Lions-Vikings Christmas game on Netflix sets NFL streaming record, averaging 27.5M viewers
LOS ANGELES — Two of the NFL’s three Christmas Day games set viewership records. The Detroit Lions-Minnesota Vikings late afternoon game on Netflix became the most-streamed NFL game in U.S. history and the Denver Broncos-Kansas City Chiefs night game set a record for Amazon Prime Video. The Vikings’ 23-10 victory...
Former Penguins All-Star Lowell MacDonald dies
Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Lowell MacDonald, an All-Star in the early years of the franchise, died on Sunday. He was 84. R.H. Porter Funeral Home in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, McDonald’s home province, announced his death. A cause of death was not reported. Born Aug. 30, 1941, MacDonald broke into...
‘Having him back is definitely going to be awesome’: Steelers eager for T.J. Watt return
Once again, T.J. Watt was on the field during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Wednesday. With a win-or-go-home game looming in four days, Watt’s Pittsburgh Steelers teammates are heartened that it is increasingly appearing as if Watt will be available for it. “It’s going to be awesome...
Iowa holds off Vanderbilt’s comeback bid for victory in the ReliaQuest Bowl
TAMPA, Fla. — Mark Gronowski threw two touchdowns and rushed for another to lead Iowa to a 34-27 win over No. 13 Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Wednesday. Gronowski was 16 of 22 passing for 212 yards, throwing touchdowns passes of 10 and 21 yards to Reece Vander Zee...
Calvin Austin III returns to Steelers practice, hopes to play vs. Ravens
The beleaguered wide receivers corps of the Pittsburgh Steelers received a boost Wednesday with the return of Calvin Austin III to practice. Austin missed this past Sunday’s loss at the Cleveland Browns and had to leave the prior game — a win at the Detroit Lions — because of a...
Aaron Rodgers isn’t looking at Steelers future beyond Sunday’s winner-take-all finale vs. Ravens
For the second time in his 21-year career, Aaron Rodgers has a chance to lead his team into the postseason with a victory in a winner-take-all game with a division title on the line. Extending his season beyond the Pittsburgh Steelers’ regular-season finale Sunday night against the Baltimore Ravens is...
Penguins assign defenseman Ryan Graves to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
The Pittsburgh Penguins assigned defenseman Ryan Graves to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on Wednesday after he cleared waivers. This is the second time Graves has gone through waivers and was sent to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He previously went through that process Oct. 5. With Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Graves appeared in 10 games...
Penguins acquire defenseman Egor Zamula from Flyers
The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired defenseman Egor Zamula from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for forward Philip Tomasino on Wednesday. Zamula will be assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League. A left-handed shot, Zamula has split the season between the NHL and AHL levels. With the Flyers, he appeared in...
Patriots coach echoes support for Stefon Diggs; hasn’t heard from NFL following criminal charges
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said Wednesday that he hasn’t heard anything from the NFL that would prevent Stefon Diggs from playing in Sunday’s regular-season finale as the receiver faces strangulation and other criminal charges in connection with a dispute with his former private chef. The...
Steelers place TE Darnell Washington on injured reserve, effectively ending his season
Three days after suffering a broken forearm, Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington was placed on the injured reserve list. The move effectively ends Washington’s season — although, technically, he would be eligible to return to practice after the AFC championship game, should the Steelers advance that far. The Steelers...
Pitt All-ACC linebacker Rasheem Biles plans to enter transfer portal
The Pitt football team could be without one of it’s top “Sharks” next season, as linebacker Rasheem Biles plans to enter the transfer portal, he posted to his Instagram account. Biles (6-1, 220) made 101 tackles this season, including 17 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He also returned two...
Derrick Harmon wins Joe Greene award as Steelers’ top rookie; Patrick Queen claims ‘Chief’ honors
Since 1984, the Pittsburgh Steelers annually have honored the team’s top rookie with an award named after Joe Greene, widely considered the greatest player in franchise history. Until Wednesday, the Steelers never had honored a player who, like Greene, played on the defensive line. First-round pick Derrick Harmon ended that...
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin looks to win the psychological game in Pittsburgh before welcoming Baltimore
Before Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin attempts to win Sunday night’s AFC North showdown with the Baltimore Ravens, he is attempting to win the PR game with his own fans. And maybe his players. And probably himself. “Welcome to AFC North championship week, as I like to refer to it,”...
Ken Seals, Jeremy Payne rally TCU past No. 16 USC for overtime victory in Alamo Bowl
SAN ANTONIO — Ken Seals had to bide time on the bench until his final college game to make his first start for his beloved TCU Horned Frogs, but it was truly worth the wait. Seals directed two scoring drives in the final five minutes of regulation and threw the...
Mark Madden: Is Malik Willis really the answer at QB for the Steelers?
Every time a backup quarterback on an expiring contract has a good game in the NFL, the usual suspects bleat that the Steelers should get him next year. It’s an extension of a similar exercise practiced during college football, when a good performance by a quarterback evokes cries (or tweets)...
Pirates plan to tap Mason Montgomery’s potential as lefty flamethrower thrives in relief
A move from the starting rotation to the bullpen reignited Mason Montgomery’s career, serving as a flip of the switch on a pitch that turned the 25-year-old left-hander into a dangerous pitcher. Montgomery was struggling as a starter at Triple-A Durham in 2024 when the Tampa Bay Rays turned him...
First Call: Historic result looms for season’s final AFC North battle; ex-Steeler critical of Aaron Rodgers’ decision-making
Our last “First Call” of 2025 features some inflammatory quotes from a former Steeler about Aaron Rodgers’ decision-making. We’ll see a first in AFC North history at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday between Pittsburgh and Baltimore. The Penguins wrapped up 2026 on a strong note. And the Robert Morris men’s hockey...
U mad, bro?: DK Metcalf’s suspension, Steelers debacle vs. Browns, media coverage of loss blasted by readers
I think we all know what the New Year’s resolutions should be for Pittsburgh’s sports teams in 2026. For the Steelers?: Win a playoff game. Find a long-term answer at quarterback. For the Pirates?: Get a few hits. Finish above .500. For the Penguins?: Stop blowing leads, or figure out...
Minor league report: Penguins pounded by CheckersVideo
Forward Joona Koppanen had a goal and an assist for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 6-2 loss to the Charlotte Checkers at Mohegan Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (22-8-1-2) also got a goal from forward Aaron Huglen. Goaltender Sergei Murashov’s record fell to 11-3-0 after he made 19 saves...
Dukes open A-10 play with double-OT win at Davidson
It was a 3-pointfest in front of the 3-point king. With NBA superstar and Davidson alum Stephen Curry seated courtside at John M. Belk Arena, the Duquesne Dukes spoiled a night of gala celebration for Curry and the Wildcats. Tarence Guinyard scored 24 points and reigning Atlantic 10 Player of...
Goaltender Stuart Skinner beats Hurricanes for 1st win with Penguins
Acquired in a Dec. 12 trade, goaltender Stuart Skinner had yet to enjoy a victory in his first three games as an employee of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Not coincidentally, he had yet to work with a lead at any point in those three contests. Each of those trends came to...
Pitt men let lead slip away, lose at Miami in ACC opener
The Pitt men’s basketball team appeared ready Tuesday night to emerge from the other side of the enormous hole they had dug themselves with surprising losses during their nonconference schedule. The Watsco Center isn’t a place, however, where the Panthers have ever been able to get themselves right. Pitt led...
Illinois beats Tennessee in the Music City Bowl to keep Big Ten undefeated this bowl season
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — David Olano kicked a 29-yard field goal as time expired, and Illinois beat Tennessee, 30-28, on Tuesday night in the Music City Bowl. Illinois (9-4) posted the first back-to-back nine-win seasons in program history along with winning the first game between these programs. Olano’s winning kick was...
Nuggets star Nikola Jokic hyperextends left knee, will be evaluated in 4 weeks
MIAMI — Nikola Jokic is only going to miss a few weeks, which is surely cause for the Denver Nuggets to take a giant sigh of relief. The Nuggets’ superstar center has been diagnosed with a hyperextended left knee, the team said Tuesday, adding that the three-time MVP will be...
No. 3 Georgia eager to make better Sugar Bowl memories; No. 6 Ole Miss eyes payback
NEW ORLEANS — For the Georgia Bulldogs and coach Kirby Smart, last year’s Sugar Bowl brought a heavy dose of sadness that had more to do with life — and the loss of it — than football. As fate would have it, the third-ranked Bulldogs (12-1, No. 3 seed CFP)...
