Pittsburg, PA
Stick a fork in the Pittsburgh Steelers
As I sit here feeling a headache form in between sips of egg nog in my new Ice Nine Kills sweatshirt, I’ve written, erased, and rewritten the opener for this six times. What can even be said after what we just watched other than “Yeah, this team isn’t going anywhere.”
From the opening drive, these were the same Steelers we’ve seen the last two weeks – unorganized, unmotivated, and a complete non-threat to teams that are actually contenders in the AFC.
The Chiefs jumped out to a 13-0 lead after the Steelers punted on their first two drives that spanned a combined eight plays. The Steelers weren’t down and out yet, though. A quick drive that featured several big Jaylen Warren runs got them into the red zone in three plays. Warren ran into the end zone, but a holding call on Darnell Washington brought it back. The next play, Russell Wilson threw an interception to Justin Reid and that all but sealed the deal. Even when Wilson ran in for a score to make the lead 13-7, it never really felt like the Steelers would take the game by the horns and make a statement. The only statement they made is that they remain a second-class team.
Even when they owned time of possession, they didn’t do anything with the ball. They had the ball for 31:22, but their two turnovers plus a turnover on downs did them in. They ran the ball well, as Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren both finished with over 70 yards and the team accumulated over 200 yards on the day. But five Russell Wilson sacks and a lackluster passing game were Pittsburgh’s undoing offensively.
Defensively, this team is lost. After the first two scores, multiple players are throwing up their hands in confusion wondering what happened. They didn’t register a sack on Mahomes, they gave up 320 yards through the air, and allowed 16 first downs via Mahomes’ arm. This is not a good defense, and they lack any sort of aggressiveness to try and help the back end with pressure. Now at 10-6 and losers of three straight, Pittsburgh will likely be the No. 5 seed and travel to Houston or Baltimore for the wild card round, and nothing they’ve shown over the last month gives anyone any reason to believe they’d win. Stick a fork in the Pittsburgh Steelers, this isn’t a serious football team.
Pittsburg, PA
Pennsylvania State Police investigating series of Somerset County arson fires
Pennsylvania State Police troopers are investigating a series of recent arson fires in Somerset County.
State Police said Tuesday that the Fire Marshal Unit from Troop A, which is based out of Greensburg, is investigating at least two fires within Addison Township that happened earlier this month.
Troopers said there was a fire at a remote cabin along Listonburg Road on November 7, which was determined to be an arson.
Investigators also determined that a fire at a vacant home on Mount Davis Road on November 16 was an arson.
Troopers said both properties are owned by the same person and the buildings were a complete loss.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the State Police or submit a tip online.
Troopers said that tips that lead to an arrest could be eligible for a cash reward.
Pittsburg, PA
Pittsburgh Mayor-elect O’Connor continues to build administration with five new appointees
Pittsburg, PA
Did Bengals defense show signs of improvement in loss to Steelers?
NFL Week 11 Bengals Vs. Steelers post game review
Bengals Beat Reporter Kelsey Conway discusses the Bengals loss to the Steelers
If the Cincinnati Bengals defense improved against the Pittsburgh Steelers, it wasn’t enough improvement.
Pittsburgh’s defense returned two turnovers for touchdowns in its 34-12 victory over Cincinnati on Nov. 16 at Acrisure Stadium. The deficit was lopsided and the Bengals’ defense allowed only 20 points, but it was the plays leading up to the two Kenneth Gainwell receiving touchdowns and two Chris Boswell field goals that proved problematic for a Cincinnati defensive unit that entered the contest ranked as the worst defense in the NFL.
Against a Steelers team ranked 29th in total offense, tackling and a lack of timely third-down stops were once again topics of conversation in the Bengals’ postgame media scrums.
Pittsburgh was 7-for-13 on third-down conversions, and also converted one fourth-down try. Even after quarterback Aaron Rodgers was knocked out of the game through injury at halftime, veteran backup Mason Rudolph was about as effective as his future-Hall of Fame teammate.
Both quarterbacks threw a touchdown pass to Gainwell, and oversaw drives ending in successful Boswell kicks.
It’s true that the defensive showing was one of Cincinnati’s better outings of the year, as Bengals head coach Zac Taylor asserted afterward. The 20 points scored by Pittsburgh’s offense constituted the second-fewest points allowed in a game this season by Cincinnati.
Taylor also acknowledged problematic tackling.
“It was one of the better games they played,” Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said. “They gave us those opportunities, only allowing 10 points going into halftime after giving up the first drive of the game. I was happy with the punts they forced. Unfortunately, we couldn’t capitalize on offense and get enough points on the board to take advantage, especially getting the ball in the second half. Overall, during the second half, those two (scoring) possessions we just got to get them on the ground.
“There’s a lot of opportunities. We’ve got to get them on the ground. Working like crazy. Talking like crazy. We’ve just got to show up.”
The Steelers’ second half scoring drives were propelled by third-and-long conversions in the second half, including on 3rd-and-11 and 3rd-and-17 situations on the drive that lead to a Boswell field goal for a 13-9 lead. Both conversions came in Pittsburgh territory, and the 3rd-and-17 was a catch-and-run by bruising tight end Darnell Washington.
Washington also made a highlight-reel catch and run late in the first half, stiff-arming and tossing Bengals aside as he went.
On the drive late drive that resulted in a Gainwell touchdown for a 27-12 lead, the Steelers converted another 3rd-and-11. That was also on Pittsburgh’s side of midfield.
Later on that drive, with Pittsburgh behind schedule on a 1st-and-23, Gainwell had a catch-and-run to pick up the first down to move Pittsburgh inside the Bengals’ 10-yard line.
Quarterback Joe Flacco said the Bengals defense showed improvement. Rookie linebacker Barrett Carter wasn’t as convinced, though.
“I saw slight improvements but just nowhere where it needs to be,” Carter said.
Of the tackling, Carter said the Bengals were “horrible,” adding: “It just needs to be better, all levels.”
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