First Call: Steelers early favorites over Seattle; Bill Cowher's TV message to Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Canada

Monday’s “First Call” gives us the early odds on the Steelers and Seahawks. Ex-Steelers coach Bill Cowher gives his thoughts to Ben Roethlisberger and Matt Canada. A weird twist to the Browns-Chargers game. And Antonio Brown must have something left in the tank.

Caher Pawher

During the CBS pregame show on Sunday, former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher had an impassioned message for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and offensive coordinator Matt Canada.

To Canada, Cowher essentially said let Roethlisberger run the kind of offense he wants to run. To Roethlisberger, Cowher preached patience and to not give up the fight in what will probably be his last year as the Steelers quarterback.

Coach Cowher getting me fired up with this message to Matt Canada and Ben! #HereWeGo #Steelers pic.twitter.com/AnRbo2JD9w

— Chad Tyson (@chadtyson) October 10, 2021

I’m willing to bet Roethlisberger and Canada didn’t see what Cowher said before the game. And frankly, by this point, probably still haven’t. But a lot of what Cowher said resonated as the Steelers offense seemed much more in sync Sunday during a 27-19 win ovr Denver, rolling up season highs with 391 yards and 27 points.

Roethlisberger’s 15 completions were actually a season low. But he only had to throw 25 times. Roethlisberger’s 10.1 yards per attempt and his passer rating of 120.9 were season bests. He also wasn’t intercepted — although Denver had a few chances — and was sacked only once.

Selling on the Seahawks

It doesn’t seem like the gambling public has much faith in the Steelers’ next opponent.

The Seattle Seahawks come to Heinz Field Sunday night with a 2-3 record. They’ll arrive without starting quarterback Russell Wilson. He busted a finger on his throwing hand during a Thursday night loss to the Los Angeles Rams. That means Geno Smith will be the quarterback.

But the Seahawks’ defense is a problem in Seattle, too. Their 450.8 yards allowed per game is the worst in the NFL. At 145.2 rush yards per game allowed, Seattle is 30th in that category. They are also 30th stopping the pass at 305.6 yards allowed per contest. Their average points allowed of 25.2 is 23rd.

Combine that information with the Steelers looking a lot better overall for the first three quarters of their win against the Broncos, and the early wagering lines are leaning toward the home team. The Steelers are four-point favorites according to BetOnline.ag.

The point total over-under is 43. The Steelers and Broncos went well above the 39.5 total in Sunday’s game (27-19). It was the first time a game involving the Steelers exceeded the over this season.

T.B. to A.B.

Former Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown had a huge day for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Miami Dolphins.

He had seven catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns.

ANTONIO. BROWN.

: #MIAvsTB on CBS pic.twitter.com/YGz3FCgs6e

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 10, 2021

Brown passed the 900-catch career plateau along the way. He’s the fastest to get to that mark in NFL history (143 games). Marvin Harrison had the previous record at 149 games.

Bucs quarterback Tom Brady threw five touchdowns to go along with 411 yards. It was the first time he had ever topped 400 yards en route to a five-touchdown game in his career. Tampa Bay ended up beating the Dolphins 45-17.

Another former Steeler pass catcher, Emmanuel Sanders, had two receptions for the Buffalo Bills as they were crushing the Kansas City Chiefs 38-20 .

Am I seeing this right?:

There was a weird twist during the Los Angeles Chargers’ 47-42 win over the Cleveland Browns.

The Browns were winning 42-41 with 1:31 left in the game. But Los Angeles had the ball on Cleveland’s 3-yard line. And the Browns didn’t want L.A. to run the clock and kick a game-winning, chip-shot field goal.

So, when the Chargers gave the ball to Austin Ekeler instead of taking a knee to bleed more time, Cleveland defenders pushed and pulled Ekeler over the goal line against his will for a score.

.@AustinEkeler's IN ... with a little help from the Browns.

: #CLEvsLAC on CBS
: NFL app pic.twitter.com/rZKhcyt8vL

— NFL (@NFL) October 10, 2021

The goal was to get Ekeler into the end zone as quickly as possible and get the ball back with hopes of scoring a touchdown and winning the game.

That didn’t work, though, as the Browns turned the ball over on downs at their own 46-yard line with 14 seconds remaining.