First Call: Bills coach frustrated with holding penalties versus Steelers; Raiders running back questionable versus Ravens

Monday’s “First Call” shows us that the Buffalo Bills are bothered by one particular aspect of their upset loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday.

The Steelers’ next opponent may be dealing with some problems at the running back position Monday night. The Pirates and Reds are about to get very familiar with one another over the next three weeks.

And Duquesne’s surprise victory over Ohio made some history beyond just the school’s record books.

Feeling flustered

The Steelers defensive front was badly frustrating the Bills during the game on Sunday.

That trend continued all the way through the coach’s postgame press conference.

Via BillsWire.com, Sean McDermott didn’t mince words when talking about how his offensive line handled the Steelers front seven, calling the performance “unacceptable.”

The Steelers sacked Josh Allen three times and got hits on him eight times. They also drew six holding penalties, four of which were accepted.

“That’s where you’re beating yourself,” McDermott said. “We were beating ourselves with holding penalties. We had eight, I think eight penalties, and a lot of those were holds offensively. We can do a better job.”

McDermott was particularly upset that the Bills had so many issues blocking up front against only four pass rushers.

“That, or they rushed three at times,” McDermott added.

Join the club

The Baltimore Ravens won’t be the only team on “Monday Night Football” with running back issues.

The Raiders may be without starter Josh Jacobs. The running back was downgraded to questionable Sunday night with an illness. According to Raiders Wire, it doesn’t appear to be a covid-19 situation.

Baltimore will have no sympathy. The Ravens have already lost J.K. Dobbins (ACL), Gus Edwards (ACL) and Justice Hill (Achilles) from their backfield due to injuries late in the preseason.

Jacobs missed some practice time this week with a foot injury, but he was eventually taken off the injury report. Kenyan Drake and Peyton Barber will get the carries if Jacobs can’t play.

The Raiders come to Heinz Field on Sunday.

We’ll be seeing you

When the Pirates open their latest series against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, it’ll be the first game of many to come between the two teams.

The Pirates have 19 games remaining. Nine will be against Cincy.

The Reds come here for three games this week. Then Derek Shelton’s team will be in Cincinnati for three games Sept. 20-22. The Reds come back to PNC Park to close out the year for a three-game finale Oct. 1-3.

The Reds are struggling lately having lost five of seven. They start the week tied with the San Diego Padres for the second wild card spot with a .521 winning percentage.

Dukes get it done

Duquesne’s 28-26 victory over Ohio Saturday not only made school history, but Northeast Conference history.

It was the first time Duquesne has beaten an FBS program. Not only that, but it was the first win for an NEC team over an FBS team in 25 tries.

The Dukes upset was the seventh for an FCS-level school over an FBS team this year. The other winners have been UC Davis (Tulsa), Eastern Washington (UNLV), South Dakota State (Colorado State), Holy Cross (UConn), Montana (Washington) and East Tennessee State (Vanderbilt).