When Roger Goodell first took over for Paul Tagliabue as the commissioner of the NFL in 2006, I was excited for the change. He came off as a hard-nosed ruler, who wasn't going to cut the players any slack. You break the rules — or more importantly, the law — then you get suspended and fined. I loved it. Then Goodell expressed his interest in tightening up the game to protect the players. The NFL has done everything in its power to protect the quarterbacks and wide receivers. I like the ... Read More

With Week 7 now closed, one question seems to begin circling just a tad: Are the Steelers are back? My very first rebuttal to that is simply - really?  I mean sure, in two weeks they won twice, but they were 0-4 two weeks ago. I would think that in order to determine if the Steelers as back after four terrible weeks, wouldn’t they need four good weeks in return?  On average, that’s a fair request, is it not?  I can see how some Pittsburghers would feel joyous over the last two weeks. After all, ... Read More

Just two weeks ago, some if not all Steeler fans were conceding the 2013 season, chalking it up as a loss and as a rebuilding year. Some were even wondering if the Steelers should just tank the season and play for a higher draft pick. Although they would obviously never admit to this, it is now obvious the Steelers are not taking that route. And all of a sudden the AFC North (and yes I know the Bengals are 5-2) is looking pretty mediocre, and that is being kind. Again, yes Cincinnati somehow ... Read More

What it means: In a word, everything. The Steelers needed consecutive wins to build their confidence and to stay relevant in both the AFC North and conference playoff picture. They didn’t make it easy on their fans or coach Mike Tomlin, but they gritted out their first regular-season win over Baltimore at Heinz Field since 2009. Emmanuel Sanders nearly won the game with a late kickoff return for a touchdown. After officials ruled he had stepped out at the Steelers’ 34-yard line, Ben ... Read More

Shaun Suisham kicked a 42-yard field goal right between the uprights in the open end of Heinz Field as time expired Sunday, securing a 19-16 victory over the Baltimore Ravens (3-4).  The Steelers (2-4) drove 39 yards on seven plays inside two minutes remaining after Baltimore capped off an eight minute drive with a Dallas Clark touchdown that tied the game at 16-16. Ben Roethlisberger led the game-winning drive only after a controversial out-of-bounds call negated a 100-plus yard kickoff ... Read More

The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves in the cellar of the AFC North division for the fourth consecutive week, but this week’s matchup with hated rival Baltimore may prove to be the most important of the season. Sitting at 1-4, not many people are expecting the team to make a miraculous postseason run. While time will tell whether that is realistic or not, the game this week against the Ravens will likely set the tone for how the remainder of the season will go, and how competitive the team ... Read More

A true rivalry in any sport, especially between two successful NFL franchises, should be characterized by intense, close games.  They battle deep into the fourth quarter, where one play, one decision, one missed tackle can tip the scales.  Two of the game's greatest rivals in the modern era will meet Sunday afternoon at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh when the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens (3-3) visit the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-4). Exactly just how close has this matchup been in ... Read More

To say the Steelers had bad luck through the first four weeks of the NFL season would be a bit of an understatement. After being gifted a 2-0 lead on a special teams gaffe that led to a safety three seconds into the season against Tennessee, it was all downhill. Guard David DeCastro inexplicably toppled into the back of Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey's leg, ending his season. Isaac Redman fumbled in the red zone, and the Steelers did (or did not do) just enough to lose the season-opener and ... Read More