Madden Monday: Steelers vs. Browns, Penguins’ hot start, Kenny Pickett's Heisman Trophy chances
Many football fans in Pittsburgh are hoping that the Steelers (3-3) will get on a roll coming out of the bye weekend and make a push for the postseason. In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of TribLIVE and 105.9 The X said that effort better start this Sunday in Cleveland (4-3).
“If the Steelers really want to make some noise — if they want to give some legitimacy to their playoff campaign — they’ve got to win at Cleveland. It is a winnable game,” Madden said. “I don’t think it is going to happen. But it is a winnable game. And if you get to 6-3. Then you can kind of grease your way in (to the playoffs). You can kinda just manage your record until you get in at 9-8.”
That said, Madden doubts we’ll see such a result.
“They’re not going to beat Cleveland,” Madden said. “I know (the Browns) have injuries. Who knows about (quarterback) Baker Mayfield? But that team is not based on Baker Mayfield. That team is based on the running game. And they can run no matter who is at running back, or if a lineman or two is hurt. That’s just their game. That’s just what the Cleveland Browns do. So the Steelers are going to lose to Cleveland, and the Browns are going to run the (heck) out of the ball.”
In short, Madden said Steelers fans need a reality check.
“We have to quit pretending the Steelers are a good team. They just are not a good team,” Madden said.
Meanwhile, there is much more reason for optimism surrounding the Penguins. They’ve played five games so far and have picked up at least one point in every one of them, going 3-0-2.
Most surprisingly, the Penguins have gotten to that record missing tons of offensive talent. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust, Kris Letang, Jeff Carter and Jake Guentzel have each missed a portion or all of the season to date.
Yet the Pens have tallied 23 goals in five games. Only the Edmonton Oilers (24) have scored more goals in the NHL so far this season.
That Penguins goal total was boosted by a 7-1 blowout over the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday night at PPG Paints Arena.
“How do you win that game? But they did. But to win 7-1, that’s absurd,” Madden declared.
Unfortunately, Madden insisted these results with a depleted roster come with an expiration date.
“I will say, if the Penguins have to keep playing without those big names mentioned, they are going to obviously lose a bunch of games at some point,” Madden continued. “But this team is focused and more systematic than I have seen in quite some time. They are playing the way they need to play to win.”
Also, Pitt beat Clemson over the weekend, 27-17. That victory vaulted the Panthers to No. 17 in the AP Poll and trimmed Kenny Pickett’s Heisman Trophy odds to +1200, according to BetRivers.com. Only three players are in front of Pickett on their odds board — Alabama quarterback Bryce Young (+150), Mississippi quarterback Matt Corral (+250) and Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud (+600).
But Madden is still dubious of Pickett’s chances.
“Kenny Pickett is an excellent quarterback,” Madden said. “I don’t buy that he is a Heisman finalist, let alone a winner. I don’t buy that he is a first-round pick. He’s a very good college quarterback. He’ll be a very competent professional backup. The problem is every time Pitt does something, after not having done something for so long, we overreact.”
Madden also shares opinions on Penn State’s loss and the silly new college football overtime format, Tristan Jarry’s fine start to the season and Devin Bush’s struggles with the Steelers.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
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