All NFL games on for Week 9 as teams deal with COVID-19
By The Associated Press undefined
All NFL games are on for this weekend while teams deal with COVID-19 issues. Depending on their situations, teams were either steering clear of or returning to their facilities Friday, one day after the Packers beat the 49ers even though both clubs were missing key players due to the coronavirus pandemic. Cincinnati, Atlanta and Miami all revealed positive tests.

AP source: Tomlin, Steelers fined for improper mask wearing
By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer
A person with knowledge of the matter tells The Associated Press that Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has been fined $100,000 and the club $250,000 because coaches improperly wore facial coverings last Sunday. The person said Friday that Tomlin and the Steelers were disciplined because members of the coaching staff were “not wearing face coverings at all times on the sidelines.” Tomlin was cited among the coaches not following protocols during the victory over the Baltimore Ravens. The league has been clamping down on violators of sideline protocols.

Unbeaten Steelers huge favorites in visit to rival Cowboys
By The Associated Press undefined
The Pittsburgh Steelers are huge favorites in their visit to longtime rival Dallas. The Cowboys are 13 1/2-point underdogs, the largest spread against them at home since 1989. That was the year owner Jerry Jones bought the Cowboys. They finished 1-15. Pittsburgh can set a franchise record with an eighth straight win to start the season. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin can tie the NFL record of 14 consecutive seasons of at least a .500 record at the start of a career. Dallas will have its fourth starting quarterback of the season.

Cowboys will have 4th starting QB of season against Steelers
By SCHUYLER DIXON AP Pro Football Writer
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys will have their fourth different starting quarterback of the season against undefeated Pittsburgh with Andy Dalton unavailable because of COVID-19 protocols. Coach Mike McCarthy says rookie Ben DiNucci is being benched in favor of either Garrett Gilbert or Cooper Rush. Gilbert and Rush will compete for the job in practice this week. Dalton is expected to be available again when the Cowboys return after their open week. DiNucci started once after Dalton sustained a concussion. Dalton replaced star Dak Prescott, who is out for the season with a broken ankle.

Steelers dominate early, hold off Titans for 27-24 win
By TERESA M. WALKER AP Pro Football Writer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers stand alone as the AFC’s last undefeated team thanks to a dominant start and a bit of late luck. Ben Roethlisberger threw two touchdown passes to Diontae Johnson, and the Steelers remained perfect by holding off Tennessee 27-24 Sunday in a game originally scheduled for Oct. 4 and rescheduled by the Titans with the NFL’s first COVID-19 outbreak during the season. Stephen Gostkowski, who made a 51-yarder earlier in Tennessee’s comeback try, missed a 45-yarder wide right with 14 seconds left that sent the Steelers running around in celebration.

Delay makes showdown bigger for undefeated Steelers, Titans
By TERESA M. WALKER AP Pro Football Writer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have been through so much dealing with the NFL’s first COVID-19 outbreak during the season resulting in one game postponed and rescheduled to a second game pushed to a rare Tuesday night kickoff. Now they host one of the NFL’s two other remaining undefeated teams with the Pittsburgh Steelers finally coming to town Sunday to play that first game postponed by the coronavirus pandemic. The Titans also heard the talk they should be punished, even Steelers tight end Eric Ebron’s call to make them forfeit. Titans linebacker Rashaan Evans says this is the type of game players want.

Pittsburgh second-year inside linebacker Devin Bush sustained what coach Mike Tomlin called a “significant knee injury” in Pittsburgh’s 38-7 rout of the Browns on Sunday.

Bush, who had not missed a defensive snap all season, injured his left knee in the second quarter when he took an awkward step while attempting to break up a pass.

“Devin is a great player,” Steelers outside linebacker Bud Dupree said. “He’s one of the most underrated guys on the team, one of the fastest guys on the team, so anytime you lose somebody like that, it’s a big blow. But (Robert) Spillane came in and did well. He communicated well. Prayers up for Devin as he goes through recovery.”