Steelers/NFL category, Page 178

Falling into a 2-6 hole near the midpoint of a season is usually a recipe to look to the future for NFL teams, with only two teams ever climbing out of that hole to reach the postseason. Headed into Week 18 of this season, three teams that lost six of...

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...

There was no shortage of medical personnel on hand Monday night when Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed after going into cardiac arrest in the first quarter of a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Hamlin, a McKees Rocks native who attended Central Catholic and Pitt before entering...

Calling it a “really personal thing” because of their Pittsburgh ties, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin spoke about his “respect and love” for Damar Hamlin, the former Central Catholic and Pitt star who is in critical condition after going into cardiac arrest during an NFL game Monday night. Hamlin, 24, was...

By winning three in a row and six of their past eight games, the Pittsburgh Steelers are in position to compete for a playoff spot on the final weekend of the regular season. Of course, they haven’t clinched one — and might not even with a win Sunday — because...

CLEVELAND — Deshaun Watson signed with the Browns back in March amid fanfare blended with controversy and curiosity. He didn’t really arrive until the second half Sunday. Finally looking like the elite quarterback Cleveland mortgaged its future for, Watson threw three touchdown passes — two to Amari Cooper — after...

Tuesday’s “First Call” has some fighting words for the Pittsburgh Steelers coming from a familiar voice in Cleveland. Plus, we have the latest on the Miami Dolphins quarterback situation. That’s a story that could significantly impact the Steelers’ playoff chances. We examine the next opponent for the Penguins and their...

It will be known before sunset Sunday if the Pittsburgh Steelers will return to the playoffs. The NFL announced its Week 18 schedule Monday, and the Steelers drew a 1 p.m. kickoff for their final regular-season game this coming week. They will host the rival Cleveland Browns. Notably, the two...

BALTIMORE — Kenny Pickett wasn’t the only Pittsburgh Steelers rookie who had his proverbial fingerprints all over Sunday’s win at the Baltimore Ravens. Two recent draft picks played significant roles on the defense in the 16-13 victory. Defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal and inside linebacker Mark Robinson each earned a start,...

Staring at a 2-6 record heading into their bye week, the Pittsburgh Steelers were well on their way to the first losing season since 2003 and, of course, in Mike Tomlin’s 16 years as head coach. It wasn’t a matter of whether the Steelers would be getting a top-10 pick...

Five things we learned from Steelers 16, Ravens 13: 1. Finishing kick Rushing for 1,000 yards isn’t the feat it used to be considering that it boils down to an average of 58 yards per game over an expanded 17-game season. In 2021, the first year of the 17-game schedule,...

Rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett has assembled two straight dramatic winning drives. The running game has improved. The offensive line is much better. The Pittsburgh Steelers have rallied from 2-6 to 8-8 and are still in the playoff hunt as Week 18 beckons. Everything adds up to the much-maligned Matt Canada...

Now that the Pittsburgh Steelers have kept their playoff hopes alive heading into the final week of the season, maybe it’s time to change our eye level on how they managed to do it. In other words, after a 16-13 win over the Baltimore Ravens to improve to 8-8 on...

How did this happen? A few weeks ago, the Steelers’ playoff chances were said to be 1% or something astronomical like that. Now, they’re 8-8 with a pulse. The Steelers somehow came into M&T Bank Stadium, executed a game-winning drive with a rookie quarterback and defeated the Baltimore Ravens 16-13....

Part of the path for the Pittsburgh Steelers to make the playoffs is getting a win against the Cleveland Browns and seeing a loss from the Miami Dolphins. In Monday’s “First Call,” we check on the Dolphins’ quarterback situation and how Deshaun Watson is doing under center in Cleveland. We...

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...

BALTIMORE — The decision-makers among Pittsburgh Steelers’ brass? They long ago believed Kenny Pickett had what it took to lead a team on a winning drive with the game on the line. Pickett’s teammates on the Steelers’ offense? If they weren’t believers before, they certainly began buying in Christmas Eve,...

BALTIMORE – When 2023 began, the Pittsburgh Steelers had a 2% chance at making the playoffs. By the end of a wild New Year’s Day, their odds improved more than seven fold. And now, all they need is a win and a little help from their friends in Buffalo and...

BALTIMORE — All of the pieces are in place for the Pittsburgh Steelers to play a meaningful game on the final weekend of the regular season. After getting the requisite help outside M&T Bank Stadium, the Steelers kept their once infinitesimal playoff hopes chugging into Week 18 with their third...

BALTIMORE — Was Sunday night the beginning of a changing of the guard at a high-profile position on the Pittsburgh Steelers defense? For the first snap of the Steelers’ first defensive series against the Baltimore Ravens, Devin Bush was not at inside linebacker. Neither was Myles Jack. Rookie Mark Robinson...

BALTIMORE — When the Pittsburgh Steelers traded for Malik Reed just before the season began, Reed immediately became their top backup at outside linebacker. Now, Reed isn’t even activated for games. For the second time in a four-game span, Reed is a healthy scratch. Reed was one of six inactives...

Hours before their Sunday night kickoff in Baltimore, the Pittsburgh Steelers got some good news when the Patriots defeated the Dolphins, 23-21. The good news continued when the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New York Jets, 23-6. The Steelers (7-8) now have a 5% chance of reaching the playoffs as a...

With Myles Jack bothered by a groin injury and the Pittsburgh Steelers seeking an inside linebacker to stay on the field for every defensive snap the past two weeks, they did not turn to Devin Bush, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2019 draft. Instead, they turned to another...

Kenny Pickett ranks 31st among NFL quarterbacks in yards per attempt at 6.1. Pickett ranks 31st in yards per game at 185.5. Pickett ranks 31st with a passer rating of 75.7. Pickett ranks 33rd with a touchdown percentage of 1.5. Pickett ranks 27th with an interception percentage of 2.7. Pickett...

For the Pittsburgh Steelers, the year began with a victory lap of sorts and one final playoff appearance for Ben Roethlisberger. It ended with the Steelers breaking in a new quarterback and reeling from the sudden loss of one of the franchise’s all-time great players. Before he retired, Roethlisberger guided...