Ravens' morale-crushing loss affects shot at division title
The Baltimore Ravens hadn't allowed a touchdown for the entire game, yet still needed one more defensive stand to beat the rival Pittsburgh Steelers and stay on course to win the AFC North. Forced to carry the load on a team with an offense that has struggled for weeks to get into the end zone, Baltimore's overworked defense wilted down the stretch against Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett. After going 59 minutes without reaching the end zone, Pittsburgh took its first lead of the game Sunday night when Pickett connected with Najee Harris with 56 seconds remaining to provide the Steelers with a 16-13 victory.
news.yahoo.comHarris' widow on field in Pittsburgh as his No. 32 retired
The Pittsburgh Steelers retired Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris' No. 32 during a bittersweet ceremony on Saturday night at halftime of their game against the Las Vegas Raiders. The long-planned honor came three days after Harris died at age 72 and one day after the 50th anniversary of “The Immaculate Reception” Harris pulled off in a playoff victory over the Raiders. Harris' widow, Dana Dokmanovich, and their son, Dok, joined Steelers president Art Rooney II on stage while many of Harris' former teammates, coaches and rivals-turned-friends stood nearby.
news.yahoo.comSteelers QB Rudolph eyeing one last shot in Pittsburgh
Mason Rudolph has spent four-plus seasons being whatever the Pittsburgh Steelers have asked him to be. Agreeing to a one-year extension in hopes of being Roethlisberger's successor only to have the Steelers spend last spring signing one quarterback and drafting another. Of course, Rudolph would love to get the nod if rookie Kenny Pickett isn't cleared from the concussion protocol in time to play Sunday at Carolina.
news.yahoo.comSteelers' Mike Tomlin outlines how Kenny Pickett's concussion played out, says QB 'was cleared to continue'
Mike Tomlin says Pickett's availability for Sunday will depend on whether he is cleared to practice during the week. The rookie is in concussion protocol for the second time this year.
foxnews.comSteelers' Pickett exits, returns, then placed in protocol
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said he didn’t know “the details regarding the sequence” that led to rookie quarterback Kenny Picket initially being cleared to play before being put into concussion protocol during a 16-14 loss to Baltimore.
Four takeaways: Defense remains the story; where are the offensive TDs?
The Jaguars lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 16-15 in the third, and most important preseason game. The Jaguars again struggled to find the end zone, a theme that has shown up in each of the preseason games this year. Here are my four biggest takeaways from the game.
And they're off! Steelers QB derby begins in earnest
It's why the longtime Pittsburgh Steelers coach is in no rush to announce a starting quarterback. Or spend the next six weeks giving daily updates on who might be in the lead to replace the retired Ben Roethlisberger. Tomlin knows the situation will not sort itself out on Twitter or the internet or sports talk radio or debate shows but the practice field.
news.yahoo.comSteelers finish on-the-fly offensive retool with draft picks
The on-the-fly retooling of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense is nearly complete. Outgoing general manager Kevin Colbert ended his 20-plus-year tenure with the organization by investing heavily in offensive skill players in his final draft, with the hope that his still-unnamed successor is well-positioned for the future. Throw them into the mix with the top of the 2021 draft class that featured running back Najee Harris and tight end Pat Freiermuth and it's clear the Steelers have loaded up on young and relatively inexpensive talent (at least in the short-term).
news.yahoo.comPickett's path from Pitt to the Steelers a lengthy journey
Kenny Pickett did the math 16 months ago. The University of Pittsburgh quarterback could have entered the 2021 draft and taken his chances, knowing he likely wouldn't have heard his name called until the third day. Pickett even went through the whole Senior Day thing at Heinz Field in November 2020.
news.yahoo.comDefense, QBs shine in National's 20-10 Senior Bowl win
The pass rushers did their best to steal the show from quarterbacks Desmond Ridder and Kenny Pickett in the Senior Bowl. Cincinnati's Ridder threw two touchdown passes and the National team had eight sacks in a 20-10 victory over the American team Saturday. “We didn't come out here to lollygag through it," Minnesota defensive lineman Boye Mafe said.
news.yahoo.comThorne leads No. 11 Spartans past No. 13 Pitt in Peach Bowl
Payton Thorne’s 22-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Reed gave No. 11 Michigan State the lead with less than three minutes remaining and the Spartans overcame an 11-point deficit to beat No. 13 Pittsburgh 31-21 on Thursday night in the Peach Bowl.
Wake Forest coach: NCAA should review rules on fake slides
Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said the NCAA needs to review its rules on whether quarterbacks should be allowed to “fake slide” after escaping the pocket. Clawson’s statement came after his team’s 45-21 loss to Pittsburgh in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game Saturday night in which Panthers quarterback Kenny Pickett used a fake slide to freeze defenders and run for a 58-yard touchdown on the game’s first possession. After Pickett broke containment on a third-down run, he briefly stutter-stepped and pretended to slide after picking up the first down.
news.yahoo.comNo. 17 Pitt rolls by No. 18 Wake Forest 45-21 for ACC title
Kenny Pickett accounted for three touchdowns and Erick Hallett II returned one of Pittsburgh’s four interceptions for a touchdown to help the No. 17 Panthers beat No. 18 Wake Forest 45-21 in Saturday night’s Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.
Chandler, Tar Heels rally past No. 10 Demon Deacons, 58-55
Ty Chandler ran for career highs of 213 yards and four touchdowns and North Carolina overcame an 18-point deficit to beat No. 10 Wake Forest 58-55 on Saturday, handing the Demon Deacons their first loss in a nonconference matchup of instate Atlantic Coast Conference teams.
No. 3 Notre Dame rides big plays to 45-3 win over Pitt
Notre Dame wide receiver Ben Skowronek (11) celebrates as he goes in the end zone past Pittsburgh defensive back A.J. 3 Notre Dame (5-0, 4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) had no such issues while handling the Panthers (3-4, 2-4) their fourth consecutive loss. The Fighting Irish effectively ended any hope Pitt — which has developed a reputation in recent years of being the occasional giant killer — might have had late in the second quarter. Three Pitt plays went nowhere and Irish sophomore defensive lineman Isaiah Foskey raced in untouched to block Kirk Christodoulou’s punt. Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi called Notre Dame “as good a team we saw on the football field in six years.”“I thought we'd stack up better," Narduzzi said.
No. 21 Pitt holds off No. 24 Louisville 23-20
Louisville wide receiver Tutu Atwell (1) can't make a catch as Pittsburgh defensive back A.J. 24 Louisville 23-20 on Saturday. “They played fast, they played physical.”And they played exactly the way they knew they would play against the Cardinals. Pitt: The offense remains a bit of a mixed bag but the defense should give the Panthers a chance to win week in and week out. Pitt: Even with teams from conferences currently not playing being allowed into the polls this week, expect the Panthers to at least stay at 21 or perhaps even rise a bit.