Mike Tomlin on the future of his team: ‘We’re not a big picture team’

Don’t expect to ever get Mike Tomlin to talk about the future or the big picture with the Steelers.

The Pittsburgh Steelers won their fourth straight game on Sunday and find themselves in the thick of the playoff hunt after beating the Los Angeles Rams. But don’t talk to head coach Mike Tomlin about that. Tomlin was his usual all-business self in the postgame press conference almost to a fault.

One reporter asked Tomlin what he was the proudest of as the team has come back from1-4 to win four in a row. Tomlin indicated all he’s proud of is that the team won on Sunday and that they are not a big-picture team.

Tomlin has taken his usual stoic approach to speaking to the media to a whole new level this season. If you didn’t listen to his words and only his tone you’d have a hard time distinguishing between wins and losses.

Pittsburgh has no time to sit back and enjoy this win. After three home games the Steelers must now hit the road and head to Cleveland and take on the Browns on Thursday night.

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Ravens-Texans odds: Baltimore favored over Houston in Week 11

The red-hot Baltimore Ravens are favored in their Week 11 matchup vs. the Houston Texans.

The Baltimore Ravens (7-2) host the Houston Texans (6-3) during Week 11’s NFL regular season Sunday, Nov. 17th, at 1:00 p.m. ET at M&T Bank Stadium. The game can be watched on CBS and the NFL’s Redzone. The Ravens enter as a moderate favorite, according to odds from BetMGM.

The Ravens (-223) are favored by 4.5 (-110) points against the spread (ATS) over the Texans. New to sports betting? With a spread of -4.5, that means the Ravens need to not only beat the Texans, but they need to win by at least five points for an ATS wager on them to cash.

Looking to place a bet on this game or others? Get some action in the game at BetMGM. Sign up and bet at BetMGM now!

Feeling a upset? A $10 wager on the Texans (+180) would pay $18.00 in profit should they win outright. Meanwhile, a $10 wager on the Ravens to win outright returns a profit of just $4.48.

The Over/Under on the Ravens/Texans game has been set at 49.5, with a -115 line on the Over and an -106 on the Under for this Week 11 NFL matchup.

Want to get some action on this game? Place a sports bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, access SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Patriots-Eagles odds: New England favored over Philadelphia in Week 11

The Philadelphia Eagles are home dogs in Week 11 when they host the New England Patriots.

The Philadelphia Eagles (5-4) host the New England Patriots (8-1) during Week 11’s NFL regular season Sunday, Nov. 17th, at 4:25 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field. The game can be watched on CBS and the NFL’s Redzone. The Patriots, coming off their first loss of the season, enter as a slight favorite, according to odds from BetMGM.

The Patriots (-189) are favored by 3.5 (-110) points against the spread (ATS) over the Eagles. New to sports betting? With a spread of -3.5, that means the Patriots need to not only beat the Eagles, but they need to win by at least four points for an ATS wager on them to cash.

Looking to place a bet on this game or others? Get some action in the game at BetMGM. Sign up and bet at BetMGM now!

Feeling a upset? A $10 wager on the Eagles (+155) would pay $15.50 in profit should they win outright. Meanwhile, a $10 wager on the Patriots to win outright returns a profit of just $5.29.

The Over/Under on the Eagles/Patriots game has been set at 45.5, with a -106 line on the Over and an -115 on the Under for this Week 11 NFL matchup.

Want to get some action on this game? Place a sports bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, access SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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What’s at stake for 49ers in Week 10 showdown with Seahawks?

The 49ers’ hold on the top of the NFC and NFC West standings can strengthen greatly with a win over the Seahawks on Monday Night Football.

The 49ers got a victory Sunday without even playing. The New Orleans Saints fell to the Falcons 26-9 and dropped their record to 7-2. That put a little more space between the 49ers and Saints in the race for the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

However, the 49ers’ Monday night showdown with the Seahawks was already carrying the weight of a rekindled division rivalry. It was always going to be a huge game at Levi’s Stadium. Now it’s even heavier with a chance to put further distance between them and the rest of the NFC West, and the NFC as a whole.

Let’s take a look at what’s at stake for San Francisco on Monday night. Here’s what the NFC West standings look like after Sunday’s action:

1. 49ers (8-0)
2. Seahawks (7-2)
3. Rams (5-4)
4. Cardinals (3-6-1)

What if the 49ers win?

A 49ers win puts them at 9-0, and drops Seattle to 7-3. That’s a 2.5-game cushion with seven weeks remaining, and one more matchup waiting between these two clubs at the end of the year. It wouldn’t necessarily clinch the division, but it would put San Francisco in a spot where it would need a pretty monumental collapse to slip out of the top spot in the division.

There’s the underlying benefit of re-asserting dominance in the rivalry with Seattle – a rivalry the Seahawks owned for a half-decade. Getting a victory over a playoff team and bitter rival would validate a lot of what the 49ers have done through the first nine weeks.

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What if the 49ers lose?

It’s not the end of the world, but it stings because of how monumental a win would’ve been. The 49ers would be at 8-1 with the 8-2 Seahawks nipping at their heels. That’s not a comfortable spot to be in with games against Green Bay, New Orleans, Baltimore, and another against Seattle all looming.

It would be easy to write off as a fluke if George Kittle misses the game, and losing one out of the first nine games would still be astronomically better than most people thought San Francisco would start, but the 2.5-game vs. 0.5-game separation in the division is significant, so a home loss to the Seahawks would certainly put a dent in the 49ers’ division championship aspirations.

***

There’s more than just the division to worry about though. The 49ers are in a position to snag the No. 1 overall seed and ensure the road to Super Bowl LIV goes through Levi’s Stadium.

New Orleans’ loss to Atlanta put a little breathing room between them and the 49ers for the top spot in the conference, but San Francisco can’t exhale yet. There are still plenty of conference-wide consequences for them Monday night.

Here’s what the NFC playoff picture looks like after Sunday’s games:

1. 49ers (8-0)
2. Saints (7-2)
3. Packers (7-2)
4. Cowboys (5-4)
5. Seahawks (7-2)
6. Vikings (7-3)

What if the 49ers win?

Getting the full two-game lead on the Saints and Packers would be massive considering the 49ers play both teams later in the year. Getting separation before those contests eliminates some of the pressure to win for head-to-head tiebreak purposes when the final playoff seeding comes down.

Losing to the Seahawks would squander a gift for the 49ers from Atlanta after they upset the Saints in New Orleans. They have to take advantage of any opportunity to pick up additional ground in the standings. It was already a big game had the Saints won, but their loss and the potential for a two-game lead makes it bigger.

What if the 49ers lose?

It’s not the end of the world because New Orleans did fall to the Falcons. That additional game of insurance is nice to have in the event the 49ers stumble at any point over the brutal back half of their schedule.

San Francisco would still be at the top of the NFC if Seattle emerges with the victory Monday night, but its lead would stick at one game, which is where it was entering the weekend.

While a loss wouldn’t derail the 49ers’ remarkable start, it would weaken their ability to put an early stranglehold on the top spot in the NFC, and keep them from taking a step toward home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship, and there is no influence on news coverage.

Steelers HC Mike Tomlin takes heat for play call that cost team a safety

The Steelers have allowed a safety in two straight games.

For the second week in a row, the Pittsburgh Steelers gave up a safety. Last week against the Indianapolis Colts the blame for the safety fell squarely on the shoulders of quarterback Mason Rudolph. But this week against the Los Angeles Rams, it really felt like the play call was wrong in that situation.

And as we all know, when it comes to offensive playcalling, it is offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner who bears the brunt of the hate from fans. But head coach Mike Tomlin, in his postgame press conference, make it clear this call was on him, not on Fichtner.

As unfortunate as the outcome was, it’s hard to get too down about the call regardless of who it was. The Steelers continue to scramble to try to manufacture offense, especially in the passing game. I have to believe if James Conner had been in the lineup, this scenario goes very differently.

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Raiders-Bengals odds: Oakland huge favorite vs. Cincinnati in Week 11

The Oakland Raiders are heavily favored in Week 11 when they host the struggling Cincinnati Bengals.

The Oakland Raiders (5-4) host the Cincinnati Bengals (0-9) during Week 11’s NFL regular season Sunday, Nov. 17th, at 4:25 p.m. ET at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The game can be watched on CBS and the NFL’s Redzone. The Raiders enter as a huge favorite, according to odds from BetMGM.

The Raiders (-455) are favored by 10.5 (-106) points against the spread (ATS) over the Bengals. New to sports betting? With a spread of -10.5, that means the Raiders need to not only beat the Bengals, but they need to win by at least 11 points for an ATS wager on them to cash.

Looking to place a bet on this game or others? Get some action in the game at BetMGM. Sign up and bet at BetMGM now!

Feeling a upset? A $10 wager on the Bengals (+350) would pay $35.00 in profit should they win outright. Meanwhile, a $10 wager on the Raiders to win outright returns a profit of just $2.20.

The Over/Under on the Bengals-Raiders game has been set at 48.5, with a -110 line on both sides for this Week 11 NFL matchup.

Want to get some action on this game? Place a sports bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, access SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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LeBron James becomes first Lakers to get 4 triple-double in 1st 10 games

LeBron James made more franchise history for the Los Angeles Lakers even in their first loss in eight games.

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Sunday night was the first time in two weeks that the Los Angeles Lakers felt what it was like to lose as the Toronto Raptors used a huge second half to end the Lakers seven-game win-streak. But even in the loss, LeBron James managed to make a small bit of Lakers history with his play.

With 13 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds, James recorded his fourth triple-double of the season. James became the first player in Lakers franchise history to record four triple-doubles in the first 10 games of the season. Interestingly enough, Dallas Mavericks forward Luka Doncic has also accomplished the same feat this season. The Lakers still have one game left before they get to 10 as they sit at 7-2 after nine games.

Although James gets into the history books for the Lakers, he had a particularly bad night in his attempts to score the ball against a rangy and athletic Raptors front court. James was 5-15 from the field on Sunday and an uncharacteristic 3-6 from the free-throw line.

LeBron and the Lakers will head to Phoenix on Tuesday for a quick trip before returning to L.A. on Wednesday to face the Golden State Warriors.

Preston Smith wins race to 10 sacks, plans Rolex watches for entire Packers defense

Preston Smith won the race to 10 sacks. Now he’ll buy Rolex watches for every player on the Packers defense.

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The race to 10 sacks between Preston Smith and Za’Darius Smith already has a victor, but everyone on the Green Bay Packers defense is about to be a big winner.

Preston tallied two sacks of Carolina Panthers quarterback Kyle Allen on Sunday, pushing him to 10 sacks through the first 10 games of the 2019 season. Za’Darius, despite being close to several sacks, remained stuck at 8.5.

The two Smiths put a friendly wager on the race to 10. Whoever got there first would be responsible for buying gifts of their choice.

Preston, the winner, has made his decision.

He said in the locker room Sunday night that he’ll be buying Rolex watches for every player on the Packers defense. Not just for the outside linebacker room, but everyone on defense.

Za’Darius said he was planning to buy every player a chain with their number if he had gotten to 10 sacks first.

Preston beat him there and then beat his present idea.

“Yeah, that’s big,” Za’Darius said, smiling.

Preston should be able to afford it. He signed a four-year, $52 million deal with the Packers in March that included a $16 million signing bonus.

The two Smiths were dominant on Sunday, producing two sacks, seven quarterback hits and at least a dozen total pressures. Preston even got credit for tackling Christian McCaffrey on the game’s final play, preserving the Packers’ eight-point lead and securing the victory.

Together, Preston and Za’Darius Smith have 18.5 sacks through the first 10 games of 2019. The Packers are getting their money’s worth, and then some. Now, with Preston officially a member of the double-digit sack club, everyone on the Packers defense is about to benefit.

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Steelers-Browns odds: Cleveland favored vs. Pittsburgh in Week 11

The Cleveland Browns are favored over the Pittsburgh Steelers when the two meet in Week 11’s Thursday Night Football action

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The Cleveland Browns (3-6) host the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4) during Week 11’s Thursday Night Football of the NFL regular season Thursday, Nov. 14th, at 8:20 p.m. ET at First Energy Stadium. The game can be watched on Fox, NFL Network and Amazon. The Browns enter as the slight favorite, according to odds from BetMGM.

The Browns (-150) are favored by 2.5 (-121) points against the spread (ATS) over the Steelers. New to sports betting? With a spread of -2.5, that means the Browns need to not only beat the Steelers, but they need to win by at least three points for an ATS wager on them to cash.

Looking to place a bet on this game or others? Get some action in the game at BetMGM. Sign up and bet at BetMGM now!

Feeling a upset? A $10 wager on the Steelers (+125) would pay $12.50 in profit should they win outright. Meanwhile, a $10 wager on the Browns to win outright returns a profit of just $6.67.

The Over/Under on the Browns-Steelers game has been set at 40.5, with a -121 line on the Under and a 100/EVEN line on the Over for this Week 11 NFL matchup.

Want to get some action on this game? Place a sports bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, access SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Patrick Peterson suffers calf injury, status unknown

Kliff Kingsbury did not know the severity of the injury after the game.

The Arizona Cardinals might have lost cornerback Patrick Peterson again. He left the game on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers twice with an injury.

He first left with an injury roughly midway through the third quarter but later returned. He left again with just over seven minutes remaining in the game and did not return.

After the game, head coach Kliff Kingsbury said it was a calf injury he sustained. He also did not know the severity of the injury.

If Peterson ends up having to miss any time, it will further test the depth of the secondary. Tramaine Brock missed the game on Sunday with a hamstring injury. Safety Deionte Thompson missed the game with a knee injury.

Kingsbury next will address the media Monday morning. Based on this season, we shouldn’t expect Kingsbury to give much information. We likely won’t know more until the injury reports for Week 11 come out beginning Wednesday.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

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