Tag: AFC North

Steelers WR doubles down on Browns trash-talk ahead of Week 14 matchup

George Pickens critiques the Browns ahead of Week 14, sparking questions about mental warfare or extra fuel for Cleveland.

Two weeks ago, following the Pittsburgh Steelers’ loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 12’s Thursday Night Football, WR George Pickens made headlines when he blamed the poor weather conditions for the Black and Gold’s loss and alluded to the Browns being a bad football team. His statement is eerily reminiscent of the infamous words of former Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster: “The Browns is the Browns.”

While Pickens and JuJu may share similar baggage and sentiments about Cleveland during their time with the Steelers, instead of backtracking on his controversial statements, Pickens took it a step further while speaking to the media in preparation for Week 14’s rematch: “I just go by the record.”

Pickens is, of course, referencing the Cleveland Browns’ record at the time of the Week 12 contest, which was 3-8 following their win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and has since dropped to 3-9.

Could Pickens’ statements give extra fuel to a team that has already beaten the Steelers in 2024? Or is this a deeper, more strategic game plan aimed at some much-needed mental warfare in Week 14?

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Former Steelers QB considers Browns fans amongst the best in the NFL

Ben Roethlisberger says AFC North rival, the Cleveland Browns, have one of the top fan bases in the NFL, despite regulary beating them down.

Did Big Ben lose a bet?  Former Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger said Browns fans rank among the NFL’s best. It’s hard to imagine any former Pittsburgh Steelers player having anything kind to say about an AFC North rival, let alone Roethlisberger, who built his career on beating down on the Browns consistently.

During episode 61 of his podcast, Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, Big Ben was asked to name his personal top five NFL fan bases, excluding the Steelers. In no particular order, he listed the Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, and Cleveland Browns as having the most passionate fans. While all of these teams have fans who brave any weather conditions to support their teams, Roethlisberger noted that what he respects most about Browns fans is their unwavering dedication despite Cleveland’s losing history.

Humorously, Roethlisberger explained why Cleveland fans deserved this recognition: “The fans want a winner. They might be there with brown paper bags on their heads, but the dog pound is the dog pound.”

Cleveland fans will surely appreciate Roethlisberger’s nod of respect, especially considering how often he dominated the Browns during his career.

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Ravens WR Diontae Johnson wants to complain so let Tylan Wallace work

While Baltimore Ravens WR Diontae Johnson act unseemly, WR Tylan Wallace has already proven himself to be an asset on offense.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson might think he’s cooler than the other side of the pillow, but the team won’t lose sleep in his absence.

Instead, the Ravens should be focused on developing rookie wide receiver Devontez Walker and playing reserve Tylan Wallace more frequently.

Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken has had both Walker and Wallace operating in reps with the starters, yet Walker hasn’t played much throughout the season. Could that change in the upcoming weeks?

Wallace had a big play against the Cincinnati Bengals on Nov. 7 and may be an adequate target for quarterback Lamar Jackson on underneath throws. Walker, on the other hand, is more sizable and may work to take the top of the defense off on vertical route concepts. 

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Johnson was never needed, yet the Ravens have become too idealistic in their approach, assuming that Johnson was humble enough to be moderately used. Instead, Johnson’s gesture indicates that he might not have been the player the Ravens needed when they acquired him.

Hopefully, the Ravens will return to using 12 and 21 personnel packages more frequently on offense. Instead of saturating the field with three wide receiver sets, Monken should focus on using tight-ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, coupling them with two wide receiver sets that will force defenses to play more man coverage.

Ultimately, Walker and Wallace have just as much talent as Johnson, and it’s time for the Ravens’ coaching staff to get out of their way.  

Why blame Zach Orr when Ravens OC Todd Monken needs more scores?

Baltimore Ravens DC Zach Orr held the Philadelphia Eagles as long as he could Sunday hoping OC Todd Monken would scheme more touchdowns.

Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr has worked to rebuild tenacity on defense, and he is finally showing results. Sunday, Orr’s defense forced Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore into six punts, yielding four out of 12 on third downs, and allowed just 17 first downs on 54 plays.

Thanks to the work of Orr Sunday, offensive coordinator Todd Monken was afforded 71 total plays, yet he produced just 19 points. Monken’s game plan amounted to a six-for-15 ratio on third down, three sacks allowed, and four punts. Four other times, Monken settled for field goal attempts.

While fans might scorn kicker Justin Tucker, Monken equally squandered possessions in plus territory, finishing NFL Week 13 with a red-zone scoring percentage of 40%. Monken’s mastermind always seems to stray when the strength of competition increases. Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio had an answer for Monken, forcing the Ravens into holding penalties and loss of yards in key moments of the game and stuffing his schemes on third down.

Consider Orr holding the Eagles offense to just ten second-half points, hoping desperately that Monken would turn an offensive opportunity into a touchdown. Instead, Monken’s lack of production would have extended the Ravens’ 9-0 lead, which would have nullified the usage of Eagles running back Saquon Barkley. Instead, Orr had to use many packages and personnel to try to slow down the NFL’s leading rusher, all because he had no scoring lead to work with.

The Ravens’ strength this season was supposed to be their offense, yet the defense played better between the two units on Sunday.

Ravens kicker Justin Tucker cannot be justified at this point

After years of perfection, Baltimore Ravens K Justin Tucker has finally shown himself fallible and potentially expendable in 2024.

In year 13, Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker has become just a shadow of what he once was for his beloved franchise. A missed extra point and two pivotal missed field goals were huge mistakes in Sunday’s 24-19 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Head coach John Harbaugh hasn’t indicated that he is going to bench Tucker, but acquiring a new kicker needs to be a priority for the Ravens during the bye week. Tucker’s seven-point lapse would have single-handedly covered the difference versus the Eagles and might’ve greatly impacted defensive coordinator Zach Orr’s strategy.

When the Ravens return to face the New York Giants on Dec. 15, Tucker will likely still be the starter on the team’s depth chart. Harbaugh’s faithfulness may be to a fault, and if Tucker continues to jeopardize the team, Ravens’ fans may lose their jolly spirit this holiday season.

Steelers fans react to ‘Hard Knocks: In Season with AFC North’ premiere

Steelers fans were captivated by the debut of ‘Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North’, sharing their excitement on social media.

Without a shadow of a doubt, the most entertainment Steelers fans could have ever dreamed of was experienced last Tuesday night during HBO’s Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North debut episode.

The premiere of the AFC North’s rendition of Hard Knocks went off with a bang and showcased not only several important storylines fans have grown familiar with during the 2024 season but also shed light on some important behind-the-scenes revelations for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Aside from the backstage point of view and the inner workings of what went into the Pittsburgh Steelers’ game plan for Week 13’s contest against the Cincinnati Bengals, there were several fun and exciting moments throughout. From HC Mike Tomlin’s passion to the Heyward brothers’ hilarious dynamic, fans were in love with the new series’ debut. With that in mind, here are some of the best fan reactions to the premiere of Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North.

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HBO Hard Knocks is the last thing Ravens HC John Harbaugh needs

Baltimore Ravens HC John Harbaugh might not benefit from having NFL Films HBO Hardknocks in close proximity.

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is leading an AFC North team that is playing far below its potential in 2024. With NFL Films in close proximity to record the team for HBO Hardknocks, Harbaugh’s documented shortcomings might make for an interesting spectacle. 



In week 13, the Ravens were defeated 24-19 by the Philadelphia Eagles, and the loss came in cinematic fashion. Quarterback Lamar Jackson missed a few open pass targets, and kicker Justin Tucker missed two crucial field goals.

However, Philadelphia Eagles nickel-back Cooper DeJean did not miss when he blasted running back Derrick Henry in the fourth quarter.

Harbaugh is still always unbothered, comes up short, and gives fans the most empty rebuttals and explanations. NFL Films may have positioned themselves to make a masterpiece of the Ravens’ season, especially with the teams’ pending rematches with the Cleveland Browns on Jan. 5 and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 21. 

The Ravens have lost to both the Browns and Steelers this season, but an opportunity to play them at home down the stretch might give them some momentum and favor.

Harbaugh needs to be the hero in 2024. The Steelers are pulling away with the division, and fans have rekindled angst from Harbaugh’s shortcomings in the most recent AFC Championship.

Mike Tomlin is far from thrilled for Hard Knocks: AFC North debut

Mike Tomlin reaffirms his disdain for Hard Knocks through his refusal to watch the Steelers and AFC North debut on the series.

It’s safe to say fans know one man from the Pittsburgh Steelers organization who will not be watching HBO’s Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North premiere. Head coach Mike Tomlin has long made his disdain for the reality sports documentary well known. While the 2024 season has been highly successful for the Black and Gold, it also marks the Steelers’ debut on Hard Knocks. In a series first, the show will follow not just one team but the entire AFC North division.

During the team’s press conference on Tuesday, Tomlin was humorously asked if he would be watching the debut of the AFC North’s Hard Knocks series. The head coach kept his answer short and sweet: “Absolutely not.”

Tomlin has frequently expressed his dislike for allowing reporters or cameras access to the inner workings of his coaching methods. It is likely this transparency, integral to Hard Knocks, that he finds so unappealing.  However, Tomlin still appreciates the challenge that having these cameras brings to the Pittsburgh Steelers organization.

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RB Najee Harris hilariously references QB Russell Wilson’s alter ego

Najee Harris hilariously revived Russell Wilson’s ‘Mr. Unlimited’ alter ego after the QB’s dominant Week 13 performance.

Quarterback Russell Wilson was serving up ‘Dangerwiches’ on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, cooking their secondary with an impressive stat line of 414 passing yards and three touchdowns. However, Wilson wasn’t the only Steeler delivering an elite performance; running back Najee Harris accumulated an outstanding 129 total yards in Week 13.

In a moment that can only be described as ‘real recognizing real,’ Harris took it upon himself to revive Wilson’s nickname, ‘Mr. Unlimited,’ hilariously complimenting his quarterback with a nod to Wilson’s alter ego.

Wilson’s talent was truly unlimited on Sunday for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Harris’ recognition of the spectacular performance will hopefully bring back ‘Mr. Unlimited’ to stay for good. Wilson and Harris’ hilarious backstage interaction could set the tone for more entertainment behind the scenes that fans can witness on HBO’s Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North, debuting on December 3rd at 9:00 PM EST.

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Russell Wilson first Steelers QB since 2021 to achieve this feat

Russell Wilson became the first Steelers QB since Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement to throw for over 300 yards and 3 TDs in a single game.

Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers who miss Ben Roethlisberger’s ability to sling the football—and what it meant to the Black and Gold passing attack—were ecstatic about the team’s Week 13 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Steelers QB Russell Wilson, who has looked consistently great since assuming the starting role over Justin Fields, threw for 414 yards and 3 TDs while averaging an incredible 10.9 yards per pass.

Why are the Black and Gold faithful so excited, and why is this the biggest takeaway from Week 13? One simple reason: the last Steelers QB to throw for over 300 yards and 3+ TDs was none other than Big Ben back in 2021.

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To keep the analysis short and to the point: Russ cooked the Bengals’ defense. While the Cincinnati-based AFC North divisional rivals have struggled to contain opposing offenses, no one can deny that Wilson is starting to look like the Pittsburgh Steelers’ QB of the future.

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