Joe Rutter stories, Page 12

Five things we learned from Ravens 28, Steelers 14: 1. Running on empty Fifty years ago, the Steelers authored the greatest run-stopping performance in NFL history when they held the Minnesota Vikings to 17 yards on 21 carries en route to a 16-6 victory in Super Bowl IX. Imagine what...

The Pittsburgh Steelers added reinforcements along the offensive line and at wide receiver for their AFC wild-card playoff game at Baltimore on Saturday night. Tackle Calvin Anderson was reinstated from injured reserve, and he will be active for the playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium. Anderson provides depth with rookie...

Terry Bradshaw already was feeling immense pressure — internally if not externally — when he took the field for the biggest game of his young NFL career 50 years ago. The sight of an apparently dead body lying in front of him only heightened his anxiety before he led the...

It’s not lost on the Pittsburgh Steelers that their opponent in the NFL’s wild-card playoff round doesn’t just possess the league’s top-ranked offense but also the stingiest defense over the final eight weeks of the season. Starting with their Week 11 meeting with the Steelers — when they didn’t allow...

Cameron Heyward continues to show that at age 35, he remains one of the NFL’s top defensive linemen. And, at 33, Chris Boswell has emerged as the league’s most reliable kicker. Two of the elder statesmen on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster were rewarded Friday for their work this season when...

Arthur Smith’s chance to interview for another NFL head coaching opportunity can wait until next week when he’s permitted to discuss job openings. The New York Jets and Chicago Bears requested permission to interview the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator. Per NFL rules, any interview cannot happen until following the wild-card...

Mike Tomlin doesn’t want his Pittsburgh Steelers looking too far back — or too far ahead — as the NFL playoffs approach for his reeling team. Four weeks ago, the Steelers were riding high in the AFC and firmly in control of the North. An 0-4 stretch to close the...

Failing to get the help they needed Sunday to secure a higher playoff seed, the Pittsburgh Steelers will make another trip to Baltimore to kick off the postseason. The Steelers (10-7), who take a four-game losing streak into the playoffs, will be the No. 6 seed in the AFC. That...

Five things we learned from Bengals 19, Steelers 17: 1. History makers Not only will the Steelers be heading into the AFC playoffs without any type of momentum, which coach Mike Tomlin coveted earlier in the week, they will enter it on a historical downward trajectory. The Steelers will join...

As he took stock of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ fate heading into the final week of the regular season, coach Mike Tomlin talked about a positive: His team already has secured a playoff berth. Of course, he also acknowledged a negative: the three-game losing streak the 10-6 Steelers will try to...

The final game of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ regular season will be held in prime time. The Steelers, who have a 10-6 record on the heels of a three-game losing streak, will face the 8-8 Cincinnati Bengals at 8 p.m. Saturday at Acrisure Stadium. The game will be televised by ABC/ESPN....

A third consecutive loss was fresh in his mind when Mike Tomlin promised changes for the Pittsburgh Steelers heading into the season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals. “We’re not going to continue to do the same things and hope for a different result,” Tomlin said moments after a Christmas loss...

The Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee bypassed former Pittsburgh Steelers players Hines Ward and James Harrison once again. Neither Ward nor Harrison made the cut to 15 finalists that the Hall of Fame announced Saturday. Ward made the list of 25 semifinalists for the ninth time, and Harrison...

Within an 11-day span, the Pittsburgh Steelers went from having an outside chance of earning home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs to most likely opening the postseason on the road. They not only squandered a chance to control the AFC North, they find themselves trailing the Baltimore Ravens based on...

Here are 5 things we learned from Chiefs 29, Steelers 10: 1. Sowing the seeds One thing became certain with the Steelers extending their losing streak to three games with the Christmas loss to Kansas City: They are assured of not facing the Chiefs again in the first round of...

His first NFL start might come against a two-time NFL most valuable player and the MVP of the past two Super Bowls. That test against Patrick Mahomes could come in front of a global audience in the league’s first foray into a Netflix telecast. It could happen in a game...

Five things we learned from Ravens 34, Steelers 17: 1. Disappointing defense Russell Wilson’s two turnovers, which led to 14 points, were the chief culprit in the loss, but the play of the defense was occupying the next rung on the podium. Playing short-handed as three starters watched from the...

Mike Tomlin didn’t expect the Philadelphia Eagles to run out the final 10 minutes, 29 seconds to put a stranglehold on a 27-13 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Otherwise, Tomlin would not have sent his punt team on the field at that stage of the fourth quarter with...

Three starters didn’t dress Sunday, and the Pittsburgh Steelers lost two others, plus their backup quarterback, to injury in a 27-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Coach Mike Tomlin said Monday he is leaving the “door ajar” for all six to suit up when the Steelers complete a short turnaround...

Five things we learned from Eagles 27, Steelers 13: 1. Historic horror story The Steelers entered the game leading the NFL in time of possession but ended having their offense on the field about as long as the average hockey shift. How bad was it? The Steelers had the ball...

Safety Deshon Elliott did not practice Thursday for the Pittsburgh Steelers because of a back ailment, making him one of a handful of starters to show up on the initial injury report of the week. Also not practicing were outside linebacker Nick Herbig (hamstring), center Zach Frazier (ankle), wide receiver...

Danny Smith is known for chewing gum with the intensity of a jackhammer. Smith chomping on a mouthful of Double Bubble has become his calling card in 12 seasons as Pittsburgh Steelers special teams coach. It also cost him several teeth during a game last season. “I had three teeth...