First Call: Watch Patriots' video of Bengals sideline; Texans help Steelers
In this Monday’s “First Call,” you can see what the Patriots filmed on the Bengals sideline. Three former Nittany Lions have big afternoons in the NFL. And the Steelers get a little help from Houston.
View for yourself
On their Sunday NFL pregame show, Fox aired the footage of what the New England Patriots were accused of gathering from the Cincinnati Bengals’ sideline.
Two weeks ago in Cleveland, a Patriots-affiliated freelance film crew, hired to tape a show about a Patriots advanced scout, was busted for taping eight minutes of the Cincinnati sideline while they were in the Cleveland Browns press box.
That’s against NFL policy. Here’s how Fox presented the footage.
FOX SPORTS EXCLUSIVE: @JayGlazer reveals footage of Patriots filming Bengals. pic.twitter.com/C7U7mopaEm
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) December 15, 2019
The Bengals were next on the schedule for the Patriots. The Boston Globe reports that the producer — an employee of “Kraft Sports and Entertainment” — was suspended last week.
That segment aired shortly before the Patriots kicked off against Cincinnati. They beat the Bengals, 34-13.
There is no word yet on discipline against New England. But the Bengals are reportedly unhappy that some seem to be taking this matter lightly.
Help from Houston
While things went badly at Heinz Field for the Steelers (8-6), they got some help in Nashville.
The Houston Texans (9-5) beat the Tennessee Titans (8-6), 24-21.
84-YARD INT‼️@Merci380 | #HOUvsTEN pic.twitter.com/nqyVYwBl0D
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 15, 2019
That’s good for them because it means they can win the AFC South by beating either Tampa Bay in Week 16 or Tennessee in a Week 17 rematch.
It’s also good for the Steelers because the Titans’ loss means that they remain in seventh place in the AFC, behind the Steelers.
Tennessee would lose a wild-card tiebreaker to the Steelers by virtue of conference record. The Steelers can help themselves further in that way by beating the Jets on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Titans play an NFC opponent in New Orleans.
It’s better for the Steelers if the Texans simply win the AFC South because they are in a better position to win a tiebreaker over the Steelers should they fall into the wild-card battle.
Fun times for Freddie
The Cleveland Browns lost to the putrid Arizona Cardinals (4-9-1) on Sunday. And it appears this highly disappointing 2019 campaign is wearing on the Browns.
Jarvis Landry voiced his displeasure with head coach Freddie Kitchens on the sideline.
#Browns Jarvis Landry voicing some...umm...frustration with Freddie Kitchens. pic.twitter.com/tFtEkHDFyC
— Jon Doss (@JonDoss) December 15, 2019
You any good at reading lips? There is at least one word I think you could make out behind that facemask.
Aside from dropping to 6-8, Landry had only five catches for 23 yards. Hence the frustration.
Kitchens downplayed the incident after the game, but Cleveland fans seem fed up, as well. If you were on Twitter Sunday evening, you may have seen #FireFreddie trending.
They are … Penn State!
Former Penn State running backs Saquon Barkley and Miles Sanders both had big days in the NFC East on Sunday.
Barkley had 112 yards rushing and two touchdowns against the Miami Dolphins for the New York Giants.
.@saquon bounces outside and he’s got his 2nd touchdown of the game! #GiantsPride #MIAvsNYG
: CBS
: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app
Watch free on mobile: https://t.co/ALWDCpltog pic.twitter.com/ijXjCUipZh— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2019
Barkley added 31 receiving yards in the Giants’ 36-20 win.
Meanwhile, fellow Nittany Lions alum Miles Sanders had 172 yards from scrimmage for the Philadelphia Eagles, who beat the Washington Redskins, 37-27.
Give him an inch and he’ll take a mile! #PHIvsWAS | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/IfbeDdBiW6
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 15, 2019
The Woodland Hills product had a touchdown rushing and another receiving.
That must’ve been a pretty good lookin’ depth chart at running back in State College.
Speaking of Penn State
Another former Nittany Lion almost pulled off the most shocking play of the season.
Down by eight on the last snap of the game, the Chicago Bears nearly completed a touchdown that featured three laterals.
THIS WAS ALMOST INSANITY ?? pic.twitter.com/YXLFQjZfkS
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) December 15, 2019
If that fourth one was made, it could’ve gone to former Nittany Lion Allen Robinson for a touchdown. But Bears tight end Jesper Horsted didn’t see him. So the game ended with the Packers winning 21-13.
The play netted 27 yards before the fumble. Robinson had a good game anyway, catching seven passes for 125 yards.
The Packers clinched a playoff spot with a win.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.