Examining Steelers, AFC Playoff Seeding Scenarios
STEELERS GET BACK TO WORK After having the weekend off, the Pittsburgh Steelers got back to work this afternoon going through normal film studies and meetings.The team will go through a normal week with practices on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. For the Steelers, the playoffs begin this week as the team heads into their regular season finale, controlling their destiny for the AFC North Title and most importantly, the No. 2 seed and a first round bye in the playoffs. The game needs to be treated like one and should be. There are no excuses for Pittsburgh not to go into Cleveland and take care of business. A first round bye is crucial to Pittsburgh’s chances of winning their second
NFL Quick Hits: Favre Mania; Goodell looking the other way
NFL Quick Hits The drama surrounding Brett Favre hit full steam on Tuesday as the Vikings sent three prominent players to Mississippi to visit Favre in an attempt to lure the 40 year old quarterback back to Minnesota. The tactic worked and hours later Favre boarded a private jet to Minnesota and will now return for a 20th season. On August 3rd, multiple reports indicated Favre was retiring, however, it was fitting that the boy who cried wolf of the NFL would announce his return just two weeks later. Once Favre arrived in Minnesota Tuesday afternoon, the coverage was reminiscent of the O.J. Simpson chase. Multiple helicopters from news channels were in the air tracking Favre’s every move. Favre will
Draft watch: Cal U’s Terrence Johnson profiled in current issue of ESPN The Magazine
CALIFORNIA (March 30) – With the 2010 NFL Draft less a month away, former California University of Pennsylvania cornerback Terrence Johnson (Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) is profiled in the current issue of ESPN The Magazine. Johnson is highlighted in the NFL brief section of the magazine (p. 80) as part of “Third Watch,” which features likely Day 3 players that have the best shot at a productive NFL career. He is one of two players selected by renowned draft analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. Kiper cites Johnson as possessing 4.40 40-speed and great athletic ability, as well as being a solid special teams player. One of the most decorated defensive players in school history, Johnson was a four-year starter and finished his
NFL Playoffs: Bengals early playoff exit not a surprise; Ravens stun Patriots
2010 NFL Playoffs Bengals went into playoffs with no momentum The Cincinnati Bengals were a stunned and shocked football team following Saturday’s 24-14 loss at home to the New York Jets. After claiming the AFC North division with a 10-6 record, Cincinnati had a prime opportunity to win their first playoff game since 1990, getting a home wild card game against what many considered to be the weakest AFC playoff team in the field, despite the Jets being the No.5 seed. However, the writing was on the wall that the Bengals were not going to be a factor in the playoffs. They went into the playoffs with absolutely no momentum after losing 3 of their final 4 games, that included
Ravens @ Steelers: Playoff Implications; Harrison to play; Reed inactive
Baltimore (8-6) @ Pittsburgh (7-7) Live Updates: Big news coming out of warmups is that Baltimore Ravens star safety Ed Reed (groin) was going to play but Reed is inactive today and will not play. Reed participated fully in warmups but was limited. Pittsburgh Steelers Linebacker James Harrison (biceps) remains in a lot of pain due to a biceps injury but will start at ROLB. Carey Davis, Troy Polamalu, Keenan Lewis, Kraig Urbik, Joey Galloway, Sunny Harris and Chris Kemoeatu are inactive for Pittsburgh. Charlie Batch will serve as the No.3 quarterback for Pittsburgh. Ravens starting left tackle Jared Gaither is inactive. Rookie Michael Oher will move from right tackle to left tackle today. Tackle Oniel Cousins will start at
Ravens beat Steelers 20-17 in OT
Post-Game Reaction Under the circumstances, Dennis Dixon put on a good performance throwing a 33 yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes, and running for a 24 yard touchdown to put Pittsburgh up 17-14 in the fourth quarter with less than 6:24 remaining in the fourth quarter. In regulation, Dixon did everything the Steelers could have expected and surprisingly put the Steelers in position to win the game but the Steelers defense was unable to hold off the Ravens from tying the game.
Steelers @ Ravens Game Day Thread: All eyes on Dennis Dixon
Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) @ Baltimore Ravens (5-5) The stunning developments over the past 24 hours of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger being ruled out to start tonight’s AFC North Showdown between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, has put all eyes on quarterback Dennis Dixon. Dixon a second year pro, will make his first NFL start in a hostile territory against a divisional rival that is fighting for their playoff lives. This is a game that many NFL pundits already saw as being very difficult for Pittsburgh, even when it was believed that Ben Roethlisberger would be starting. Roethlisberger will be active tonight, but will serve as the teams No. 3 quarterback. Tyler Palko, an undrafted free agent, will be the Steelers
Friday Practice Report: Roethlisberger says he’s passed every test given to him
Inside Pittsburgh Sports On Sunday night, Ben Roethlisberger will face a menacing Baltimore Ravens defense one week after experiencing his fourth concussion in less than four years. Still, he’s not going into this AFC North showdown fearing for his safety. “It’s the nature of the beast of playing this game,” he said. “It’s a violent, physical contact sport and there’s a chance you’re going to get hit and dinged.”
Post-Kansas City Judgements; Arians taking a lot of heat for 3rd & 2 playcall in OT
Through eight games and coming off of a dominating win against the Denver Broncos two weeks ago on national tv, the Steelers were 6-2 and back in the mix as one of the elite teams in the NFL. Two weeks later that’s no longer the case. After two straight losses at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals and the lowly Kansas City Chiefs, the defending Super Bowl champs have fallen to 6-4 on the season. They are still in position to earn a playoff berth as 66% of teams who started 6-4 have made the playoffs since 1980, but the Steelers week 12 matchup against the 5-5 Baltimore Ravens will be the key point in the season as to whether
NFL: Ravens 1st round pick wants to beat the Steelers
Baltimore Ravens 1st round pick Michael Oher expects to make an immediate impact with the Ravens and he already knows the importance of beating the Steelers. During his introductary news conference on Sunday, Oher told Baltimore reporters “I’m going to do everything I possibly can to get them to beat Pittsburgh,.” Source: Baltimore Sun