To wrap up the season, fans got to vote for an offensive and defensive Freak of the Year.
For the 2019-2020 NFL season, I posted a weekly “Freak of the week” which was a weekly poll on the Alabama football twitter account, that let fans vote for an NFL offensive and defensive freak of the week from the previous week’s matchups.
To wrap up the season, fans got to vote for an offensive and defensive Freak of the Year.
Offensively, Derrick Henry won with 81% of the votes. Henry finished the season with 1540 yards rushing and 16 TDs along with 206 receiving yards and 2 receiving TDs.
Despite missing the playoffs, the Pittsburgh Steelers are well represented among the AFC All-Pro roster. This is particularly the case on defense. One Steeler who was named to the first team is safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
The Steelers traded for Fitzpatrick after the second game of the season and it really seemed like Fitzpatrick was the spark the Steelers defense needed. In 14 games, Fitzpatrick had 57 tackles, nine passes defended, five interceptions, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
Fitzpatrick’s game was all about creating turnovers. And he was on pace for a historic season but failed to create a turnover in the team’s final seven games. Hopefully next season the Steelers get a full 16 games like Fitzpatrick’s first seven with the Steelers and not the last seven.
Pittsburg Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and Baltimore Ravens DB Marlon Humphrey were named to the list.
Humphrey, who was drafted by the Ravens in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, finished the 2019 regular season with 65 tackles, 14 pass breakups, 3 INT, 2 (FF) forced fumbles, 3 fumbles recoveries, and 2 touchdowns.
Oct 20, 2019; Seattle, WA, USA; Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) recovers a fumble and runs it back for a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half at CenturyLink Field. Baltimore defeated Seattle 30-16. Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Fitzpatrick, who was drafted by the Dolphins in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft was traded to the Steelers in October of 2019. Since he arrived, he’s had 57 tackles, 9 pass breakups, 5 INT, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries, and 2 TDs.
PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 10: Minkah Fitzpatrick #39 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after recovering a fumble for a 43 yard touchdown during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Heinz Field on November 10, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Both Humphrey and Fitzpatrick have also been chosen to participate in the 2019 Pro Bowl.
Now that the Pittsburgh Steelers season is in the books, we need to take a moment to reflect on the huge in-season trade the Steelers made. Back in September, the Steelers made a blockbuster trade with the Miami Dolphins which included the Steelers’ 2020 first-round pick and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Now that we know the value of that first-round pick, we have to ask ourselves if it was worth it. The first 20 picks are now locked in and the pick the Dolphins now hold the No. 18 pick from Pittsburgh in the first round.
[polldaddy poll=10484067]
We will share our thoughts on the value of the pick as opposed to Fitzpatrick in greater detail in the coming days. But for now we want to hear from Steeler Nation. Did the Steelers win this trade or do you wish they had that first-round pick back?
The Jets will need their star running back to ball out against one of the league’s best defenses in the Steelers.
While the Jets have nothing to play for except pride on Sunday, they still have a chance to put Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes on the self.
Jets running back Le’Veon Bell and offensive assistant Hines Ward will be squaring off against their former team for the first time. Bell has insisted that this is just another game, but Ward wants a Gatorade shower if the Jets are able to pull off the upset.
A win over the Steelers wouldn’t be the most surprising thing New York has pulled off this season. However, besides the injuries that continue to afflict Gang Green, the offensive ineptitude has plagued one of the league’s worst units. It might be more of the same against one of the league’s best defensive units on Sunday.
Here are four things you need to know for the Jets’ Week 16 clash with Pittsburgh.
Le’Veon Bell faces his former team
(Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)
Le’Veon Bell will play his first career game against his former team on Sunday.
While Bell expects a 50/50 reception mixed with cheers and jeers, the Jets running back claims he won’t have any added motivation facing the Steelers.
“Each and every game I play I try to give it my all. I guess if I can find an extra squeeze in there, I’m going to try,” Bell said Friday. “It is what it is with me. I always try to go out there and give my best.”
Whether Bell believes that or not, he is having his worst statistical season to date. He has rushed for just 676 yards on 204 carries with three rushing touchdowns. He also has 57 catches for 404 yards and a score.
The Jets are going to need Bell to run rampant on Sunday to give themselves a fighting chance. A revenge game might not be in the cards for Bell, but he’ll certainly be looking to eclipse the season-best 87-yard rushing performance that he set last week.
Alabama has become a factory for NFL teams looking to add high-quality talent through the draft. The recent voting for the 2019 Pro Bowl is a perfect representation of that notion. On Tuesday night, the rosters were revealed and included seven …
Alabama has become a factory for NFL teams looking to add high-quality talent through the draft. The recent voting for the 2019 Pro Bowl is a perfect representation of that notion.
On Tuesday night, the rosters were revealed and included seven former Crimson Tide standouts, including:
In addition to those players, other former Alabama standouts, such as Raiders rookie running back Josh Jacobs and Colts offensive center Ryan Kelly, were named as Pro Bowl alternates.
The Crimson Tide continues its takeover of the NFL.
Buffalo Bills opponent information on the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
The Bills find themselves in a wonderful predicament, but could be all for naught if they can’t find a win over the next three weeks. The 9-4 Buffalo Bills meet the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football, their first appearance in that primetime slot in some time. Major playoff implications are at stake here, as a Bills loss can knock them back a spot in the Wild Card Race, though still in by a hair.
This is easily the biggest Bills-Steelers match up in some time, so let’s get into their history, statistics and more:
The Bills and Steelers first met on Oct. 11, 1970, in Pittsburgh, with the Steelers winning 23-10.
They met in the 1974 postseason, with Pittsburgh taking a 32-14 win in that game.
The Bills won five straight games against Pittsburgh, from Nov. 9, 1986 to their 1992 AFC Divisional Round Game on Jan. 9, 1993.
Buffalo and Pittsburgh also met in the 1995 AFC Divisional Playoff Game, with the Steelers winning 40-21.
The Bills have not defeated the Steelers in the 21st Century, with their last victory over them on Oct. 10, 1999, in a 24-21 victory.
Buffalo had an opportunity to make the post-season in the 2004-05 season. In a “win and your in” scenario. The Bills starters failed to defeat the Steelers backups, who were 14-1 heading into the final game of the season. Pittsburgh beat Buffalo 29-24, in Buffalo.
Their most recent encounter was a 27-20 win for Pittsburgh, in Buffalo.
Pittsburgh leads the all-time series, 16-9, including playoffs.
2019 So Far
In what has been a challenging year for the Steelers, including their fallout with Antonio Brown, losing Le’Veon Bell, and Ben Roethlisberger succumbing to season-ending injury in Week 2, somehow, the Steelers are still in the playoff picture, and have some favorable circumstances going for them. This season has been a massive testament to Head Coach Mike Tomlin’s ability to lead men on a football field, and is certainly a candidate for Coach of the Year.
Pittsburgh began the season with a blowout loss to the Patriots in the opening Sunday Night Football game for 2019. A 33-3 loss on primetime was no way to start the season, especially with many questioning how Pittsburgh would be effected by the losses of Bell and Brown. From there on, two more losses, a close one against Seattle, 26-28, their last game with Big Ben under center for this year, as well as a 20-24 loss to the 49ers. All three quality teams, and playoff teams at that, right now, in Week 15. Not too shabby for a team of backups despite the losses.
They earned their first win on Monday Night Football in Week 4 against the Bengals, a dominant win against a team that only has one win to it’s credit so far this season. This is also when the Steelers traded for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, a trade that turned around their defense.
However, since that Bengals win, Pittsburgh has only lost twice. To the Baltimore Ravens, a 23-26 loss in overtime, and to the Cleveland Browns in Week 11, a 21-7 loss that ended in a chaotic situation.
Pittsburgh has defeated the Chargers, Dolphins, Colts, Rams, Bengals again, Browns and Cardinals, and face a relatively favorable schedule these last three weeks. They hold criteria over a few teams that are breathing down their neck, and a win over the Bills would nearly secure their playoff aspirations.
Currently, Pittsburgh is the 29th ranked offense, with 3,771 yards of total offense. They are 31st in passing, with 2,541 pass yards and 25th in rushing with 1,230 yards on the ground.
It’s truly impressive how successful that Pittsburgh has been, especially with their personnel under center. Three quarterbacks have taken snaps for the Steelers in 2019. Ben Roethlisberger, Mason Rudolph, and most recently and successfully, Devlin Hodges. The Bills had four last season and their season was not a success.
Rudolph’s tenure as starting QB was enough for him to be at 31st in the NFL in passing yards with 1,636 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns and nine interceptions. He had a 5-3 record as a starter. In three starts, Hodges is 3-0, and 39th in passing yards with 682 passing yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. Roethlisberger had 351 passing yards, zero touchdowns and one interception in his tenure.
It hasn’t been a great year for last year’s emerging rush sensation, James Conner. Conner was a certified stud in 2018, filling in seamlessly for the boycotting Bell. This year has been drastically different, with injuries. James Conner is currently ranked 44th in the NFL amongst rushers, leading Pittsburgh with 390 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. Benny Snell is next up in rushing leaders for Pittsburgh with 320 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. Snell is ranked 49th in rushing.
Pittsburgh’s highest ranked receiver in yardage, is James Washington, who is currently ranked 50th in the NFL. He has accrued 611 yards receiving on the year, Next in line, Ju-Ju Smith Schuster, who is ranked 63rd in receiving yards, with 524 yards. Schuster has dealt with injuries all year, and has not been able to handle the workload of being a No. 1 WR with Brown leaving, and it has harmed him statistically.
One aspect that is keeping the Steelers alive and well in the playoff race is their defense, which is star studded. They are the fifth ranked defense in the NFL, allowing 4,042 yards of offense against them. Pittsburgh is also the fifth ranked passing defense, allowing 2,727 yards by air, and they are eighth in rush defense with 1,315 yards allowed.
Their defense is led by talents of T.J. Watt, Joe Haden, Bud Dupree, Cameron Hayward, Fitzpatrick, and many others.
The Bills visit the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15 at Heinz Field. To learn more about Sunday’s opponent, Bills Wire spoke to Curt Popejoy, Steelers Wire’s managing editor, to learn more about the Steelers:
The Bills visit the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15 at Heinz Field. To learn more about Sunday’s opponent, Bills Wire spoke to Curt Popejoy, Steelers Wire’s managing editor, to learn more about the Steelers:
Who is this man Duck and what can you tell us about his game?
He’s just your normal undrafted rookie FCS quarterback who is leading his team into the playoffs. Honestly, he’s far exceeded any reasonable expectations. He’s athletic and confident and has a really strong arm. He’s got a great grasp of the offense and the guys play hard for him.
JuJu Smith-Schuster & James Conner might play n this one. How big of an impact will those two potentially make on this game?
Count me among those who aren’t terribly excited to have those guys just fall into starting jobs when they are healthy. Part of the reason the offense is playing better is the guys have chemistry. I don’t want to see that disrupted.
Note: Smith-Schuster has been ruled OUT by the Steelers on Friday.
Bring us back to the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade. Compare how it was viewed at the time to now?
At the time it looked like the Steelers might have overpaid because Pittsburgh was eyeing a Top 5 pick to some. But the team’s improvement has been too significant for anyone to criticize. Fitzpatrick is playing as well as any defensive back in the league and is the key reason this defense has improved so much.
This Steelers front-seven seems pretty legit. How can they be beat?
If I were trying to move the ball on the Steelers front seven, I’d run run at them. With Stephon Tuitt out, the middle of the defensive line is more about rushing the passer than it is defending the run. I wouldn’t try to get wide because they are too fast. As far as passing the ball, crossing routes seem to be the best way to confuse the linebackers in coverage. But if you don’t do it quick that pass rush can do work.
Finally, what’s your prediction for Sunday?
I originally thought Buffalo would be too much offense for the Steelers to keep up with. But with each week that Hodges plays better the gap closes. And with the game being in Pittsburgh and in prime time, I’m leaning to Pittsburgh, team of destiny. Steelers 24, Bills 17.
The Buffalo Bills and Steelers will play a big-time, primetime game in Week 15 as the two AFC opponents will faceoff in a pivotal late season contest.
The Buffalo Bills and Steelers will play a big-time, primetime game in Week 15 as the two AFC opponents will faceoff in a pivotal late season contest.
Sunday Night Football will bear down on the Bills this week, and while Buffalo fell to the Ravens last week, they certainly held their own against the Cowboys during their Thanksgiving primetime showcase.
With that, here are five storylines to follow as the Bills take on the Steelers:
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Playoff implications on Sunday night
As mentioned, the Bills will have to handle their business in front of more eyes than usual this week. Buffalo and Pittsburgh will wrap up the Sunday slate of football at Heinz Field just a short drive from western New York. There should be a decent showing of Bills fans, and the team itself can be confident in their primetime abilities. Not only did they beat the Cowboys on the road, they also did so in the most watched Thanksgiving Day game in a couple of years. A lot of eyes saw that Bills team.
But this time around this one some huge playoff implications. The 8-5 Steelers host the 9-4 Bills. A win and the Bills are in. A win and the Steelers jump the Bills and hit the first Wild Card spot. For head-to-head purposes and their own fates, this game is massive for both sides.
Seven things to know about the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Buffalo Bills’ Week 15 opponent.
The Bills earned another primetime football slot this season in their Week 15 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which will take place on Sunday Night Football.
Like any late-season AFC battle for a team with a winning record, this one is important. Win and the Bills are in the playoffs. But the Steelers have plenty of reason to fight, too.
With that, here are seven things to know about the Bills’ Week 15 opponent, the Steelers:
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Samuels. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Hot streak puts Pitt in Wild Card battle
Sure, the Bills are in the Wild Card battle. But so are the Steelers.
After a 0-3 start to the season, the Steelers have gotten red hot and at the right time. No easy late games for the Bills, apparently.
Pittsburgh has won seven of their last eight games at sit with eight wins overall, right behind the Bills, who have nine. With that in mind, the Steelers enter the game as the second Wild Card holder in the AFC, with the Bills holding the first one. The winner will hold the fifth-seed in the playoffs after this one. For Buffalo a win will lock up a playoff berth with two games remaining as well.
Included in that hot streak is a promising record on their home turf, too. The Steelers are 5-2 at home this season.
