Category: 2021 Week 10 Steelers vs. Lions

Steelers ‘unacceptable’ run defense gashed by Lions in tie game

The Steelers D didn’t have an answer for the 26th ranked Lions rushing attack today.

The Pittsburgh Steelers defense didn’t have an answer for the 26th ranked Detroit Lions rushing attack on Sunday.

Rookie Jemar Jefferson ripped off a 28-yard touchdown run — the longest by the Lions in eight years — before exiting the game with an ankle injury.

Jefferson didn’t return, but that didn’t matter because D’Andre Swift picked up where he left off and racked up 130 yards. Godwin Igwebuike added 56 yards and a score.

In total, the Steelers’ porous run defense allowed 229 yards on 39 carries, an average of 5.9 yards per attempt for Detroit’s first 200+ yard game since 2018.

“They came up with a good plan,” Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith said after the game. “But we gotta handle ourselves. Stopping the run is about whipping the man and making the tackle. Today was unacceptable. We can bet better, and we will be better.”

Highsmith had a solid game overall and, according to Pro Football Focus, produced the most tackles on defense with seven. But the ball wasn’t the only thing that was slippery out there. Missed tackles — eight total — were the downfall of the defense. Miles Killebrew whiffed on two, while Cameron Sutton, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Devin Bush, Cam Heyward, Derrek Tuszka and Highsmith each missed one.

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Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger self-reported COVID-19 symptoms

The clock starts for when Ben Roethlisberger can return to the team.

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According to NFL reporter Ian Rapoport, the drama of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and his placement on the Reserve/COVID-19 list started with him.

Rapoport is reporting that Roethlisberger self-reported symptoms to the team which prompted the positive test and put him out for today’s game against the Detroit Lions.

Since Roethlisberger is symptomatic league rules are clear on when he can return. We broke down the options here prior to knowing if Roethlisberger was symptomatic. A vaccinated, symptomatic patient must have two negative tests, 24 hours apart and Roethlisberger must have been symptom-free for 48 hours prior to that.

This could put Roethlisberger’s availability for next week’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers in jeopardy.

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Ben Roethlisberger may not be the only Steeler to miss game vs Lions

Ben Roethlisberger’s positive COVID test could be just the beginning.

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The story of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger being placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list could just be getting started. The team announced Roethlisberger would be out on Sunday against the Detroit Lions after a positive test.

However, since Roethlisberger was a full participant on Friday’s practice, there’s a chance he exposed some of his teammates. The team will take COVID-19 tests on Sunday morning and there is a possibility, albeit a longshot, that other players will test positive prior to the game.

The team can take some comfort that they are taking on the winless Lions but even against a bad team, Pittsburgh can only absorb so many losses. This will be a situation to monitor right up until kickoff. We will keep you up to date on all the latest information as it becomes available.

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Breaking down when Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger can return

Ben Roethlisberger will miss this week’s game and perhaps more.

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The NFL got some big news on Saturday night when the Pittsburgh Steelers announced starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. This means Roethlisberger will be out for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions.

We know Roethlisberger will miss this week’s game but based on the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols, Roethlisberger could be back in Week 11 to take on the Los Angeles Chargers. Here is how the protocols work for a vaccinated player:

  • If Roethlisberger is asymptomatic he needs 2 negative tests 24 hours apart.
  • If Roethlisberger is symptomatic those 2 negative tests 24 hours apart have to come after being symptom-free for 48 hours.
  • If Roethlisberger continues to test positive, he can still return after 10 days, which sounds kind of crazy because it is.

For a vaccinated player to test positive, Roethlisberger would have almost certainly had to be showing some symptoms which would prompt the test. With Roethlisberger out, Mason Rudolph will get his 10th career start.

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Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger lands on COVID list despite being vaccinated

Ben Roethlisberger will miss Sunday’s game versus the Lions.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Saturday that starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will miss Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions after being placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. This is despite Roethlisberger stating he is vaccinated. If he tested positive this would be a breakthrough case.

Roethlisberger talked about being vaccinated, wearing his tracer and all things COVID protocols when he was on the Dan Patrick Show in early November. This is the first COVID-19 issue to come up for the Steelers this season with nearly every team dealing with losses among players and coaches so far.

With Roethlisberger out, Mason Rudolph will get his first start of the season and the tenth start of his career.

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Steelers vs Lions: 3 things Ben Roethlisberger being out means for Pittsburgh

Look for a whole lot of defense and Najee Harris on Sunday.

Breaking news out from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night. The team announced starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list and is out for this week’s game against the Detroit Lions. What does this mean for the Steelers? Here are three big things.

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger on COVID list and OUT vs Lions

No Ben Roethlisberger this week.

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Huge news out of Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Steelers are reporting that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is being placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list and is out for Sunday’s game with the Detroit Lions.

With Roethlisberger out, Mason Rudolph will get the start with Dwayne Haskins the backup. This will put even more pressure on a young offensive line and rookie running back to keep the offense moving and help Rudolph in his first start of the season.

Rudolph started eight games in 2019 in place of an injured Roethlisberger and went 5-3. Rudolph started one game last season and lost. This is s huge audition for Rudolph is he hopes to be the next starting quarterback of the Steelers after Roethlisberger retires.

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Steelers elevate WR Steven Sims to active roster vs Detroit Lions

The Steelers announced a roster move on Saturday.

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To account for the absence of wide receiver Chase Claypool, the Pittsburgh Steelers have elevated wide receiver Steven Sims to the active roster from the practice squad. Pittsburgh takes on the Detroit Lions this week.

Sims was signed to the Steelers practice squad in September. Sims has been in the league since 2019 and has spent time with the Washington Football Team as well as the Buffalo Bills.

Claypool is dealing with a toe injury suffered in last week’s win over the Chicago Bears. After the game, Sims will automatically revert back to the Steelers practice squad.

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Steelers vs Lions: 4 guys we cant wait to see this week

Here are four guys who need big games this week.

As we dig into this week’s matchup with the Detroit Lions, there are some names for the Pittsburgh Steelers that keep popping up. Guys who have underperformed as of late and we really want to see big things from this week. Here are the four guys we are looking more forward to watching play this week.

Steelers could lead the AFC North with a win over the Lions

Don’t look now but the Steelers are pretty good.

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This week the Pittsburgh Steelers are in a position to seize a perfect opportunity. Thanks to an upset loss by the Baltimore Ravens, the Steelers have an opportunity to take over the lead in the AFC North with a win over the winless Detroit Lions.

As it stands now, the Ravens are 6-3 and on top in the AFC North. Pittsburgh is nipping at their heels at 5-3. Baltimore has an 0-1 record in the division while Pittsburgh is 1-1. So if the Steelers can not slip up against the Lions they would move into the top spot based on division record.

It’s hard to imagine this team was 1-3 at one point this season and seemed to be in a spiral they couldn’t pull out of. But thanks to the continued improvement of the young offensive line, this team seems to be capable of doing enough to win and in today’s NFL that seems to be just good enough.

Here are the current NFL playoff rankings heading into this week’s game:

1. Tennessee Titans (7-2)
2. Baltimore Ravens (6-3)
3. Los Angeles Chargers (5-3)
4. Buffalo Bills (5-3)
5. Las Vegas Raiders (5-3)
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3)
7. New England Patriots (5-4)

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