After completing a comeback victory in overtime against the Kansas City Chiefs, the San Diego Chargers (9-7) will be the sixth and final AFC playoff team, thus eliminating the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8). Against mostly reserves playing for the Chiefs, who entered the game locked into the five seed in the AFC playoff picture, San Diego needed all four quarters and an overtime field goal to eventually defeat their AFC West rivals. Pittsburgh needed San Diego to lose to complete an improbable ... Read More
Playoff Hopes Still Alive as Steelers Dismiss Browns
Needing a victory and losses by three other AFC playoff hopefuls, the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8) took care of business at Heinz Field on Sunday by defeating the Cleveland Browns (4-12) in the rain, by a 20-7 final. Pittsburgh also needed losses by the Miami Dolphins, who lost to the New York Jets, and the Baltimore Ravens, who trailed Cincinnati when the Steelers-Browns game ended. The last piece for an improbable and, dare I say, miraculous playoff berth, would be for San Diego to lose to a ... Read More
Steeler of the Week: Le’Veon Bell
Week to week, the Pittsburgh Steelers keep their playoff hopes alive. Last week was no different as the Steelers traded in the snow of Pittsburgh for the snow of Green Bay, picking up a 38-31 win in the process. A big part of that win came on the wings of rookie running back, Le'Veon Bell. Bell, a 2nd round pick out of Michigan State, put together his best game of his short NFL career in the win. Previous to the game, his best statistical game came against Baltimore when he ran for 93 ... Read More
Boston College crushes Penn State to win Three Rivers Classic
The drama from last year's Three Rivers Classic didn't carry over in the championship game as Boston College cruised to an 8-2 win over Penn State, Saturday night. The Nittany Lions were flying to start the game which led to a goal by Casey Bailey less than five minutes into the first period. Jonathan Miley was handed the puck by Boston College along the half wall. Miley wasted no time getting the puck to Bailey with a cross-ice pass for the one-timer past goaltender Brian Billet. "I ... Read More
Reports: Bill O’Brien & Houston Texans Working On Deal
Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen are reporting that Bill O’Brien and the Houston Texans are working on the final details of a deal that would bring O’Brien down south to replace Gary Kubiak as head coach of the Texans. Bill O'Brien & Texans intensify talks they hope will make him next coach in Houston, per sources. ESPN link soon from myself & @AdamSchefter — Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) December 28, 2013 From @mortreport and me: Penn St's Bill O'Brien/Texans ... Read More
Bowling Green fights off pesky Colonials
After winning the first Three Rivers Classic last season, the RMU Colonials will go home without so much as a win after losing to Bowling Green in the consolation round 3-2, Saturday night. Brett Mohler took a hooking penalty early in the game to give RMU a power play. RMU spent a lot of time passing along the perimeter and failed to get a shot on goal. With 29 seconds remaining on the power play, Jeff Jones took a slashing penalty to bring both teams back to even strength for a brief ... Read More
Brown and Roethlisberger both deserving of team MVP
Plural, not singular. The sixth round pick out of Central Michigan, Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antonio Brown will complete his fourth NFL season on Sunday in style. In four NFL seasons, he has been voted by his peers as the franchise’s most valuable player twice. The Steelers announced Thursday that Brown has been named team MVP, an award he won back in 2011, as he became the first NFL player in history to have more than 1,000 yards receiving and kick returning in the same year. A ... Read More
Pens’ defensive puzzle isn’t so complex
The Penguins recent spate of injuries to both the forwards and defensive corps has been a blessing without much of a disguise. It has also exposed excellent drafting and poor off-season decisions. Let’s begin with excellent drafting. The play of Olli Maatta and Simon Despres on the blue line has been excellent. Both are former first round picks. Both have shown top 4 pairing ability and consistency. So why was Rob Scuderi signed?! Oh wait, we’ll get to the log jam and poor ... Read More
8-8 Record, Playoffs On Line Against Struggling Browns
After Week 5 of this 2013 NFL season, the Cleveland Browns had won their third straight and, at 3-2, had a three-game advantage in the win column over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers, 0-4 and coming off a bye week at that point, were at rock bottom and the Browns were optimistic about evacuating the basement of the AFC North. Well, it's Week 17 and...the tables have turned on lowly Cleveland (4-11) while Pittsburgh (7-8) remains alive for the sixth and final opening in the AFC playoff ... Read More
Penn State to face Boston College in the Three Rivers Classic championship
Terry Shafer's effort in net wasn't perfect like his predecessor's, Eric Levine, one year ago in the Three Rivers Classic; however it was almost as impressive. Shafer stopped 59 of 62 shots in a losing effort as Penn State got a late goal from Eric Schied to advance to the finals of the second annual Three Rivers Classic. "I thought our team lost all the races; lost all the battles. I think we got out competed. We had a chance to win because our goaltending was outstanding. I give him an ... Read More