First Call: Ex-Steelers rip 'patsy' defense; central figure in Steelers-Raiders rivalry, George Atkinson, dies

In Tuesday’s “First Call,” we hear from former Pittsburgh Steelers who are fed up with the franchise’s poor defensive effort. We remember the role of George Atkinson in the Steelers-Raiders rivalry. It’s time for chapter 1 of Penguins-Flyers for 2025-26.

And Game 3 of the World Series was one for the history books. A former Pirate was part of the story.

Enough is enough

Ex-Steelers have had enough of watching their former team struggle on defense.

After the franchise’s 35-25 loss at home to Green Bay on Sunday night, ESPN’s Ryan Clark called the Steelers defense a “patsy,” and claimed that struggling NFL offenses circle games against Pittsburgh on their calendars as potential dates to get back on track.

"When did the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense become the patsy?"

Ryan Clark is disappointed in how poor the Steelers' defense has played ???? pic.twitter.com/mSZk4W1Xe2

— ESPN (@espn) October 27, 2025

Another former Steeler, James Harrison, panned the team’s defense performance during his “Deebo & Joe” videostream with fellow retired Steeler Joe Haden.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen the defense be this bad. We can’t tackle nobody. We are freaking cooked,” Harrison said. “We’re the 30th-ranked defense in the NFL. We’re the highest-paid defense in the NFL. Those two things don’t go together. Primetime. Sunday night. What the (expletive) are we doing? Make that name on your back mean something. Make them three stars on your chest mean something.”

The former linebacker, who was part of the pregame festivities Sunday night, said changes need to happen.

“Things gotta get changed,” Harrison said. “People gotta go. Highest paid, 30th ranked, don’t match. I don’t know what needs to happen, but we need to go on ahead and maybe redo this whole thing and get something else going.”

The Steelers (4-3) have allowed 30 or more points in four of their seven games. They host the NFL’s best team, the Indianapolis Colts (7-1), on Sunday.

Remembering a rival

Longtime Oakland Raider George Atkinson has died at the age of 78. The franchise announced his death Monday.

pic.twitter.com/ovIkFMCdYs

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) October 27, 2025

No cause of death was revealed, but Atkinson was known to have symptoms consistent with CTE.

Atkinson was a central figure in the Steelers-Raiders rivalry of the 1970s. The defensive back famously knocked out Steelers Hall of Famer Lynn Swann during the 1975 AFC Championship Game.

Lynn Swann meet George Atkinson. #riphitman #ripgeorgeatkinson #RaiderNation @Raiders #Raiders pic.twitter.com/RGHw9MqFXq

— Raiders History (@Oaklraiders1976) October 27, 2025

Atkinson did the same thing during a regular season game in 1976 as well. Later, Steelers coach Chuck Noll referred to the hard hitting safety as part of the “criminal element’ of football. He sued Noll and the Steelers for $2 million in a defamation lawsuit and lost.

The former Pro Bowler also always famously maintained that the Immaculate Reception shouldn’t have counted.

A veteran of 144 games, Atkinson spent 10 seasons with the Raiders and one with the Denver Broncos. He played in seven AFL/AFC championship games and was part of the Raiders’ 1976 Super Bowl team. He retired with 33 career interceptions in the regular season and playoffs.

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Phamiliar Phoes

Coming off their 6-3 home win Monday night against the St. Louis Blues, the Penguins hit the road to play their longtime rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers, for the first time this season.

It’s an early start time in Philly as the puck drops at 6 p.m. The game is part of the NHL’s “Frozen Frenzy” as all 32 teams are in action. It’ll be the first contest of an NHL triple-header on ESPN.

Pens-Flyers will be followed by Washington at Dallas at 8:30 p.m. Alex Ovechkin is looking for goal No. 900. Then San Jose squares off against the Los Angeles Kings in an 11 p.m. nightcap.

The Penguins are 7-2-1 to start the season. That’s good for 15 points and second place in the Metropolitan Division, one point behind the first-place New Jersey Devils. The Flyers have nine points in eight games, tied for fifth place in the Metro with the New York Islanders.

Philadelphia’s most recent game was a 4-3 shootout win over the Islanders on Saturday. Trevor Zegras had two goals and an assist.

First (and second) of many for TZ46.#NYIvsPHI | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/Lj0Bnt7TRi

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) October 25, 2025

Those were his first two goals as a Flyer. He is tied with Sean Couturier for the team lead in points with eight.

The Pens play in Philadelphia again on Dec. 1. Rick Tocchet and company don’t visit Pittsburgh until Jan. 15. This is the first of a four-game road trip for Dan Muse’s team. The Penguins also visit Minnesota, Winnipeg and Toronto.

Epic ending

Game 3 of the 2025 World Series will always be remembered for how it ended.

Freddie Freeman hit an 18th-inning walk-off home run to give the Dodgers a 2-1 series lead over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night.

FREDDIE FREEMAN, OCTOBER LEGEND. #WORLDSERIES pic.twitter.com/SW3XeFihxq

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 28, 2025

It was a former Pirate who started that 6-5 victory for the Dodgers. Tyler Glasnow pitched the first 4⅔ innings. He allowed two earned runs on five hits and three walks, including a three-run homer to Alejandro Kirk.

ALEJANDRO KIRK GO-AHEAD THREE-RUN HOMER!#WORLDSERIES pic.twitter.com/937g4pEOvR

— MLB (@MLB) October 28, 2025

The Blue Jays look to get even in the series Tuesday night at 8 with Shane Bieber pitching against Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani.