Tag: American football

Why Justin Fields is the Steelers’ X-factor heading into Week 12’s TNF

The Justin Fields package helped secure a Week 11 win for the Steelers and could play a major role against Cleveland’s defense in Week 12.

While it can be argued that too much blame is being placed on Russell Wilson’s shoulders for the Steelers’ Week 11 offensive struggles, one key takeaway from Pittsburgh’s offense remains: the ‘Justin Fields package‘ was immaculate.

The Fields rushing package has been teased since the Steelers traded for the former Bears QB, and it finally came to fruition in Week 11 against the Baltimore Ravens.

The Steelers brought Fields in for a QB power play and two QB-RB options that helped seal the Week 11 victory for Pittsburgh. In Week 12, facing a relentless Cleveland pass rush led by 2023 Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, the Steelers may be forced to rely on the Fields package as the focal point of the rushing attack.

Fields isn’t just a running QB; he can also sling it deep if the game script calls for it, and this versatility could prove to be Cleveland’s downfall in the upcoming Thursday Night Football game.

Will Steelers OC Arthur Smith utilize both Wilson’s and Fields’ greatest strengths in unison? Between Wilson’s ‘moon ball’ and Fields’ speed, not many defenses in the league can prepare for this offensive tandem.

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Ben Roethlisberger trolls Cleveland in hilarious fashion

Ben Roethlisberger keeps his rivalry with Cleveland alive, confidently predicting a Steelers victory over the Browns in Week 12.

Even in his retirement, former Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger continues to show Cleveland why he still owns the Browns. On his podcast, Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, his co-host Spencer Te’o asked the legendary Pittsburgh QB to share his thoughts on the Browns-Saints Week 11 results.

Roethlisberger quickly gave credit to Browns QB Jameis Winston for nearly throwing for 400 yards but immediately shifted to roasting the Cleveland defense: “That sounds great, but I think the Browns’ defense gave up 200-plus, almost 300 yards rushing, made Taysom Hill look like Bo Jackson.”

Big Ben continued his roast of Cleveland, stating that the NFL might as well just give the Steelers the win automatically before their Week 12 matchup with the Browns on Thursday Night Football. Roethlisberger stated, “We don’t even need to play the game Thursday, really, to be honest.”

In what is shaping up to be a complete mismatch, Roethlisberger has the utmost confidence in his 8-2 Pittsburgh Steelers to defeat the 2-8 Cleveland Browns in this week’s Thursday Night Football on November 21 at 8:15 PM EST.

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Mike Tomlin ecstatic Baltimore let Patrick Queen hit free agency

Mike Tomlin shares his thoughts on Patrick Queen following the Steelers’ Week 11 win, highlighting his value to the team.

In the post-game press conference following the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 11 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, Head Coach Mike Tomlin was asked his opinion on former Raven and current Steelers LB Patrick Queen. Tomlin kept it short and sweet, explaining: “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Man, I am glad he is on our team.”

Queen, who left Baltimore after the team allowed him to hit free agency in the 2024 offseason, had a fantastic outing against the Ravens, providing much-needed run support against the one of the best rushing offenses in the NFL.

Heading into Week 11, much discussion surrounded Queen’s potential in the revenge game against his former team, and the Steelers LB did not disappoint.

While Queen had his ups and downs to start the season, no one can deny the consecutive elite performances he delivered in Weeks 10 and 11.

Queen will look to keep his red-hot momentum rolling as his team faces a short week due to the Cleveland Browns in Week 12’s Thursday Night Football game.

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Browns’ Myles Garrett discusses T.J Watt’s 2023 D.P.O.Y. snub

Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, NFL, Week 12, Thursday Night Football, Defensive Player of the Year, American football, Timely, Sports news

Be careful what you wish Cleveland!  While to many it seems unwise to provoke T.J. Watt just days before facing off against him, that is exactly what the Browns did. Speaking to reporters during Tuesday’s media availability, the 2023 D.P.O.Y. award winner, Myles Garrett, was asked to comment on Watt’s less-than-enthusiastic reaction to being snubbed from winning the award after a spectacular performance last season.

Garrett, known for his issues with Pittsburgh in the past, wasted no time taking a subtle jab at Watt, stating, “I’ve never complained about the trophy not being in my house, and vice versa. He shouldn’t be feeling two ways about it going to me.”

Watt’s league-leading 19 sacks should have been more than enough to secure the award in 2023, but one thing the Browns’ edge rusher said rings true: T.J. will have every opportunity this week, when his team takes on Cleveland, to silence the doubters once again.

Garrett’s comments and challenge to Watt will surely only lead to Cleveland’s demise in Week 12, as the Steelers take on the Browns in this week’s Thursday Night Football game at 8:15 PM EST.

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Mike Tomlin spares no feelings regarding Russell Wilson’s Week 11 INT

Mike Tomlin addresses Russell Wilson’s costly interception in Week 11 as the Steelers prepare for Thursday Night Football against Cleveland.

While Russell Wilson has led the Steelers to four consecutive victories in each of his past four starts, Head Coach Mike Tomlin was unimpressed with one specific play from Week 11 against Baltimore.

The offense was struggling to score touchdowns against a stingy Ravens defense, and Wilson almost made a spectacular touchdown pass to TE Darnell Washington.

Wilson escaped pressure, scrambled to his right, and threw up a jump ball to the 6’7″ dynamic tight end in the end zone, but Washington watched it fly past his head and into the arms of Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey.

While the blame game was to be expected, Tomlin wasted no time letting everyone know who he believes was at fault: “I just wish Russ hadn’t thrown it.”

The Pittsburgh Steelers brought Wilson in to make plays for their offense, and Tomlin shouldn’t be surprised nor discourage Wilson’s willingness to take these risks.

Tomlin and the Wilson-led Steelers offense will look to get back on track against the Cleveland Browns on, Thursday Night Football, on November 21st at 8:15 PM EST.

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K Chris Boswell on track to break the single-season field goal record

Chris Boswell is on pace to break the NFL single-season field goal record, fueling the Steelers’ strong start to their 2024 campaign.

The ‘Wizard of Boz’ is truly onto something special in this spectacular start to the 8-2 Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2024 season. K Chris Boswell has all but locked up a potential third-straight AFC Special Teams Player of the Month award for November, and he is currently on pace to shatter one particular NFL record.

The single-season field goal record is held by David Akers, who made 44 field goals during the 2011 season. Akers had previously broken the 2005 record of 40 set by Neil Rackers, but Boswell is on pace to leave Akers’ record in the dust.

Through ten games played, Boswell has attempted 30 field goals and made 29 of them. He is averaging three attempts per game and is currently on pace to hit 49 field goals in the 2024 17-game season after his six field goals made in Week 11.

If Boswell achieves this historic feat, should the kicker at least be considered in the 2024 MVP race? After all, Boswell is perhaps the most responsible for the Steelers’ fantastic start to this season.

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Terry McLaurin challenges Commanders after second straight loss

Terry McLaurin doing what great leaders do.

This is a different Washington Commanders team. Don’t let a recent two-game losing streak fool you. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin has seen it all in six years and knows things are different.

That’s why, after Thursday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, McLaurin wanted to see the team’s “brotherhood” respond to adversity the way it has to success.

“I think it’s easy to preach brotherhood when everything’s going good, when you’re winning and having a good time and things like that,” McLaurin said after Thursday’s game.

“So, this is when kind of those…..what your program is built on, this is when it needs to stand out. So, you know, we hang our hat on our brotherhood and this is definitely the time that we need to stand up for that.”

Truer words have never been spoken.

Since taking over, head coach Dan Quinn has preached brotherhood. It’s not a motto for Quinn; he believes in it, he teaches it, and players love and respect him for it. The Commanders began the season with lots of smiles and little adversity.

That changed after two consecutive losses, moving Washington into second place in the NFC East. How will the Commanders and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels respond?

In moments like this, we learn more about a team than when they are succeeding. The Commanders face the Dallas Cowboys in Week 12 and are heavy favorites.

How the Justin Fields package became the Steelers’ secret weapon

The Pittsburgh Steelers may have unlocked their ultimate offensive weapon with the debut of the Justin Fields rushing-package in Week 11.

In what can only be described as a purely defensive contest, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 11 victory over the Baltimore Ravens paved the way for the debut of the long-awaited ‘Justin Fields package’ on offense.

Russell Wilson struggled against the Ravens’ defense, throwing for 205 yards while completing 63.9% of his passes and producing his lowest QBR of the season: 67.5. However, much of the blame should be placed on Pittsburgh’s pass protection, as the Ravens constantly had Wilson under pressure and sacked him four times.

Where the offense looked promising, however, was in several Justin Fields packages that featured three plays: one QB-power play and two QB-RB option plays that sealed the Steelers’ Week 11 victory.

Wilson’s ‘moon ball’ is a deep threat unlike anything the NFL has seen this season, but Pittsburgh’s implementation of Fields’ rushing abilities will make opposing defenses second-guess every meeting with the Steelers.

Wilson and Fields can tear through defenses in their own unique ways, and it was refreshing for fans to see what the Pittsburgh Steelers will be capable of moving forward when utilizing both talented QBs.

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Steelers fans react to Chris Boswell’s incredible Week 11 performance

Chris Boswell shines again, leading the Steelers to an 8-2 start in 2024 going six for six on field goals in Week 11’s victory.

The ‘Wizard of Boz’ strikes again. While fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers anticipated QBs Russell Wilson and Lamar Jackson to create a high-scoring Week 11 contest, they were instead treated to another Chris Boswell masterclass.

Boswell has achieved accolade after accolade to begin the 2024 season, being named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month in both September and October, as well as kicking his 1,000th career point in the Steelers’ Week 3 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.

His best performance in 2024 came all the way back in Week 1, kicking a perfect six-for-six field goals from 57, 56, 51, 44, 40, and 25 yards.

Boswell matched his season-best six field goals made in the Steelers’ Week 11 victory over the Ravens, kicking for 57, 52, 50, 32, 32, and 27 yards.

The Steelers’ kicker is putting together one of his best seasons to date, with his confidence, accuracy, and consistency rallying his team to an unbelievable 8-2 start in 2024.

Here are some of the best fan reactions to Boswell’s immaculate Week 11 performance.

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Ravens kicker blames Week 11 field conditions for missed field goals

Justin Tucker says the field surface in Pittsburgh “wasn’t ideal” after missing two field goals in Week 11, while Chris Boswell was perfect.

Sorry, Justin Tucker: no one is buying the excuses you’re trying not to make for your lackluster Week 11 performance. For fans unaware of the recent developments behind Tucker’s post-game comments, the Ravens kicker initially accepted fault for his two missed field goals during the contest but ultimately pointed to poor field conditions in Pittsburgh as a contributing factor.

When asked if the field conditions at Acrisure Stadium directly contributed to his two missed field goals, Tucker tried to avoid deflecting blame, but ended up doing just that: “I wouldn’t say the surface was an issue, but it wasn’t ideal.” He doubled down on the less-than-ideal field claims, adding, “Throughout the course of the game, the most action takes place between the hashes, and it naturally just gets chewed up.”

While some speculated that the field conditions could have been affected by the Panthers-Clemson CFB game on Saturday, Steelers kicker Chris Boswell had no issues. Boswell made all six of his field goal attempts in Week 11, including an impressive 57-yard bomb.

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