Category: NFL

Steelers to sit Roethlisberger for finale against Browns

Steelers to sit Roethlisberger for finale against Browns
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will sit out the team’s regular-season finale against Cleveland so he can rest for the playoffs. Coach Mike Tomlin says Mason Rudolph will start for the AFC North champions when they face the Browns. There is little at stake for Pittsburgh. The Steelers can finish no worse than third in the AFC. Cleveland, however, will end an 18-year postseason drought with a win. Rudolph started for the Steelers in their visit to Cleveland last year. Cleveland’s win was marred by an ugly fight near the end between Rudolph and Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.

Washington releases 2019 1st-round pick Dwayne Haskins

Washington releases 2019 1st-round pick Dwayne Haskins
By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Sports Writer
Washington has released 2019 first-round pick Dwayne Haskins the day after he committed three turnovers in a loss to Carolina. Haskins started in place of injured quarterback Alex Smith despite being disciplined for violating COVID-19 protocols by partying with several people without a mask. Haskins was 14 of 28 with two interceptions and a fumble against the Panthers before being benched for Taylor Heinicke. Haskins was 1-5 as the starter this season. Coach Ron Rivera earlier Monday said either Smith or Heinicke would start the regular-season finale at Philadelphia with the NFC East title on the line. Washington’s previous regime drafted Haskins 15th overall last year.

Steelers rally past Colts to end skid, lock up AFC North

Steelers rally past Colts to end skid, lock up AFC North
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers are AFC North champions. Finally. Ben Roethlisberger overcame a month-long malaise to throw for 342 yards and three second-half touchdowns as the Steelers locked up the division title with a stunningly improbable 28-24 victory. Listless and lifeless for weeks thanks to a three-game losing streak that followed an 11-0 start, Pittsburgh (12-3) somehow got it together over the final 25 minutes against the Colts (10-5). Indianapolis missed a chance to inch closer to a playoff berth when it let a 17-point third-quarter lead slip away.

Colts, Steelers meet while heading in opposite directions

Colts, Steelers meet while heading in opposite directions
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts are surging. The Pittsburgh Steelers are reeling. Still, both teams will have plenty at stake when they meet at Heinz Field. The Colts have won five of six games to move into the lead in the AFC South. The Steelers have lost three in a row since their 11-0 start. Indianapolis can clinch a playoff berth with a win and losses by either Baltimore or Miami. Pittsburgh can lock up the AFC North with a victory but will need its offense to get going. The Steelers are averaging just 16 points a game during their current skid.

Struggling Steelers in midst of historic collapse

Struggling Steelers in midst of historic collapse
By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer
The Pittsburgh Steelers have gone from dreams of matching the perfect 1972 Miami Dolphins to searching for another win. After winning their first 11 games for the first time in franchise history, the Steelers were upset at home two weeks ago against Washington. That was followed by a loss at fellow AFC contender Buffalo before a humbling 27-17 defeat to last-place Cincinnati. The last team to start 11-0 and then lose three straight was the 1969 Rams in a 14-game season. The skid carried over to the playoffs with a loss to Minnesota, a fate the Steelers would like to avoid.

Steelers add C Pouncey to COVID-19 list against Ravens

Steelers add C Pouncey to COVID-19 list against Ravens
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens are scheduled to play on Wednesday afternoon even as COVID-19 continues to infect players up and down their respective rosters. The Steelers will be without perennial Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey, who was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on just hours before kickoff. Pouncey is the fourth Pittsburgh player to join the list in the past week. The Ravens will be without more than a dozen players, including quarterback Lamar Jackson and running backs J.K. Dobbins and Mark Ingram. The game has been delayed three times because of a COVID-19 outbreak in Baltimore.

Ravens-Steelers game moved from Thursday night to Sunday

Ravens-Steelers game moved from Thursday night to Sunday
By The Associated Press undefined
The Thanksgiving night game between the Ravens and Steelers has been switched to Sunday because of coronavirus issues with Baltimore. The NFL announced the move Wednesday, but did not specify a time of game nor which network would televise it. Previously, it was scheduled for NBC’s prime-time telecast. Baltimore placed outside linebacker Pernell McPhee on the reserve/COVID-19 list, joining running backs Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins and defensive tackle Brandon Williams. The Ravens also have been doing team work virtually.

2020 features 1st NFL season in 9 years with 0-10, 10-0 team

2020 features 1st NFL season in 9 years with 0-10, 10-0 team
By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer
Winning or losing 10 straight games to open the season is a relatively rare occurrence. A season in which teams have done both has happened only a handful of times before the Pittsburgh Steelers won their first 10 games and the New York Jets lost their first 10 this season. This is just the sixth season in the Super Bowl era to feature both a 10-0 team and 0-10 team, and first time it has happened since 2011. That year, the Packers went 15-1 before losing their first playoff game, while the Colts finished 2-14.

Steelers dominate skidding Jaguars 27-3, remain unbeaten

Steelers dominate skidding Jaguars 27-3, remain unbeaten
By MARK LONG AP Pro Football Writer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Pittsburgh’s most dominant defensive performance of the season kept the Steelers perfect. Terrell Edmunds and Minkah Fitzpatrick intercepted two passes each and the Steelers steamrolled their way to 10-0 with a 27-3 win in Jacksonville on Sunday. Rookie quarterback Jake Luton looked lost most of the day against the Steelers, who allowed just 206 yards and finished with two sacks. They celebrated each turnover by running into the end zone and posing for the cameras. Ben Roethlisberger and Co. gladly shared the spotlight with one of the league’s most disruptive defenses.

Week of isolation works for Big Ben; Steelers rip Bengals

Week of isolation works for Big Ben; Steelers rip Bengals
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ben Roethlisberger threw for a season-high 333 yards and four touchdowns despite being forced to stay away from the team facility all week due to COVID-19 protocols, and the Pittsburgh Steelers stayed unbeaten with a 36-10 victory over the Bengals. Roethlisberger was one of four Steelers put on the COVID-19 list last Monday due to contact tracing after tight end Vance McDonald tested positive for the novel coronavirus. He connected with Diontae Johnson and JuJu Smith-Schuster for touchdowns in the first half and found rookie Chase Claypool twice in the second half as Pittsburgh improved to 9-0.