Tag: AFC North

Super Bowl LIV: Eagles’ Vic Fangio previously coached with Ravens

Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was an assistant coach with the Baltimore Ravens in the early 2000s when hall-of-fame legend Ray Lewis was on staff.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was an assistant coach with the Baltimore Ravens in the early 2000s when hall-of-fame legend Ray Lewis was the star middle linebacker. Perhaps Vangio’s defensive genius will finally help the Eagles prevail against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV.

Fangio’s Eagles allow just 18.3 points per game in the postseason, but they were nearly upset by the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round. The win over the Rams is worth mentioning, given that quarterback Matthew Stafford, like Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, is a Super Bowl Champion.

Fangio must account for the dynamic speed of Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy and decide where he wants to pick his poison versus the loaded opposing offense.

Will Fangio cover Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins with Darius Slay? Will Fangio blitz Mahomes and double tight-end Travis Kelce? Indeed, a legend with Fangio’s experience will be needed to slow down the multifaceted attack of Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. Fortunately enough for the Eagles, Fangio has competent experience as a professional in the NFL, including work with a franchise known for defensive prowess – the Ravens.

NFL stats leave no debate, Ravens WR Rashod Bateman can be great

Baltimore Ravens WR Rashod Bateman finished the 2024 NFL season ranked No.9 in the league in touchdown receptions.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman is somewhere living life right now, away from football. Nevertheless, we must praise him for his performance at wideout this past NFL season.

Bateman caught six touchdowns over the last six games (including playoffs) and finished the season with a 16.8 yards per catch average. He also ranked No. 9 in the NFL in touchdown receptions. Often overshadowed by the superstar prowess of teammate Zay Flowers, Bateman turned his seven post-season targets into six catches.

Flowers will return from injury next season, and both Ravens’ tight ends, Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, will continue to be at the top of the league in their craft. Hopefully, Bateman will continue to improve winning on routes at the intermediate level to give quarterback Lamar Jackson a viable target.

The Ravens continue to fall short of championship glory, but faith tells us it’s only a matter of time. Bateman has definitely proven his weight in gold, though.

How much longer can Cam Heyward defy age heading into 2025 season?

Cam Heyward continues to defy age, but how much longer can the Steelers rely on him before finding his eventual replacement?

The 2025 NFL offseason must be treated with careful planning, great attention, and reflection if the Pittsburgh Steelers are to rebound from their disappointing five-game losing streak to end the 2024 season.

One of the most painful questions the Pittsburgh Steelers must ask themselves heading into the offseason, however, is how much longer they can rely on the sole efforts of Cam Heyward to uphold a weakening defensive line.

Heyward will be 36 years old by the time the 2025 regular season rolls around—just one year older than when legendary Steelers DT “Mean” Joe Greene retired.

Heyward put together one of his greatest seasons to date in 2024, but Father Time waits for no man. Ideally, he would be able to play at an elite level for another five years, but this simply isn’t realistic.

Ultimately, if the Pittsburgh Steelers care about staying competitive in the postseason—and there’s little evidence to suggest that they do—drafting his heir apparent in the 2025 NFL Draft would be the right move.

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Report: AFC North rival K Justin Tucker faces disturbing allegations

A report from the Baltimore Banner details serious allegations against Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, with an investigation underway.

Shocking and disturbing news has hit the NFL world in the early afternoon hours on Thursday, as arguably the AFC North’s most decorated kicker, Justin Tucker, has been accused of “inappropriate sexual behavior by six massage therapists,” according to the Baltimore Banner, which investigated the matter.

The allegations are graphic and may not be suitable for all readers. A description of the alleged behavior can be found in the original breaking report from the Baltimore Banner here.

The six women who accused Tucker chose to be identified by letters in the Baltimore Banner report to protect their identities from potential retaliation from fans.

The 35-year-old kicker experienced an extreme low on the football field in 2024, missing a career-high eight field goals this season. It remains to be seen how the Baltimore Ravens organization will handle these serious allegations.

As more information becomes available, Steelers Wire will continue to report on the situation and provide updates to our viewers.

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2025 NFL Draft: Steelers may face Shedeur Sanders twice a season

If the Browns land Shedeur Sanders in the draft, the Steelers could soon be facing another highly touted quarterback in the AFC North.

One of the worst-kept secrets since Ben Roethlisberger retired from the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 has been their struggle to find his replacement. From Mitchell Trubisky to Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, and potentially back to Fields again in 2025, the Steelers are still searching for stability at the most important position in football.

One of the Steelers’ AFC North rivals, the Cleveland Browns, has also struggled to find their long-term answer at quarterback, as their Deshaun Watson experiment may be nearing its end.

The Browns were reportedly one of the few teams to meet with one of the top QB prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft, Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

Insider Mary Kay Cabot also argued that, contrary to current rumors suggesting Sanders may prefer to play elsewhere, he would be open to joining the Browns if they select him with the third overall pick in the draft.

Although the Pittsburgh Steelers are dealing with quarterback issues of their own, they would likely scoff at the idea of Cleveland attempting to develop Sanders or playing him twice a season, given how QBs Johnny Manziel, Baker Mayfield, and Watson turned out under their leadership.

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Derrick Henry had his way too, but meddling Ravens OC Todd Monken

Baltimore Ravens HB Derrick Henry had just 16 carries in the most important game of the year but meddling OC Todd Monken sees no problem.

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry had just manhandled the Pittsburgh Steelers with 26 carries for 186 rushing yards in the 28-14 Wild Card victory. So common sense would tell Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken to give Henry more than 16 carries in the AFC Divisional round versus the Buffalo Bills, right?

Tied 7-7 to begin the second quarter, the Ravens had gained chunks on four consecutive rushing plays for 46 yards on the Bills defense. That’s when, on 1st & 10 from the Bills’ 45-yard line, Monken decided to get cute and sequence in a few passing plays to try and cap the drive off in style. 


Jackson’s second-quarter fumble on 2nd & 10 from the Bills 28-yard line was the fourth consecutive pass play called by Monken on the drive. Perhaps center Tyler Linderbaum was preoccupied with having to pass block so many successive times and rushed the snap. Yet, it doesn’t end there.

Monken used the exact same recipe on the ensuing drive, a drive that stalled out with a field goal by kicker Justin Tucker. With the Ravens on the Bills 2-yard line, Monken called a reasonable run-play out of 21 personnel, and rightfully so. The Ravens successfully used the I-formation in the red zone all year but were stuffed for losing one on first down.

No big deal, Monken still had 2nd & Goal from the 3-yard line with 4:38 to go in the second quarter. Monken could’ve forced the unstoppable Henry or even sequenced in the QB inside zone play. Fans had seen the Ravens succeed with Jackson all season. Instead, Monken tried to use play-action with the same 21 personnel and tackle Ronnie Stanley, reporting as an eligible receiver! Take a look below, Jackson’s eligible targets on the play-action play that led to a five-yard loss (sack) were Stanley, fullback Patrick Ricard, tight-end Mark Andrews, Henry and wide receiver Tylan Wallace. 

While Ravens head coach John Harbaugh defends Monken, it’s obvious that Monken’s play calling always favors passing the ball over running it in the most important games. For perspective, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson had three more passing attempts than Bills quarterback Josh Allen in the AFC Divisional Round.

Monken’s genius sometimes suggests that he tends to be overwise. Yet, his wisdom doesn’t seem to prompt him to do the most obvious thing: give Henry the ball. 

Steelers QB Russell Wilson shuts down OC Arthur Smith conflict rumors

Russell Wilson dismissed the Arthur Smith-conflict rumors, making it clear where he stands on their working relationship with the Steelers.

Pittsburgh Steelers fans were in for a treat on Wednesday, as Pat McAfee brought Russell Wilson onto his show to answer questions about his career so far, the 2024 season, and his aspirations for 2025 and beyond.

However, the hard-hitting questions came after McAfee asked Wilson to shed light on a rumored ‘beef’ with OC Arthur Smith that has been making waves online.

Longtime Pittsburgh Steelers writer Mark Kaboly had reported on the strained working relationship between Wilson and Smith, and McAfee made his inquiries known early:

“You like Arthur? Hey, there are reports that you hate him.”

Wilson cleared the air, chuckling:

“Anytime you lose a game or two, or whatever goes on, people try to tear things down. I think Arthur is a great coach. Obviously, he’s been a head coach. We love trying to find ways to compete every day and just get better.”

 

The “game or two” in question is a complete undersell from Wilson, as the Steelers lost five straight to end the 2024 season, but it is promising that the rumors surrounding Smith and Wilson’s relationship were nothing more than that.

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Steelers QB Russell Wilson on where he wants to play, 2025 and beyond

Russell Wilson opened up about his long-term plans and where he envisions the next chapter of his career, including 2025 and beyond.

With rumors swirling about who will remain the starting QB for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025, it is difficult to determine whether the team will move forward with the younger Justin Fields or the aging Russell Wilson.

Wilson had alluded to the ‘plan’ being to re-sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025, but insider Gerry Dulac made it known that this original plan may be out the window—in favor of a new plan involving Fields as the signal-caller.

Little has been confirmed, but in the latest update, Wilson once again made his intentions clear, as well as his career aspirations, on The Pat McAfee Show:

“Going into Pittsburgh, it was a special place for me. Hopefully, I get to play there a lot longer.”

Wilson had previously stated that he hopes to retire with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and his desire at 36 years old to remain with the Black and Gold only adds more fuel to the proverbial 2025 QB fire.

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Ravens TE Mark Andrews has now learned why nice guys finish last

Baltimore Ravens TE Mark Andrews will have to regroup after dropping a two point conversion in the Ravens loss to the Bills

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews ended the 2024 season as a community hero, but his epic two-point conversion pass drop in the 27-25 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC divisional won’t soon be forgotten, especially by teammate quarterback Lamar Jackson, who will be mocked endlessly by the slanted aims of sports media professionals nationwide.



Andrews might have saved a woman’s life last year, but he surely didn’t save the Ravens’ season. To add insult to injury, Andrews tallied two drops and was bullied out of the ball by Bills defensive back Terrel Bernard on a forced fumble that swayed momentum in the Bills’ favor in the fourth quarter. 



Critics should be friendly and let Andrews live this pivotal moment down. Bills fans will boast and mock, but internally, they could feel their hearts drop into their stomachs when Jackson led the Ravens on that final touchdown drive.

Thanks to Andrews’ blooper on the game-tying play, Bills defensive coordinator Bobby Babich can posture as self-destruction wasn’t the primary reason the Bills escaped the Ravens.

Ravens HC John Harbaugh doesn’t have it better than anybody

Baltimore Ravens HC John Harbaugh must have bad luck because his star players left him hanging vs. the Buffalo Bills in AFC Divisional round

It’s unfair. Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh gave his heart and soul to his team this season. After watching men leave, Harbaugh built an impeccable coaching staff, acquired running back Derrick Henry, and began fostering unity within the team locker room. However, thanks to pure bad luck, his star players let him down in the pivotal moments of the AFC Divisional Round.



Fumbles, dropped passes, an interception, and failed red-zone attempts all featured as ingredients to the team’s debacle yesterday. Harbaugh’s annoyance could be easily detected in his sideline interview with CBS before the third quarter. The Ravens didn’t just fail on one two-point conversion, but they also failed sequentially.

 




Tight-end Mark Andrews straight-up dropped the game-tying two-point conversion try, and it’s beyond confusing as to how. How does Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott shake Harbaugh’s hand knowing that the Ravens basically handed him the game?

Ultimately, Harbaugh’s heavenly faith will help him persevere through the misfortune and remain optimistic. Still, these catastrophic unfavorable happenings continue to prevent the auspicious fate that would yield the Ravens another chance at a Super Bowl title.