Tim Benz Columns category, Page 52

The Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) are coming out of the bye with a game in Los Angeles against the Rams, then home games versus Jacksonville, Tennessee, and Green Bay. Not exactly daunting stuff. The combined record of those teams is 11-12. Yet given the offensive struggles of the team over the...

On Monday morning, following the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 17-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens, ESPN’s Mike Greenberg invented a new word: “Tomlining.” And I think he meant it as a compliment. Yes, the “Get Up!” host turned the Steelers coach into a verb. He did so during a segment breaking down...

The Pittsburgh Steelers are off this week for their bye. But there is plenty to watch in the NFL this weekend through a Black and Gold lens. For this week’s “Friday Football Footnotes,” we give you a list of things to track and monitor while the Steelers take a break...

It would be foolish to suggest that we could sum up everything that the Pittsburgh Steelers need to do to improve themselves coming out of the bye weekend in one column. As far as division-leading teams at the quarter pole go, this one is about as flawed as I’ve ever...

The Pittsburgh Steelers feel like the worst 3-2 team in the history of the NFL. The Penguins blew a two-goal lead in their home opener. And the Steelers offensive coordinator is apparently getting booed everywhere in the 412 and 724 area codes. So, as you may be able to assume,...

Thursday’s “First Call” illustrates the love the national media still has for Mike Tomlin. James Harrison applauds T.J. Watt while J.J. Watt discusses the scrutiny of Matt Canada. Also, Connor Bedard scores his first NHL goal, and an ex-Pittsburgh Penguin gets off on the right foot. Laying it on a...

Wednesday’s “First Call” features a gnarly update on the finger injury suffered by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt. Joey Porter Jr. goes in-depth on his first career interception. The Steelers’ next opponent made a trade. And we have some NHL-opening gambling lines. Dislocated digit Not much attention was paid to...

So the Chicago Blackhawks came to Pittsburgh and spoiled a Penguins party. If Mike Lange was still doing play-by-play, this would be a perfect spot to drop in, “I’ve seen that fish before.” There was one significant difference between the Blackhawks winning 5-2 at PPG Paints Arena in the Pens’...

The Pittsburgh Penguins open their season Tuesday night at PPG Paints Arena against Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks. It’s the first of 82 games and the start of six months worth of angst, tension, excitement and agony. That’s why we love it. Here are the five biggest questions I...

Tuesday’s “First Call” features some opinions from former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on the state of the franchise’s offense. We check in on a former Penguins goalie. And we have some honors for Robert Morris hockey and Duquesne football. Big Ben’s big advice During his latest “Footbahlin’” podcast, retired...

Monday’s “First Call” has an explanation for a weird moment in Sunday’s Steelers-Ravens game. We review some of the odds for this weekend’s college football action. There’s a hockey trade involving a former Penguin. We take a look at what may be lying ahead for the Steelers after their bye....

It’s not often Pittsburgh Steelers fans come up with a nightmare scenario that involves their team winning. But for those who wanted offensive coordinator Matt Canada fired, this was it. All week, the various possibilities had been discussed. If the Steelers get blown out by the Baltimore Ravens, will they...

All week long, it’s been hard to explain how the Pittsburgh Steelers lost 30-6 to the Houston Texans last week. Now it might be even harder to explain how they beat the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. The boos and “Fire Canada” chants were cascading down from the Acrisure Stadium seats...

Butler’s Paul Maust remembers exactly where he was in May 2021 when he found out that the Robert Morris hockey teams were getting cut from the school’s athletic department. The Mercyhurst player was working out at the Baierl Ice Complex in Warrendale with two members of the Colonials team —...

Neither the Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2) nor the Baltimore Ravens (3-1) are playing like they were in 2010 when they were both 12-4. But the rivalry between the clubs is still strong. And with the entire AFC North already beating itself up and a bye looming in Pittsburgh, refusing to let...

It takes a special talent to lose 100 games in Major League Baseball. Or, in the case of the Pittsburgh Pirates, a special lack of talent. The only thing that prevented the Pirates from losing 100 games three years in a row from 2020-22 was the small matter of a...

Thursday’s “First Call” features a Baltimore Raven with an axe to grind against Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. A potential threat to the Steelers in a few weeks is returning to practice. So is former Penn State star Saquon Barkley. And we now have a diagnosis on that knee injury suffered...

After a 30-6 loss in Houston Sunday, the sharks are circling for Steelers coaches and players. And even the media that covers them. If they lose again at home to Baltimore this weekend, well…. Enjoy the apricot brandy. Here’s this week’s edition of “U mad, bro?” We start with Calvin....

Wednesday’s “First Call” has a Pittsburgh Steelers roster move, thoughts on Ben Roethlisberger as an offensive coordinator, and an injury update from the Ravens in Baltimore. Plus, we include the latest in the ongoing Chase Claypool situation in Chicago. Adding depth The Steelers signed a big man to help address...

When Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Kent Tekulve was inducted into the franchise’s Hall of Fame this summer, we posted a story at “Breakfast With Benz” about how every young Pirates fan in the late 1970s and early ’80s tried to mimic his trademark submarine delivery. I’m old enough to admit...

Before we dive into some of the things that Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin had to say during his weekly press conference, I feel the need to channel Mick Jagger’s lyrics from the Rolling Stones’ new single, “Angry.” “My mouth’s getting sore, I can’t take anymore Why you angry with...

During his latest “Footbahlin’” podcast, former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger panned the team’s late third-quarter decision to throw the ball from the shotgun on fourth-and-1 in Texans territory during their 30-6 loss in Houston on Sunday. “I hated the play call,” Roethlisberger said. “When they called timeout, I’m thinking...

Few cities in America wallow in the negative fallout of a loss by their NFL team as intensely as Pittsburgh does for the Steelers. Don’t get me wrong. I say that as a compliment of the highest order. It’s an indication of passion within a fanbase. It also may indicate...

The Pittsburgh Steelers alumni base has seen just about enough of offensive coordinator Matt Canada. One former Steeler had a fine debut in Los Angeles, while another may be on the way out in Chicago. And we’ve got awards to hand out for Duquesne football and Robert Morris women’s hockey....

On the heels of an embarrassing 30-6 loss in Houston on Sunday, Mark Madden of TribLIVE and 105.9 The X has a big picture point to raise about the Pittsburgh Steelers. “Maybe this is the real Steelers. Maybe they got kind of lucky to win the last two games. They...