Tim Benz stories, Page 28
Tim Benz: Lots to complain about with new College Football Playoff, but let’s pick the right things
There’s plenty to complain about following the first round of the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff. But let’s be sure we are complaining about the right things. One of those things is not that Alabama “deserved” to be in the CFP instead of Indiana or Southern Methodist. Alabama lost three...
First Call: Kenny Pickett plays and injures ribs; Mason Rudolph starts; James Conner shines, but hurts knee
Monday’s “First Call” gets us up to date on the injury front for Steelers-Chiefs on Christmas Day. We have details on Kenny Pickett’s first extended snaps in Philadelphia. Mason Rudolph gets another start in Tennessee. James Conner has a mixed day for the Arizona Cardinals. Plus, we look at some...
Madden Monday: Losses to Eagles, Ravens makes you wonder if Steelers’ hot start was ‘fool’s gold’
On the surface, back-to-back losses by scores of 27-13 and 34-17 to the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens look bad enough. But as Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLive said during this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, things were actually worse than that. “I think both the Philadelphia and...
Airing of Grievances: Ravens exploit Russell Wilson’s mistakes, overmatched defense in sound defeat of SteelersVideo
So much for the concept that the Pittsburgh Steelers’ recent dominance over the Baltimore Ravens had diminished this great AFC North rivalry. So much for the idea that the Ravens had developed “little brother” syndrome when seeing black and gold on the other side of the field. If that was...
Football Footnotes: AFC playoff picture could shift dramatically before Sunday’s games even start
The AFC playoff picture is going to come into sharp focus after Week 16 is done. For the most part, that’ll happen before Sunday’s games even start. The AFC West wild card showdown between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers already took place on Thursday night. The Steelers-Ravens and...
Tim Benz: For the College Football Playoff, let’s hope the games overcome the planning
The 12-team College Football Playoff begins Friday. I’d like to be more excited about it than I am. That’s probably because three of the first-round CFP contests are occurring on a Pittsburgh Steelers’ game day. The lone game I’ll definitely get to watch is the Friday night opener between No....
First Call: Ravens TE praises fans for keeping Terrible Towels in Pittsburgh; Baltimore injuries to watch
Friday’s “First Call” examines the Ravens injury report as the Steelers get ready to visit them Saturday in Baltimore. One of the Ravens is reminding the franchise’s fans how important it is to avoid selling their tickets to folks from Pittsburgh. The Penguins head into Christmas break against some divisional...
Tim Benz: The Steelers’ ‘old pickup truck’ run game needs to find a higher gear
To an extent, I get where Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is coming from when he defends some of the issues surrounding his offense’s rushing attack. Sometimes, you grow attached to your car or truck to an illogical degree. I had an old Jeep I really liked, and I...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans dislike media take on loss to Eagles, criticize Najee Harris and NFL officialsVideo
Based on some of the responses to my posts in the wake of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ loss in Philadelphia on Sunday, I’m hoping to get some of my readers a very specific present for Christmas. The gift of reading comprehension. I may also throw in a coupon for common sense...
First Call: J.J. Watt gives health update on T.J.; ‘TNF’ game could have big impact on SteelersVideo
Thursday’s “First Call” has a health update on Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowler T.J. Watt from a family source. We get word on the status of a few banged-up Baltimore Ravens too. We also get the rundown on how the “Thursday Night Football” game impacts whoever wins the AFC North. And...
Steelers LB Patrick Queen unfazed by upcoming return to Baltimore
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen is unfazed about how he will be received by the fans in Baltimore on Saturday afternoon. If anything, he’s looking forward to it. “I’m probably going to get a lot of ‘F-You’s’ and boos and stuff,” Queen said. “At the end of the day, I...
First Call: Eagles DB says Kenny Pickett gave ‘tips’ to beat Steelers; Ravens confident for Steelers rematch
Wednesday’s “First Call” shows us that the Baltimore Ravens are confident about Saturday’s game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers, despite their recent woes in the rivalry. And we now know the officiating crew for that game too. The Eagles are saying former Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett helped their cause en route...
Tim Benz: Penguins beat Kings ‘at their own game’ — who would have thought it 3 weeks ago?
Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic summed up the team’s 3-2 overtime victory against the Los Angeles Kings in the most succinct way possible. “I thought we did a great job of staying with it and beating them at their own game in a way,” Nedeljkovic said. The final score, the...
NFL officiating expert Gene Steratore explains controversial calls in Steelers-Eagles gameVideo
During his weekly appearance on WDVE, CBS NFL rules analyst Gene Steratore discussed a number of officiating decisions in the Steelers’ 27-13 loss at Philadelphia on Sunday. The one that seems to have inflamed Steelers fans (and players) the most is the scrum that broke out in the first half...
Tim Benz: With the Steelers, the harder you look for silver linings the more rust you’ll find
A day after the Pittsburgh Steelers lost 27-13 in Philadelphia against the 12-2 Eagles, I didn’t hear a lot of Pittsburgh fans rationalizing reasons why the Steelers should’ve won the game. What I did hear a lot of, though, was rationalizing why the game wasn’t as bad as it may...
First Call: George Pickens insists of a ‘vendetta’ against Steelers … again; Diontae Johnson won’t play vs. SteelersVideo
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens is calling out NFL officiating. The Baltimore Ravens are telling Diontae Johnson to stay home. The Penguins will face stiff competition Tuesday night. And Duquesne star Megan McConnell is getting honored. All that in “First Call” Tuesday. ‘V’ for ‘Vendetta’ It’s certainly not for...
First Call: Steelers early underdogs in Baltimore; Patrick Mahomes injures ankle
In Monday’s “First Call,” the Pittsburgh Steelers are already underdogs for Saturday’s game in Baltimore. The Chiefs are monitoring Patrick Mahomes’ injured ankle before their Saturday date with Houston. A pair of former Steelers found the end zone in wins for their teams. Mason Rudolph saw some action for Tennessee....
Madden Monday: On loss to Philly — ‘I never felt the Steelers were in danger of winning that game’
If you are looking for positives, the Pittsburgh Steelers can take from Sunday’s 27-13 loss to the Eagles, good luck. Those are going to be tough to unearth, seeing as how the team held onto the ball for only about 20 minutes, had just one touchdown drive, and could only...
Airing of Grievances: Tackling woes, failed conversion downs sink Steelers’ latest attempt to win in Philadelphia
With the Pittsburgh Steelers failing to win in Philadelphia since 1965, let’s not be surprised by the club dropping another contest there again Sunday, 27-13. Very few people, including myself, expected them to even cover the 5½-point spread against the (now) 12-2 Eagles. But, at 10-3 entering the game, there...
Football Footnotes: Key matchups the Steelers must win vs. Eagles beyond containing Saquon Barkley
The most obvious task at hand for the Pittsburgh Steelers this week is figuring out a way to control Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley. The Penn State product is leading the NFL in rushing with 1,623 yards. Every coach and player in the Steelers locker room has talked about...
First Call: Travis Kelce’s high praise for Pat Freiermuth; Steelers’ value bumps on Forbes list
Friday’s “First Call” has the latest financial value of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pat Freiermuth gets some high praise. The Penguins look to carry over Thursday’s success in Canada. Plus, we check out this weekend’s slate of games in college basketball and hockey. Money, money, money, money Forbes has published its...
First Call: Steelers expect Eagles to get A.J. Brown more involved; Joey Porter Jr. discusses defensive assignmentsVideo
Thursday’s “First Call” finds a Pittsburgh Steeler who is getting ready to play the Philadelphia Eagles for a second time this year. Joey Porter Jr. talks about trying to slow the Eagles’ offensive attack. The Penguins are heading up to Canada. And an AFC contender is keeping a close eye...
U mad, bro?: Readers fuming about Steelers fans’ behavior, George Pickens media coverage, MLB contracts
The Pittsburgh Steelers have won two in a row. The Penguins are generally playing better. And it even appears the Pirates are trying to address their first base hole with someone who isn’t old, washed up and overweight. So, generally, readers are in a good mood right now. Keep in...
Avs’ stars not the only factor in Penguins’ loss to Colorado
Better editions of the Pittsburgh Penguins than this year’s model certainly would’ve had trouble with the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night. That’s a team with recent Stanley Cup pedigree, and the Avs played like it at PPG Paints Arena en route to a 6-2 win. Two-time All-Star Mikko Rantanen had...
Tim Benz: Lots to be gleaned from Steelers’ 3-game gauntlet
For the Pittsburgh Steelers, their long-awaited mid-winter slog through three playoff-quality opponents begins this weekend. Three games over 11 days. Three opponents that have combined for 31 wins. The first game is Sunday in Philadelphia against the 11-2 Eagles. Then the Steelers face their arch-rivals from the AFC North on...
