Tag: sports news

Steelers WR George Pickens fined for Week 10 antics

The NFL fined George Pickens for his Week 10 altercation with Washington CB Mike Sainristil, citing the reasoning as a face-mask penalty.

Just when fans of the Black and Gold thought George Pickens had put the Week 10 grappling match between himself and Washington CB Mike Sainristil behind him, the NFL has decided to intervene on one key aspect of the altercation.

Towards the end of the third quarter in the Steelers’ Week 10 matchup against the Washington Commanders, QB Russell Wilson threw an interception, and Pickens took it upon himself to perform his best rendition of a three-point takedown on Sainristil, who was seemingly all but removed from the play.

While it’s unsurprising that the NFL took exception to Pickens’ actions and decided to fine him, the intriguing aspect is what the league chose to penalize the Steelers’ WR  $16,883 for: a face-mask penalty.

With the 7-2 Pittsburgh Steelers enjoying an impressive start to their 2024 campaign and needing as few outside distractions as possible, hopefully Pickens will treat the situation as a wake-up call.

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Did Cam Heyward discover the fountain of youth?

Cam Heyward’s elite 2024 play has been pivotal for the Steelers’ defense, proving age is just a number for the veteran DT.

Cam Heyward has either perfected time travel, discovered the fountain of youth, or is doing his greatest Benjamin Button impersonation in 2024, as the Steelers’ DT continues to turn back the clock with his elite play at 35 years old.

With an impressive five sacks, 14 QB hits, six tackles for loss, and a whopping 31 QB pressures, PFF considers Heyward the best defensive lineman of 2024 so far.

Throughout Heyward’s illustrious 14-year career, the Steelers’ DT has accumulated 85.5 sacks, 127 TFLs, 193 QB hits, and eight forced fumbles.

Heyward’s play in 2024 has been a pivotal factor in not only the team’s fourth-ranked defense against the run but also the overall success of the 7-2 Pittsburgh Steelers.

While teammate T.J. Watt is considered a favorite for the Defensive Player of the Year award, Heyward is looking more and more like a dark horse candidate with each passing week.

Heyward will face a tough challenge in Week 11 as he and the Steelers take on the 7-3 Baltimore Ravens on November 17th at 1:00 PM EST.

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Colin Cowherd admits he was wrong about the Steelers

Steelers fans may not accept Colin Cowherd’s opinion overnight, but his confidence in Pittsburgh’s potential marks a surprising shift.

Steelers fans, mark the calendar: Colin Cowherd finally gave Pittsburgh credit.

Cowherd is often regarded as one of the biggest critics of the Black and Gold, and while he is frequently vilified for his outlandish predictions and speculations, he has seemingly admitted to his lapse in judgment regarding the Steelers’ potential.

Cowherd predicted earlier in the offseason that Russell Wilson would lose the starting job to Justin Fields, but quite frankly, the opposite took place. Cowherd had previously admitted his mistake in assuming Mike Tomlin was “tone-deaf” to the offensive side of the ball, and he seemingly doubled down on his admission during a recent episode of The Herd.

While Cowherd’s “Seattle-East” comparison may rub some Steelers fans the wrong way, Russell Wilson has undeniably turned back the clock on his career in 2024 with Pittsburgh.

Cowherd’s newfound confidence in the Pittsburgh Steelers to beat AFC powerhouses such as the Chiefs, Bills, and Texans won’t fully redeem his reputation in the Steel City, but it’s definitely a start.

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Steelers FS Minkah Fitzpatrick discusses his lack of splash plays

In 2024, Minkah Fitzpatrick hasn’t produced with splash plays, but his impact remains critical for the Steelers’ strong 7-2 start.

Steelers’ All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick has been lacking some of his ‘FitzMagic’ to start the 2024 season, but if you ask him, it isn’t due to a lack of effort or execution.

The Pittsburgh Steelers safety has recorded 20 interceptions and three defensive touchdowns since 2019. Fans of the Steel City have been eagerly awaiting the return of Fitzpatrick’s elite playmaking ability to create turnovers and splash plays in 2024, but through nine games, there’s been nothing to show for it in terms of interceptions.

However, he has still displayed elite zone coverage, pass breakups, and run-stopping excellence. It seems Fitzpatrick isn’t overly concerned about the pressure to produce turnovers this season.

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With the Pittsburgh Steelers off to an impressive 7-2 start in 2024, Fitzpatrick’s words ring true. His elite play has deterred quarterbacks from throwing to his side of the field, and he will aim to maintain his dominant coverage heading into the Week 11 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on November 17 at 1:00 PM EST.

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How Pitt-Clemson game could impact Steelers’ Week 11 field conditions

Subpar field conditions may impact the Steelers’ Week 11 matchup against the Ravens, adding uncertainty to this AFC North rivalry.

As if there couldn’t be more uncertainty surrounding the 7-2 Steelers’ matchup against the formidable 7-3 Ravens, subpar field conditions at Acrisure Stadium may add an additional layer of intrigue to the meeting between these AFC North rivals.

Less than 24 hours before the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11, the Pittsburgh Panthers hosted the Clemson Tigers in an ACC CFB matchup at Acrisure.

While fans of the Steel City are treated to watching their city’s CFB and NFL teams play this weekend, the Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t as fortunate.

When the Pittsburgh Panthers have played at Acrisure just before the Steelers, the field conditions from the game have significantly deteriorated.

One of the most recent examples was in 2022 when the Panthers hosted Georgia Tech on October 1. Weather conditions and the worn-down field made the Steelers’ Week 4 playing conditions against the New York Jets less than ideal, ultimately costing Pittsburgh the game, 24-20.

Could a similar issue present itself in Week 11? Fans would be disappointed if poor field conditions cost the Steelers a chance at furthering their lead in the AFC North divisional race over the Ravens.

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Should Steelers claim former second-round WR off waivers?

Should the Steelers claim Tyquan Thornton off waivers to bolster their wide receiver room and add more speed to their offensive attack?

What a difference a few weeks make! Heading into the trade deadline, the New England Patriots’ lightning-fast WR Tyquan Thornton was one of many receivers linked to the Pittsburgh Steelers as a potential trade target.

However, Pittsburgh ultimately pulled the trigger on a trade that brought New York Jets WR Mike Williams to the Steel City. Now, it appears the Patriots have moved on from Thornton as well.

On Saturday, insider Adam Schefter reported that the New England Patriots would be releasing their former 2022 second-round receiver. Thornton ran an impressive 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the 2022 NFL Combine but struggled to make an impact during his three seasons with the Patriots, recording 39 receptions for 385 yards and two touchdowns in 28 games.

Steelers GM Omar Khan could once again showcase his decision-making prowess by adding Thornton’s speed to an already dangerous Pittsburgh offense.

Steelers’ wide receivers George Pickens, Mike Williams, Calvin Austin III, and the potential addition of Thornton would give QB Russell Wilson the tools to cook any opposing secondary.

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NFL insider compares Steelers’ legitimacy to 8-1 Detroit Lions

Jordan Schultz compares the Steelers to the 8-1 Detroit Lions, highlighting their ability to wear down opponents after a loss.

Surprisingly enough, on a recent episode of The Herd, hosted by the ever-polarizing Colin Cowherd, there was a Pittsburgh Steelers love fest taking place.

Cowherd hosted NFL insider Jordan Schultz, who was asked what he believes the true ceiling for the 7-2 Steelers is. It felt like before Cowherd could finish asking, Schultz was off to the races, singing the Steel City’s praises through 11 weeks of football.

Schultz claimed that Russell Wilson had further solidified the Steelers as contenders, going as far as to compare Pittsburgh to perhaps the best team in the National Football League—the 8-1 Detroit Lions.

Schultz argued that Pittsburgh and Detroit both seem to leave opposing teams in worse shape once they defeat them. His claims were supported by Washington’s recent collapse against Philadelphia on Thursday Night Football in Week 11, only four short days after the Steelers’ Week 10 28-27 victory over the Commanders.

Fans of the Steelers are hoping the same can apply to a potential Week 11 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, as the AFC North rivals are closing the distance in a tight divisional title race.

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Former MVP continues to doubt the Pittsburgh Steelers

Despite their dramatic win over the Washington Commanders, Cam Newton continues to doubt Pittsburgh’s legitimacy heading into Week 11.

Sorry, Cam Newton: You were wrong. The 2015 MVP award winner previously questioned the legitimacy of the Pittsburgh Steelers as the team headed into a tough road matchup against the Washington Commanders, citing that the Steelers’ recent victories over the New York Giants and New York Jets proved nothing.

However, after Pittsburgh pulled off an impressive 28-27 victory in Washington, improving to 7-2 on the season, Newton refuses to admit he was wrong. In hilarious fashion, Newton is now questioning the Commanders’ legitimacy.

While debating with Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s First Take about which scenario holds greater value—Russell Wilson’s resurgence or Lamar Jackson’s third MVP pursuit—Newton had this to say about the Wilson-led Steelers: “Can we get a meaningful win against a quality opponent?”.

Newton acknowledged that Week 11’s matchup against the Baltimore Ravens could be the proving ground for Pittsburgh, and for the first time, he’s not wrong.

Fans of the Steel City can excitedly anticipate what is sure to be an outstanding AFC North showdown between the Steelers and Ravens in Week 11, taking place on November 17 at 1:00 PM EST.

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Former Ravens’ LB takes shots at Patrick Queen signing with Steelers

Former Ravens linebacker Bart Scott criticizes Patrick Queen’s move to the Steelers ahead of the AFC North matchup in Week 11.

Bad blood is in the air, as former Ravens players are taking time to shed light on some of the biggest storylines heading into Week 11’s AFC North rivalry matchup between Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

Former All-Pro Ravens LB Bart Scott spent seven of his 11 years in the NFL with Baltimore, and he believes that while both sides respect each other, one thing he can’t tolerate is a traitor.

He is, of course, referencing the Steelers LB and former Raven Patrick Queen, who had a phenomenal outing in Week 10 against the Commanders.

Scott would continue his tirade, calling Queen a “Judas” for his decision to come to the Steel City in 2024, and that the Steelers’ LB switched over to “the dark side”.

Perhaps the “dark side” Scott is referencing would be Super Bowl aspirations, as Queen is a pivotal member of an outstanding 7-2 Pittsburgh Steelers team looking to make a deep playoff run.

Queen will have the opportunity to silence doubters, including Scott, when his team takes on the Baltimore Ravens on November 17th, at 1:00 PM EST.

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Russell Wilson leads NFL QBs in one interesting statistic, per PFF

Pro Football Focus ranks Russell Wilson’s deep ball as the NFL’s most accurate. Can it push the Steelers past Baltimore in Week 11?

When in doubt, let Russ cook! Every week since the Pittsburgh Steelers made the polarizing decision to bench the 4-2 Justin Fields, current starting QB Russell Wilson has proved his deep ball to be a necessity for the Pittsburgh offense.

While Wilson will never match Fields’ athletic prowess with his legs, the infamous PFF has confirmed that Wilson’s deep ball is the most accurate in the NFL.

Hitting on over 50 percent of these deep throws, his ‘moon ball’ has truly transformed the offense as a whole, and begs the question: would the Pittsburgh Steelers currently be 9-0 if Wilson had started every contest this season?

Wilson’s deep ball should be on full display against the Ravens in Week 11, as the Steelers’ offense faces one of the worst statistical defensive units against the pass.

Against Baltimore on November 17th at 1:00 PM EST, Wilson has the opportunity to do what Fields couldn’t do with Pittsburgh: go 4-0 through his first four starts with the team.

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