Tim Benz Columns category, Page 82
Friday Football Footnotes: Problems with the tweaked AFC playoff proposals; a Jets injury that may impact Steelers
This week’s “Friday Football Footnotes” takes a look at a dent in the Steelers’ playoff hopes. Plus, we examine the tangled web of playoff scenarios the NFL is creating by canceling the Bengals-Bills game. We also look at the long-term ramifications of an in-season rules change and maybe some unintended...
Tim Benz: Throwing shade at NFL nothing but poorly directed attempts to invent blame for Damar Hamlin’s collapse
Maybe we just had too hard of a time processing what we had seen when Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field during this week’s “Monday Night Football” game. It was inexplicable. It was unprecedented. It was jarring. Acknowledging that we may have been scared by what we saw...
First Call: Ben Roethlisberger’s admission about Kenny Pickett; Harrison, Ward miss Hall of Fame cut; ex-Steeler WR released
Thursday’s “First Call” features high praise from Ben Roethlisberger for his Steelers quarterback successor. A former Steelers wide receiver is back on the market. Two Steelers greats didn’t make the list of Hall of Fame finalists. The Penguins have a lot to copy from Thursday’s opponent. And Duquesne’s women’s team...
U mad, bro?: Fans torn on too much, too little heat on Matt Canada, Kenny Pickett, Steelers’ late-season push
Is Goldilocks actually a Steelers fan? And if so, she seems to email me a lot. Because I’m getting the sense that, with feedback I get, our criticism of the Steelers is, often, too hot. Strangely, it is just as frequently too cold. Will you folks ever let me know...
Tim Benz: Bills sideline reporter shares account of moments before field was cleared after Damar Hamlin’s collapse
In the wake of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s (Pitt/Pittsburgh Central Catholic) cardiac arrest on “Monday Night Football,” football fans are still waiting to hear from those involved about how the events were handled by the NFL. Thus far, Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals players and coaches haven’t commented. The...
Tim Benz: The Winter Classic looked great, until we looked at how and why the Penguins lost
Monday’s Winter Classic hockey game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins looked great on television. Fenway Park was an excellent venue. The ice seemed to hold up. And the game was tight for three periods. Just one problem. The Penguins lost 2-1 and blew a third-period lead in the...
Feats of Strength: Another late Kenny Pickett TD drive, Najee Harris’ exploits ‘push’ Steelers to victory in Baltimore
It appears that the Steelers made a whole bunch of New Year’s resolutions in their game against the Baltimore Ravens. They just waited until New Year’s Day was almost over to follow through on them. For a long time, it looked like the Steelers were going to get all the...
Friday Football Footnotes: Beyond stopping the run, here’s everything else the Steelers need to do to beat the Ravens
The analysis of the Baltimore Ravens’ 16-14 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 11 was pretty simple. Baltimore ran the ball down the throats of the Steelers. To the tune of 215 yards. But Baltimore does that to a lot of teams — with or without Lamar Jackson at...
Tim Benz: Where the Steelers must improve their rush defense against the Ravens
In the week leading up to Round 2 of Steelers-Ravens for this season, one talking point has been abundantly clear in the Steelers locker room: Do better against the Baltimore rushing attack. For good reason. The Ravens trampled the Steelers on the ground last month when the teams met for...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans snap back at criticism of Kenny Pickett and go after Matt Canada, defensive payroll
Apparently, Pittsburgh sports fans want the media members who cover the Steelers to make a few New Year’s resolutions. • Be harder on the Steelers defense. • Be harder on offensive coordinator Matt Canada. • Be nicer to poor Kenny Pickett. That’s the vibe I’m getting anyway. Oh, and one...
Duquesne ready to test pre-conference, home court success on the road in A-10 play
The Duquesne Dukes are set to begin their Atlantic 10 schedule Wednesday night. Their first conference game will be in Dayton at 7 p.m. It’s also the conference debut for the Flyers. Despite incorporating 10 new players into the mix, the Dukes had a very successful non-conference season, winning 10...
Tim Benz: Why Mike Tomlin is so enthusiastic about flexed kickoff vs. Baltimore
Of course, Mike Tomlin is going to hop on a chance to leverage an emotional advantage in his team’s favor. Especially against the Baltimore Ravens. Especially with his franchise’s playoff fate hanging by a thread. When word broke that the Steelers-Ravens game got flexed from a 1 p.m. start into...
Tim Benz: Penguins must make most of crucial schedule grind through Winter Classic
After his team’s 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers last week, Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan downplayed a question wondering if he felt the game had some playoff vibes to it. “I don’t know that I’d go that far. I’d like to think our playoff hockey is a lot...
Madden Monday: ‘I just don’t see the progress’ after narrow win against Raiders
It’s really not that hard to break down the Steelers-Raiders game that took place on Christmas Eve. The Las Vegas Raiders had a dominant drive to start the game. The Pittsburgh Steelers had a dominant drive to end the game. In between, the Steelers won 6-3. That’s it. That’s the...
Feats of Strength: Dormant Steelers offense delivers late; defense responds to bad start
Hey, the Steelers’ win over the Raiders in the Immaculate Reception game wasn’t exactly a thing of beauty either, was it? That game was 13-7 Steelers on Dec. 23, 1972. And they looked to be in trouble until the very end. The game between the clubs on Christmas Eve 2022...
Tim Benz: Flowers for Franco
For almost 50 years, it has been easy to link Steelers legend Franco Harris with former Pirates great Willie Stargell. During the 1970s, they were Western Pennsylvania icons who were largely responsible for turning Pittsburgh into the epicenter of the pro sports world. The prowess of their careers churned along...
Friday Football Footnotes: A Christmas shopping list for Steelers as they look to beat the RaidersVideo
It hasn’t been pretty for the Pittsburgh Steelers lately when it comes to facing the Raiders. The Black and Gold can only boast two wins since 2006 against the Silver and Black. Neither team’s record is pretty either. Both clubs are 6-8 and barely have pulses when it comes to...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans are right to be mad at Marcus Allen, and they’re letting him hear it — Mike Tomlin, Pirates too
So “U mad, bro?” is a day late. And you are mad about that. The Steelers are 6-8, and you are mad about that. Marcus Allen is drawing penalties for wandering into the other team’s huddle and you are all really mad about that. I mean, you should see all...
Pitt basketball alum Curtis Aiken recalls friendship with Franco Harris, how he’d want to be remembered
Pitt basketball alum Curtis Aiken was supposed to see his friend Franco Harris on Thursday — a day in advance of celebrations to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Steelers legend’s “Immaculate Reception.” On Tuesday, Aiken was on the phone with Harris’ wife, Dana Dokmanovich. Aiken could hear the NFL...
Tim Benz: If Mike Tomlin says Steelers non-losing-season streak is ‘little, silly’ sidebar, then let’s treat it that way
The Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t had a losing season since 2003. After 18 consecutive years of being at least .500 or better, the team currently has a 6-8 record. So that streak will end if the team loses any of its remaining three games against the Las Vegas Raiders (Dec. 24),...
Tim Benz: Steelers better remember recent history against Raiders as they celebrate fabled pastVideo
Fortunately, the NFL scheduling format allowed for the Pittsburgh Steelers to host the Las Vegas Raiders this year. It’s also fortunate that the NFL schedule makers placed the Raiders in Pittsburgh during Christmas week to reprise the matchup that led to the Immaculate Reception 50 years ago. Fortunate from a...
Madden Monday: Steelers ‘would’ve been smarter to play Mitch Trubisky all season’
Back when “the standard” really was “the standard” for the Pittsburgh Steelers, no one would be hunting for a silver lining at 6-8 and last place in the AFC North. But standards surrounding the Steelers have slipped dramatically over the past six years since their last playoff win, so we...
Feats of Strength: Steelers win run game battle, 3rd downs, red zone en route to victory over Carolina
Congratulations to the 2022 Pittsburgh Steelers. They are the undisputed champions of the NFC South. That’s right, thanks to their 24-16 victory over the Carolina Panthers Sunday, the Steelers swept all four of their scheduled games against NFC South opponents after also beating New Orleans, Tampa Bay and Atlanta earlier...
Friday Football Footnotes: Steelers’ run defense better improve — or it’ll be eaten up by Panthers’ ‘Arby’s package’
For the Pittsburgh Steelers rush defense, a season of perceived progress has recently reverted to the trashy results Pittsburgh fans witnessed throughout 2021. A year so bad for the defensive unit that it finished last in the NFL against the run at 146.1 yards per game. As recently as their...
U mad, bro?: Mike Tomlin, defensive coaches, punter and even long-retired Steelers get blistered this week
This week’s “U mad, bro?” comes on the heels of a season-defining loss by the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Baltimore Ravens. So I figured the blame was going to be spread throughout the entire organization. You all lived up to my lofty expectations. Doug is fed up with Steelers coach...
