Steelers/NFL category, Page 223
Short drives by offense putting Steelers defense at disadvantage during 1-2 start
Center Mason Cole knows a way the Pittsburgh Steelers can fix their leaky run defense. It’s not exactly a novel approach, however, and doesn’t even involve players on that side of the football. Cole believes the defense can benefit from not being on the field so frequently as has been...
Steelers notebook: Offense among NFL’s worst on 3rd downs, in time of possession
Chase Claypool can’t nail down a common theme for the struggles of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense on third downs. “Sometimes we don’t make the plays. Sometimes we call plays into the wrong defense, or sometimes (opponents) call the right defense,” the Steelers wide receiver said Monday. “It’s hard to get...
NFL ends Pro Bowl, to hold skills competitions, flag football game instead
The NFL is replacing the Pro Bowl with weeklong skills competitions and a flag football game, The Associated Press has learned. The new event will replace the full-contact showcase started in 1951. It will be renamed “The Pro Bowl Games” and will feature AFC and NFC players showcasing their football...
Tim Benz: Steelers have no one to blame but themselves for extra-loud ‘elevator music’ on QB situation
Up until now, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has avoided snapping despite repeated speculation about the status of his starting quarterback. He was asked (once again) about the prospect of replacing Mitch Trubisky — and/or offensive play caller Matt Canada — after the team’s 29-17 loss in Cleveland on Thursday...
First Call: Update on Jets plans at QB before playing Steelers; another milestone for Aaron Donald; rebuilding Matt Murray
Monday’s “First Call” looks at the New York Jets quarterback situation in advance of Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. We also have Aaron Donald’s latest milestone and a big day for a former Steeler in Miami. Plus, an in-depth piece about Matt Murray’s attempt to rediscover his game in...
Madden Monday: Don’t stop with scrutiny of Steelers’ ‘juvenile’ offense; blame defense too
Like everyone else, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X isn’t thrilled with the Pittsburgh Steelers offense during their 1-2 start. “Najee Harris looks clueless. Or hurt. Or both,” Madden said during this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast. “And the offensive play-calling is juvenile. Everything is to the sideline. There’s nothing in...
Rihanna to headline the next Super Bowl halftime show
NEW YORK — Rihanna will take center stage at February’s Super Bowl halftime show. The singer, who declined to perform in the 2019 Super Bowl halftime show out of solidarity with Colin Kaepernick, will headline the 2023 Super Bowl, the NFL announced Sunday along with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation and Apple...
Myles Jack providing Steelers long-awaited reliability at middle linebacker
It’s much too early to say if the Pittsburgh Steelers, at long last, have found a suitable replacement for Ryan Shazier. After all, that quest is in its fifth year. But what definitively can be said about Myles Jack is it took three games with the Steelers for him to...
Steelers’ ground game shows promise but room to grow
For stretches of the first half Thursday, the Pittsburgh Steelers were utilizing an offensive approach that looked like it had been ripped from the Bill Cowher era. The Steelers were running the ball extensively — and effectively — while building a halftime lead against the Cleveland Browns. Najee Harris and...
Steelers 4 Downs: Numbers back perception that Steelers’ offense is as bad as you think
1. No offense, but… Everyone from your favorite talk show host to the guy at the barstool next to you is saying how bad the Pittsburgh Steelers offense is this season. The traditional statistics — 28th in yards, 22nd in points — won’t cause anyone to dispute that. But what...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Steelers need big-money players to make big plays
In Dan Jenkins’ acclaimed football novel, “Semi-Tough,” a character named Dreamer Tatum proclaims thusly after a narrow defeat: “I learned somethin’ a long time ago about football. What could have happened, did.” Words to live by. If Cameron Sutton didn’t drop an interception or Gunner Olszewski didn’t muff a punt...
Run defense issues resurface for Steelers in loss to Browns
Watching the Pittsburgh Steelers try to defend the run has been like trying to absorb Niagara Falls with a paper towel. No matter how often the Steelers try to sop up the leaks, the water keeps gushing through like a tidal wave. It happened again Thursday night in a 29-17...
Steelers WR George Pickens grabs national attention with improbable catchVideo
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver George Pickens grabbed the attention of social media users Thursday night with his highlight-reel catch in the first half of a 29-17 loss at the Cleveland Browns. He also earned rave reviews from his teammates with his one-handed, 36-yard reception in the first quarter that...
Mark Madden: The Steelers created this rotten football team, and it can’t be fixed
It’s the nature of sports fans to be optimistic, however cockeyed. To believe that a team perceived to be underperforming can be fixed. Coach ’em up. Tweak the lineup or strategy. Trade all our bad players for all their good players. Find that secret sauce that’s a cure-all, or at...
5 things we learned: Steelers offense continues to spend most of 4th quarter on the sideline
Five things we learned from Browns 29, Steelers 17: 1. Offense sidelined When Ben Roethlisberger was making all of those fourth-quarter comebacks last season, the Steelers were a top-10 team in terms of possessing the ball in the final 15 minutes. They ranked ninth and had the ball more than...
Friday Football Footnotes: Determining ‘Truth or Fiction’ in the NFL during the Steelers ‘mini-bye’ weekend
If you are like me, you had concerns regarding every aspect of the Steelers’ offense. You wondered if the run defense was really fixed. You questioned the depth of the defense beyond its three stars. And you wondered if coaching warts would be exposed in close games after losing a...
Steelers vs. Browns: What they’re saying in Cleveland after win
There would be no last-minute collapse this time in Cleveland. The Browns’ backup quarterback greatly outplayed Pittsburgh’s starter. The running game dictated play, gashing the Steelers defense. Coming off an epic collapse against the New York Jets on Sunday, Cleveland made it look easy in all facets of the game...
Airing of Grievances: Browns exploit Steelers’ numerous deficiencies on both sides of ball
For a while, things weren’t looking bad in Cleveland for the Steelers on “Thursday Night Football.” Mike Tomlin’s club had a 14-13 halftime lead. Both touchdowns actually came on offense. Quarterback Mitch Trubisky had a passer rating of 94.7. They were averaging 5.5 yards per rush to the tune of...
Last play of Steelers-Browns game cost Plum’s Pat McAfee, his fans thousands
The last play of the Steelers-Browns game Thursday night cost Plum native Pat McAfee and his fans thousands of dollars. In coordination with the FanDuel online sportsbook, McAfee often identifies a same-game parlay that he and his fans plan to bet on for a given football game. On Thursday, the...
Maligned offensive line has seemingly been least of Steelers’ problems
CLEVELAND —It might not be a strength, but the offensive line hasn’t proven to be a weakness for the Pittsburgh Steelers so far this season, either. “The O-line really played really well,” Steelers running back Najee Harris said after Thursday night’s 29-17 loss at the Cleveland Browns. “The past couple...
Steelers peter out, can’t stop Browns in defeat
CLEVELAND – For 30 minutes, a Pittsburgh Steelers offense that had a space reserved on the back of a milk carton was missing no more. Cries for Kenny Pickett were silenced as Mitch Trubisky directed two touchdown drives to give the Steelers a lead on the road against an AFC...
Steelers notes: Injured star T.J. Watt does drills of moderate intensity during pregame
CLEVELAND — Injured Pittsburgh Steelers star outside linebacker T.J. Watt took part in several individual drills on the FirstEnregy Stadium grass field prior to full team warm-ups for Thursday night’s game at the Cleveland Browns. Watt is on injured reserve because of a pectoral injury suffered during a Week 1...
Steelers rookie George Pickens makes 1-handed catch in game vs. Browns
CLEVELAND — Finally, George Pickens made his presence known during the NFL regular season. And he did it in spectacular fashion. The Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver was not noticed much during his first two games, much to the consternation of many who’d seen him repeatedly make plays as one...
Usual suspects dress for Steelers-Browns game
CLEVELAND — Playing their second game in five days, the Pittsburgh Steelers are making no changes to their game day roster. The Steelers enter their game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium at full strength with the exception of outside linebacker T.J. Watt, who will miss his second game...
Browns’ Jacoby Brissett provides Steelers different challenge than Baker Mayfield
When the Pittsburgh Steelers face the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night, they won’t have Baker Mayfield to put on the ground anymore. In the two games between the AFC North rivals last year, the Steelers sacked Mayfield 13 times, including a whopping nine in the penultimate game of the regular...
