We have some frustration from Detroit after the Lions’ loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. We also have fallout from the Ravens’ defeat against New England. A former Steeler is now at quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs.
And Duquesne’s women’s basketball team beat Pitt in The City Game.
All that and more in Monday’s “First Call.”
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Unhappy Hutchinson
Lions star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson was unhappy with the officials at the end of the Steelers’ 29-24 win in Detroit.
“We want to be better (on defense) in the run game,” Hutchinson said via 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit. “That (stunk). But the intervention I saw from those refs late in that game, I’ve never seen two offensive (pass interference penalties) to lose a game like that.”
Aidan Hutchinson: “There’s two ways you can look at this. Obviously we want to be better (on defense) in the run game … That sucked. But the intervention I saw from those refs late in that game, I’ve never seen two offensive PI’s to lose a game like that.” pic.twitter.com/8WFVkY4y5L
— 97.1 The Ticket: (@971theticketxyt) December 22, 2025
Hutchinson was referring to two OPI calls that wiped out a touchdown catch by Amon-Ra St. Brown, and the wild lateral play to Jared Goff in the final seconds.
Keep in mind the Steelers had two OPI calls go against them as well, one against Darnell Washington and another against DK Metcalf.
Hutchinson had two sacks and three tackles. He was right about Detroit’s run defense, though. It yielded 230 yards to the Steelers’ 30th-rated rushing attack.
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Backs against the wall in Baltimore
Not only did the Baltimore Ravens (7-8) lose a game versus New England on Sunday (28-24), but they also left the field injured and in the middle of some controversy.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson took a knee to the back near the end of the second quarter. He had to leave the game and give way to Tyler Huntley.
Lamar Jackson graciously stopped to talk to media on his way out. It’s clear he’s in a lot of pain. Says he got kneed in the back and couldn’t finish the game.#RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/y9WoGCQ7d4
— Carita Parks (@CaritaCParks) December 22, 2025
Huntley went 9 of 10 for 65 yards and rushed for 2 yards.
Derrick Henry was also absent late in the game, although that seemed to be a coach’s decision, and one that head coach John Harbaugh regrets.
John Harbaugh on absence of Derrick Henry at end of the game. “He should’ve been in there.” ????♂️ pic.twitter.com/DqPog4QVZO
— Mark Viviano (@MarkWJZ) December 22, 2025
Henry had 18 carries for 128 yards. His last touch was a touchdown run with just under 13 minutes left. Safety Kyle Hamilton was not happy with the team’s result.
Kyle Hamilton with an honest assessment of the Ravens struggles: “It’s been a theme for the past couple years…” Ouch. pic.twitter.com/jdn0APxo6l
— Mark Viviano (@MarkWJZ) December 22, 2025
Pittsburgh wins the AFC North next weekend if the Ravens lose to Green Bay on Saturday or if the Steelers win in Cleveland on Sunday.
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Poking the bear
The Lions fan who agitated Steelers receiver DK Metcalf by reportedly calling him by his real first name, DeKaylin (or, perhaps for allegedly using a racist slur) wasn’t the only guy who got under the skin of Pittsburghers at Ford Field. So did the Lions’ public address announcer.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal was in the crowd for the game. And the stadium’s public address announcer introduced him to fans as “the best pitcher in the game.”
Steelers fans who also root for Pirates ace Paul Skenes may disagree.
uh oh Lions PA announcer just introduced Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal as “the best pitcher in baseball”
No Paul Skenes in sight pic.twitter.com/wzwGZRRitC
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) December 21, 2025
Both pitchers won the Cy Young award in their given league. Skenes’ ERA was 1.97. Skubal’s was 2.21 — first and second in MLB.
Skubal had 241 strikeouts, second in MLB. Skenes had 216 (tied for fourth). Skubal had 13 wins, Skenes had 10.
Skubal’s Tigers won 87 games and went to the playoffs. Skenes’ Pirates did not.
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More sports
• Feats of Strength: Steelers’ dynamic RBs, goal-line stands earn a wild win in Detroit
• Comparing the incomparable: Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby
• Madden Monday: No benefit of the doubt for DK Metcalf
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Remember me?
Chris Oladokun got significant playing time for the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
The former Steeler replaced Gardner Minshew, who suffered a knee injury during the game against Tennessee. Usual starter Patrick Mahomes is already done for the year with an ACL injury. Now the word is that Minshew could have the same problem.
So Oladokun came in, but the Chiefs (6-9) couldn’t rally around him. They lost to the lowly Tennessee Titans (3-12) by a score of 26-9. Both teams were eliminated from the playoff race before kickoff.
Oladokun was 11 of 16 for 111 yards with no TDs or interceptions. He was sacked four times and averaged 6.9 yards per pass.
Caught up with #Chiefs QB Chris Oladokun after his first game in the NFL. The long-time practice squad member finished 11/16 for 111 yds after replacing Gardner Minshew in the 2nd quarter. #ChiefsKingdom @KSHB41 pic.twitter.com/3P23Ay2shH
— Matt Foster (@MattFosterTV) December 21, 2025
Oladokun played in one game last year for K.C. but didn’t throw a pass. He was drafted in 2022 by the Steelers in the seventh round.
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Bragging rights
Pitt men’s basketball won’t play Duquesne in the City Game anymore, but the women’s game still takes place.
This year’s edition goes to the Dukes. They won Sunday’s showdown at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse, 84-69. Freshman Alexis Bordas hit 10 3-pointers and finished with 38 points.
.@bordas_alexis ???????? pic.twitter.com/gdul5Kpk3A
— Duquesne Women's Basketball (@DuqWBB) December 21, 2025
Duquesne has won three in a row in the rivalry. The Dukes improved to 7-5 overall. The win snapped a three-game losing streak. Dan Burt’s club next plays on New Year’s Eve against St. Louis.
Pitt fell to 7-7. Pitt is at Notre Dame on Monday.
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Listen: This week’s “Madden Monday” podcast with Mark Madden and Tim Benz
