Steelers/NFL category, Page 329
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...
Mark Madden: Steelers not yet as good as their record, but they have guts
When it comes to comebacks, it’s easy to confuse a last gasp with a new beginning. Such is the case in the wake of the Steelers’ improbable 28-24 victory over Indianapolis at Heinz Field Sunday. The Steelers trailed 24-7 early in the second half. The problems that have plagued them...
This JuJu Smith-Schuster TikTok dance without controversy for victorious SteelersVideo
This was one TikTok dance everyone could get behind. Despite his assertion earlier this week to the contrary, JuJu Smith-Schuster still danced on a logo Sunday. And like he had in recent weeks, Smith-Schuster posted a video of it to his verified TikTok account. But unlike recent weeks, this video...
Long wait to clinch AFC North title ends for Steelers with win vs. Colts
The boxes of hats and T-shirts signifying an AFC North championship finally came out of storage Sunday afternoon for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Rallying from a 17-point second-half deficit, the Steelers used three touchdown passes from Ben Roethlisberger to defeat the Indianapolis Colts, 28-24, at Heinz Field and clinch the team’s...
Steelers rally past Colts, clinch AFC North
With the Steelers careening to a fourth consecutive loss and all of the usual factors at play — dropped passes, short-yardage failures and little first-half offense — a Christmas miracle happened Sunday afternoon at Heinz Field. Trailing by 17 points and looking as lifeless as a holiday tree without water,...
James Conner, Benny Snell split carries with Anthony McFarland out for Steelers
Though neither was particularly effective – the Steelers netted 20 rushing yards – Benny Snell and James Conner effectively shared the load as the featured running back. Snell had six carries and Conner five. One player who wasn’t part of the running game was Anthony McFarland. The rookie fourth-round pick...
Groin injury to sideline kicker Chris Boswell; Steelers promote Matthew Wright
The Pittsburgh Steelers will have a new kicker and reduced depth at two linebacker positions Sunday when they play the Indianapolis Colts at Heinz Field. Kicker Chris Boswell was one of three players downgraded to out Saturday. He will miss the game, his second of the season, because of a...
While Ben Roethlisberger struggles for Steelers, Philip Rivers finishing strong for Colts
Just like the teams they lead, the two quarterbacks remaining from the famed 2004 NFL Draft class are trending in opposite directions. Sure, Ben Roethlisberger has presided over an 11-3 record for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who already have clinched a playoff berth and can wrap up the AFC North title...
Jarvis Landry among 6 Browns out because of covid-19
CLEVELAND — The Browns will try to make the playoffs without four wide receivers, including Jarvis Landry, along with their starting middle linebacker and his likely replacement, because of a positive covid-19 test and subsequent contact tracing. Cleveland’s game against the New York Jets will be played as scheduled, an...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Steelers have underachieved in playoffs for past decade
Even if the Steelers lose out, including a wild-card playoff defeat, they will not make a coaching change. (By the way, if they don’t win Sunday at home vs. Indianapolis, they won’t win again.) Mike Tomlin is immune to unemployment. That’s because he never has had a losing season and...
Steelers Four Downs: Deep passing game faltering
1. No depth The Pittsburgh Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger was successful in completing just one of his 14 pass attempts of 10 or more yards downfield during Monday’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. That continued a recent trend of struggles for the veteran when throwing downfield. According to game charts compiled...
