First Call: Steelers game in Ireland posts huge TV ratings; John Harbaugh fuzzy on Lamar Jackson's status

Thursday’s “First Call” boasts some eye-popping ratings for Steelers-Vikings in Ireland. The Baltimore Ravens injury report is eye-catching as well.

And in the Major League Baseball playoffs, one former Pirate nailed down a save for his team, while another is trying to extend his club’s season on Thursday.

Early wake-up

Despite a 9:30 a.m. kickoff Sunday, the Steelers-Vikings game in Ireland still drew lots of eyes to television sets in America.

According to NFL Media, the game on NFL Network averaged 7.9 million viewers across TV and digital platforms. Those numbers also don’t even account for over-the-air viewers in Minneapolis or Pittsburgh.

The only NFL Network international game that brought in more viewers was the Kansas City Chiefs game against the Miami Dolphins in Germany (2023).

This game in Dublin saw a 68% boost from the NFL Network’s 2024 international games on average. The contest averaged over nine million viewers from 12:30 pm ET until the end of the game.

???????? Dublin Game Viewership ????????

*Vikings-Steelers avg. 7.9 million viewers (TV+Digital) -- 2nd most-watched @nflnetwork International Game ever

*Up +68% vs. NFL Network's 2024 International Games avg.

*Vikings-Steelers avg. over 9 million viewers from 12:30p ET until end of game… pic.twitter.com/GkShnCUDUH

— NFL Media (@NFLMedia) October 1, 2025

NFL Media cited Nielsen Big Data and Adobe Analytics for the research. The Vikings are part of this week’s international game too. It’s also a 9:30 a.m. start against the Cleveland Browns in England.

Staying mum

Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh is being cloudy when it comes to Lamar Jackson’s injury status.

Amid reports on Tuesday that Jackson could be out multiple weeks, Harbaugh is refusing to rule out the quarterback from competition in the organization’s game against Houston on Sunday.

Via ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley, Harbaugh classified all of the team’s numerous injuries day by day. When asked specifically if that applied to Jackson, Harbaugh replied, “How about I just don’t say anything? That’s what I would do. Why don’t we just leave it alone?”

Harbaugh says Jackson has been attending all of the meetings, and “is working,” but he was officially a “DNP” on the club’s injury report that featured 14 players.

Wednesday's Injury Report pic.twitter.com/oouraa1Ifq

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 1, 2025

Given Baltimore’s injury woes, specifically with Jackson, the Ravens (1-3) are 1 1/2 -point underdogs at home to the 1-3 Texans Sunday, according to ESPNbet.

Related:

• U mad, bro?: Mike Tomlin's decision-making; Pirates’ failures anger fans
• Tim Benz: For Pirates fans, the MLB playoffs are a bittersweet reminder of what the sport can be — and what their team is not
• Tim Benz: With 13 games to go for the Steelers, we should still ask 'how' while counting 'how many'

Bednar bounces back

After giving up a run to the Boston Red Sox out of the bullpen during a 3-1 loss Tuesday night, New York Yankees reliever David Bednar made amends on Wednesday.

The former Pirate got the save for the Bronx Bombers as they evened the best-of-three Wild Card series with their bitter American League East rivals Wednesday night.

Bednar, a product of Mars Area High School, worked a 1-2-3 top of the ninth as the Yankees won 4-3.

David Bednar's 2Ks in the 9th. pic.twitter.com/u3oH8nemCz

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 2, 2025

That was Bednar’s first postseason save. A decisive Game 3 will be played in New York on Thursday. Connelly Early (1-2, 2.33) takes the mound for the Red Sox. He’ll be opposed by Cam Schlittler (4-3, 2.96).

One more from J-Mo’

The Chicago Cubs are also going to an elimination game in their best-of-three with the San Diego Padres Thursday.

That’s because the Padres won Game 2 by a final score of 3-0 after the Cubs took Game 1 (3-1) on Tuesday.

Four San Diego pitchers combined on the shutout, and Manny Machado homered.

MANNY MACHADO BIG FLY! #POSTSEASON pic.twitter.com/Kk6OPbQrhO

— MLB (@MLB) October 1, 2025

Taking the mound in hopes of extending the season for Chicago will be Jameson Taillon. The former Pirate was 11-7 with a 3.68 ERA during the regular season. Over his last six starts, the 33-year-old was 4-1 with a 1.57 ERA.

This will be Taillon’s second postseason start. He got a no-decision after 4 ½ innings pitched during a 4-2 loss to Houston during Game 1 of the 2018 ALCS with the Yankees.

Jameson Taillon will start the Cubs’ first winner-take-all game since 2018. pic.twitter.com/SZdQ4V0C9y

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) October 1, 2025

Yu Darvish (5-5, 5.38) is slated to start for San Diego.