throwing shade
Former Pitt Panther LeSean “Shady” McCoy is lashing out at New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
“It’s over for Belichick. It’s over,” McCoy said, during an appearance on FOX Sports’ SPEAK. “This is the real Belichick. The winning percentage playing with Brady is 77%. Without Tom Brady, 47 %. He don’t win no games without Tom Brady.”
Belichick and the Pats come to Pittsburgh this Sunday, and the former NFL All-Pro isn’t expecting much from New England.
“Since Tom Brady has left, they look so regular.” McCoy continued. “When I watch the tape, they’re getting beat up front in the running game, defenders missing tackles — they look bad. They can’t do nothing on offense. Every coach in the AFC, for all of these years when they had Tom Brady, they’re saying the same thing I’m saying right now. Without Tom Brady, Belichick is a good coach. Stop with all of this he’s the greatest of all time. He’s not.”
.@CutOnDime25: Bill Belichick will get exposed and retire after this season.
“Without Tom Brady, Belichick would be a regular coach.” pic.twitter.com/3lTqOxjtAL
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) September 7, 2022
I’m not sure who McCoy thinks is better than Belichick and his six rings and nine Super Bowl appearances as a head coach. But that’s still pretty compelling evidence to the contrary of McCoy’s point, even if Brady was the quarterback.
More Steelers news
• Malik Reed appears to be top choice to replace T.J. Watt, but Steelers may have other options
• After 3-sack preseason, undrafted rookie David Anenih eager to join Steelers
• Steelers’ Najee Harris, Levi Wallace full practice participants, Mason Cole says he’s good
Now that’s a track record
If you are dubious of the Packers chances of bouncing back against the Chicago Bears in Week 2, I can’t blame you. After all, Green Bay was bad in a 23-7 Week 1 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Aaron Rodgers and his receivers looked totally out of sync. But if ever there was a chance for them to get on the same page, this is it. Look at Rodgers’ career numbers against the Bears.
Bears fans should be worried…
* Rodgers is 20-7 ATS against the Bears (including 6 straight covers)
* Packers have won 11 straight games after a loss and are a perfect 11-0 ATS (Rodgers 26 TD and 1 INT in those games)
* Rodgers vs Bears on SNF: 23 TD and 0 INT in 6 games
— Todd Fuhrman (@ToddFuhrman) September 15, 2022
Maybe Rodgers wasn’t that far off when he told the Bears “I still own you” last year. The Packers are 9½-point favorites this weekend at home against the Bears for Sunday Night Football.
Ah! So, that’s how they make money
As sports betting is becoming legalized all over the United States, more and more people are becoming familiar with the pain of “bad beats.”
Those bets that you were ohhhh so close to winning, but …
Here’s one from Thursday night’s NFL game between the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs. The BetRivers projected over-under yards from scrimmage total for L.A. running back Austin Ekeler was 94.5.
Ekeler ended the game with — wait for it — 94! So if (*writer clears throat*) “someone” had a bet down for Ekeler to gain more than 94.5, “they” lost. Keep in mind, Ekeler had a drop in the fourth quarter on a play that would’ve gained at least a few yards. He was also downed along the sideline when he clearly had some space to pick up a few more yards during the Chargers’ final drive.
The Chargers ended up losing the game 27-24. But (*writer clears throat*) “someone” didn’t have a bet down on the point spread or the over-under point total, so … who cares about that?
Hello, Honolulu
The Duquesne football team (1-2) has a decent shot of beating a school in the FBS for a second consecutive year.
The Dukes did so 28-26 against Ohio University last year. Now Jerry Schmitt’s club is heading out to Hawaii for a game at midnight Eastern time Saturday night into Sunday morning.
Admittedly, the Dukes are scheduling up from the Northeast Conference in the ranks of the FCS. But they are only 6½-point underdogs against the struggling Rainbow Warriors, according to Covers.com.
Granted, Duquesne’s only win (34-14) came last Sunday against Thomas More out of the NAIA.
Dwayne Menders TO THE #GoDukes pic.twitter.com/GWrDehKsVO
— Duquesne Football (@DuqFB) September 10, 2022
And the Dukes were outscored 78-21 in losses against Florida State and Youngstown State to start the season.
But Hawaii is terrible. They have lost to Vanderbilt, Western Kentucky and Michigan by a combined score of 168-37.
So, the Dukes have a chance to bring home more than pineapples and suntans when they arrive back in Pittsburgh on Sunday.