First Call: Myles Garrett says Browns 'will do do everything in our power' to keep Steelers out of playoffs; Dolphins QB update

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 pre-game attire from the Winter Classic.

Also, Pitt has another daunting task in the ACC looming on Tuesday night.

Myles’ mouth

This won’t be the first time Myles Garrett has done something to agitate Steelers fans. Does a certain helmet-swinging incident ring a bell?

It does for Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph. I can assure you of that.

Garrett is creating a stir by slinging quotes instead of swinging headgear this time. The Cleveland Browns defensive lineman was asked about the prospect of beating the Steelers in Pittsburgh this Sunday. That would eliminate the Steelers from playoff contention.

Cleveland has already been eliminated from the playoffs. So they’d be playing the role of spoiler. That’s a notion Garrett is embracing with both arms.

“We’d love to do that,” Garrett said via WKYC. “We consider them our rivals. Divisionally, if we can’t make it, we’re definitely going to make sure those guys can’t. We’re going to do everything in our power. Much respect to them for being in that position, but we live for times like this.”

Most teams live for making the playoffs themselves. But the Browns will take little victories where they can, I guess.

That said, the Steelers better be careful. Cleveland ended the Steelers season at Acrisure Stadium (then Heinz Field) in the first round of the 2020 AFC playoffs. And they beat Mike Tomlin’s team 29-17 in the third week of this season.

Putting a finger on the problem

The Miami Dolphins haven’t ruled Tua Tagovailoa out for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets. But it sounds as if they’re planning to play without him.

That’s important to the Steelers because they need Miami to lose in order to keep their playoff hopes alive.

According to Yahoo Sports, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters on Monday that his club is preparing for the Week 18 matchup against the New York Jets without Tagovailoa in the game plan. That means either Teddy Bridgewater or Skylar Thompson will start at quarterback with a playoff berth at stake.

“With Tua, I haven’t even thought about playing status,” McDaniel said. “For me I’m preparing for both Skylar and Teddy. I think it’s too soon to know anything about Teddy.”

Tagovailoa is in concussion protocol and missed last week’s game. Bridgewater injured a pinkie on his throwing hand in Sunday’s loss to the New England Patriots. McDaniel told reporters on Monday that Bridgewater dislocated the pinkie but did not break it. If Bridgewater can’t go, the Dolphins will rely on Thompson, a seventh-round rookie who’s made five appearances including one start this season. He also busted a fingernail during that loss to the Patriots. The Dolphins can clinch a playoff berth on Sunday with a win against the Jets and a Patriots loss to the Buffalo Bills.

The Steelers need the Pats to lose that game, as well as needing a win against Cleveland and that Dolphins loss to the Jets.

Bad omen

Maybe it wasn’t wise for the Penguins to wear the uniforms of the Pirates before appearing at the Winter Classic in Fenway Park.

Honoring the 1925 Pittsburgh Pirates with some fresh fits for Fenway pic.twitter.com/6uSX8Etc5g

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 2, 2023

I know. Those were the 1925 Pirates uniforms. Pie Traynor and company went on to win the World Series that year. The franchise has won only three of those since.

Let’s face it, though, not a lot of winning of any kind has occurred for athletes wearing those uniforms the past 30 years or so. And on Monday, it’s as if the Pirates bullpen was at work.

The Penguins blew a 1-0 lead in the third period to lose the Winter Classic to the Bruins by a 2-1 final score. It was the Penguins’ fifth loss in a row.

See, it’s consistent with the uniforms. By the way, the Bruins donned old Red Sox uniforms as well.

Having a catch. pic.twitter.com/soLci7Bi39

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) January 2, 2023

Those uniforms were said to have been replicas from the mid-1930s.

Vegas, baby!

Regarding that Penguins losing streak, things are not going to get any easier in their next game. They have to go to Las Vegas for a showdown with the Golden Knights on Thursday night.

The Knights won 3-2 over the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche on Monday. Nicolas Roy had two goals. That ended a 17-game drought in his 200th career game.

Nicolas Roy ends a 17-game goal drought to give the @GoldenKnights the lead in his 200th career game! 2⃣0⃣0⃣ pic.twitter.com/y40meoEB0e

— AT&T SportsNet™ | RM West (@ATTSportsNetRMW) January 3, 2023

The Knights now have 54 points. That’s the most in the Western Conference. The Avs have 41 points and are currently one spot out of a Western Conference wild card.

Panther prowl

After beating the North Carolina Tar Heels last week, the 10-4 Pitt Panthers basketball team is facing another stiff challenge Tuesday. They host Virginia at 9 p.m.

The Cavaliers come in ranked 11^th in the NCAA and are 10-2 on the season. UVA has beaten Georgia Tech and Florida State in ACC play while having lost to Miami. Pitt is 3-0 in conference with victories over UNC, NC State and Syracuse.

Virginia allows only 58.3 points per game. That’s 11^th in the country and tops in the ACC. However, at 75.8 points per game, Pitt is the fifth-best scoring team in the conference.

ESPN lists the Cavs as a five-point favorite.