Pittsburg, PA

Browns K Dustin Hopkins' struggles continue in Pittsburgh

Published

12 months ago

December 8, 2024

Browns K Dustin Hopkins' struggles continue in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH — This season has been full of struggles for Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins. Wide left has been a trend for Hopkins, and that trend continued Sunday against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

Hopkins entered the game with a career-low 69.6% field goal attempt rate. He had missed seven of his 23 attempts, playing three games where he failed to place a kick between the uprights once. Five of his misses were wide left, one was wide right, and one was low and blocked.

In the Browns’ last game, on Monday night against the Denver Broncos, Hopkins missed his first field goal attempt of the night, a 47-yard shot wide left. Later that game, however, Hopkins was able to find redemption, making a 45-yard attempt to gain a lead.

After that redemption, special team coordinator Bubba Ventrone praised Hopkins for being able to correct himself mid-game.

“Yeah, I think he did a good job of just obviously self-correcting what had happened. Looked like he came across his body a little bit on the swing. So, it was good that he got the correction applied and made the rest of the kicks,” Ventrone said on Thursday, heading into the Browns’ matchup with the Steelers.

The belief entering Sunday’s game was that Hopkins had figured out what had been plaguing him through much of the season. Ventrone said that Hopkins had been watching film from the first 12 weeks of this season and comparing it to tape from his year last season, where he set franchise records kicking for the Browns.

Despite the ups and downs this season, Ventrone had confidence that Hopkins’ frustrations were in check and he was on a path to getting back on track.

“I think when you’re [not] getting the results that you want, obviously you’re going to have some type of frustration. I think he’s done a good job of honing it in and trying to apply the correction to the next rep. Thankfully in this past game we had the miss and then he goes back and makes the rest of his kicks,” Ventrone said. “But like I said, I mean, any player at any position is going to be frustrated if you’re not having a good result. So, I would anticipate he’s definitely had some frustration, but he hasn’t shown it. And I think he’s done a pretty good job of bouncing back.”

Unfortunately, that bounce back failed to come to fruition on Sunday.

Inside Acrisure Stadium, struggle reared its ugly head for Hopkins.

On a 38-yard attempt near the end of the first half, Hopkins attempted to make it a three-point game with the Steelers up 13-7. Instead, his kick sailed wide left, and the Browns retained a six-point deficit heading into halftime.

Unlike the game in Denver, Hopkins’ next kick did not come with redemption. On the first drive coming out of the half, the Browns offense stalled at Pittsburgh’s 25-yard line. The Browns turned to Hopkins, hoping he’d be able to correct whatever went wrong on his first attempt. Perhaps it was an over-correction, or something else was off, but Hopkins’ 43-yard attempt this time went wide right.

Hopkins ended the game 0/2 on field goal attempts.

It’s hard to believe how drastic the difference has been for Hopkins this season compared to last, especially after the Browns signed the kicker to a three-year contract extension worth $15.9 million, keeping him in Cleveland through the 2027 season.

Last season, Hopkins became the first kicker in NFL history to convert a 50+ yard field goal in five consecutive games within a single season.

Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins makes NFL history

The Browns have four games remaining on the schedule for Hopkins to truly figure out what has been the issue and hope to correct it for the 2025 season.

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Pittsburg, PA

Kyle Dubas or Corey O’Connor? Penguins social media team posts funny video to clear up the confusion

Published

11 hours ago

November 30, 2025

Press Room

Kyle Dubas or Corey O’Connor? Penguins social media team posts funny video to clear up the confusion

November 30, 2025 / 9:55 AM EST
/ CBS Pittsburgh

If you have confused Pittsburgh’s Mayor-Elect Corey O’Connor and Penguins President of Hockey Operations Kyle Dubas, you certainly aren’t alone.

On Saturday, the Penguins and Pittsburgh’s next mayor addressed this head-on in a social media video aimed at clearing up any confusion.

Seeing double 👀
Thanks for coming out, @CoreyOConnorPA! pic.twitter.com/tYk8QQkL95
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— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) November 30, 2025

“People say I look like the new mayor of Pittsburgh,” Dubas said on his way to his office, where he found O’Connor sitting at his desk.

“People say I look like the general manager of the Penguins,” O’Connor responded.

Clearing up the confusion even more, Dubas reminded Pittsburghers that he’s not the one you call about potholes or taxes, and O’Connor isn’t the one who you call about the power play or who’s starting in goal – though that would likely be more of a Dan Muse decision than a Kyle Dubas decision.

Of course, it wouldn’t be social media content without a little bit of light-hearted chirping between two dopplegangers.

“For clarity, he’s the short one,” Dubas said with a grin.

“And clearly, he’s the tall one,” O’Connor responded.

Regardless of height, job title, or concern, both men clearly have a lot of pride in the 412.

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Malachi Toney’s big day lifts No. 12 Miami over No. 22 Pittsburgh in 38-7 win

Published

1 day ago

November 29, 2025

Press Room

Malachi Toney’s big day lifts No. 12 Miami over No. 22 Pittsburgh in 38-7 win

PITTSBURGH — No. 12 Miami kept its ACC championship and College Football Playoff hopes alive Saturday with a decisive 38–7 win over No. 22 Pittsburgh (8–4, 6–2 ACC) at Acrisure Stadium, delivering a dominant performance in a game the Hurricanes had to have.

Miami (10–2, 6–2 ACC) entered the matchup needing a victory to stay in contention for the ACC title game and responded with smothering defense and another standout outing from true freshman wide receiver Malachi Toney, who finished with 13 catches for 126 yards, a receiving touchdown and a touchdown pass.

The Hurricanes, who came off a 34–17 win over Virginia Tech, immediately set the tone.

Defensive lineman Ahmad Moten opened the game with a sack on Panthers quarterback Mason Heintschel, followed by a 6-yard loss forced by linebacker Zechariah Poyser that triggered a three-and-out.

Miami’s first offensive drive stalled after quarterback Carson Beck was sacked for a 15-yard loss, but the defense again delivered pressure on Pittsburgh’s next possession as defensive end Rueben Bain added another sack.

A 29-yard Carter Davis field goal gave Miami a 3–0 lead, but Pittsburgh answered quickly. Heintschel connected on a 41-yard pass to Cataurus “Blue” Hicks, then hit a wide-open Justin Holmes for a 5-yard touchdown, putting the Panthers ahead 7–3.

Beck responded on the next drive, hitting Toney, who snagged a 19-yard one-handed catch before the freshman found tight end Elijah Lofton on a trick-play 9-yard touchdown pass — Toney’s second scoring throw of the year — to reclaim a 10–7 lead.

Pittsburgh threatened again with a 38-yard sliding catch by Raphael “Poppi” Williams Jr., but another combined sack by Bain and Moten stalled the drive.

Panthers kicker Trey Butkowski missed a 42-yard field goal, and Miami capitalized. Beck hit Toney on a wheel route for a 22-yard touchdown to push the Hurricanes’ lead to 17–7.

Miami’s defense continued to overwhelm the Panthers, with Bryce Fitzgerald delivering a hit on Heintschel that left the quarterback appearing to suffer an ankle injury.

By halftime, the Hurricanes had posted three sacks and limited Pittsburgh’s offense to scattered big plays.

A sequence of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on Tamon Lynum and Shadarian Harrison extended Miami’s opening drive of the second half, setting up a 4-yard touchdown run by Mark Fletcher Jr. that pushed the lead to 24–7.

Miami’s defense delivered another critical stop early in the fourth quarter, forcing a turnover on downs at the goal line — a ruling upheld on review that sparked a visible reaction from head coach Mario Cristobal and defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman.

A 38-yard run by Girard Pringle Jr. set up the Hurricanes’ next score as Beck found CharMar “Marty” Brown for a 9-yard touchdown pass.

Beck found CJ Daniels for a 33-yard touchdown pass to give the Canes a 38-7 lead after Davis connected on the extra point. It was Beck’s 25th passing touchdown of the season and Daniels’ 27th score of his collegiate career.

Beck finished an efficient 23 of 29 for 267 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Miami’s defense totaled four sacks and consistent pressure on Heintschel throughout the afternoon. Fitzgerald also came up with an interception in the closing seconds of the game.

Toney surpassed 100 receiving yards for the second straight game and the fourth time this season.

Saturday’s win also secured back-to-back 10-win seasons for head coach Mario Cristobal and his staff.

Up next:

Miami turns its attention to a complicated set of ACC and national scenarios.

The Hurricanes need outside help to reach the ACC title game, requiring various combinations of results involving SMU, Duke, Virginia, NC State and Syracuse.

Miami could also remain in the College Football Playoff conversation if two of the following occur.

• Duke wins its game, but SMU and Virginia both lose, and NC State must beat North Carolina.

• Virginia wins, but Duke and SMU both lose, Syracuse beats Boston College, and NC State beats UNC.

• Duke, SMU and Virginia all lose, and NC State wins its game.

• Duke, SMU and Virginia all lose, and Syracuse wins its game.

• UCF defeats No. 11 BYU; Auburn upsets No. 10 Alabama; Stanford beats No. 9 Notre Dame; or LSU knocks off No. 8 Oklahoma.

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Pittsburg, PA

Pittsburghers hit the stores on Black Friday

Published

2 days ago

November 28, 2025

Press Room

Pittsburghers hit the stores on Black Friday

Chilekasi Adele

Updated on: November 28, 2025 / 6:52 PM EST
/ CBS Pittsburgh

Thousands of people throughout the Pittsburgh area made the trip to shopping centers on Black Friday. Tanger Outlets Pittsburgh in Washington County saw a strong turnout.

“It’s that time of the year,” Tiffany Sherbondi, of Belle Vernon, said.

Sherbondi and her friends arrived at the outlets at 4:30 a.m. and waited in line before capitalizing on Black Friday deals.

“There’s no gameplan. It’s get what you can,” Sherbondi said.

Scores of people came to the outlets on Friday to get what they could, including Nadia Minnick and her friends from Somerset County.

“We traveled from Meyersdale, Pennsylvania, which is about an hour and a half south from here,” she said.

Minnick said that during her trip to the Nike store, she and her friends bought matching sets. Happy customers like Minnick and her friends are what the outlets have been working for all year.

“Last year was record-breaking. We expect the same for sure,” said Megan Hindes, director of marketing at Tanger Outlets Pittsburgh.

In an era of online shopping, there’s just something about walking away from a store with a bag of items.

“You can go in and feel the product, feel the value of the store, the experience,” Hindes said.

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