Steelers Report Card, Taunting Penalty, AB All-Time Great
By Kim Myers
Your Pittsburgh Steelers are back in the playoffs after a two-year hiatus. But first, the important business to attend to will be reclaiming the AFC North title for the first time since 2010. While the Steelers prepare for a Sunday night AFC North showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals, we’ll be busy looking for mentions of your Black & Gold so we’ve got you covered. Here’s your Steelers Morning Huddle for Tuesday, Dec. 23rd.
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Steelers Report Card
Gerry Dulac of the PPG handed out his grades to the Steelers for their 20-12 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Ben Roethlisberger grades an A for a third-straight turnover-free game and Le’Veon Bell graded a B- for a season-low receiving yards total but still managing 63 rushing yards on 20 carries.
The best grades were given to the defense with the line grading at an A for stopping the No. 2 red-zone offense in the league. Cam Heyward had 1 ½ sacks and 3 hurries along with Stephon Tuitt’s sack and forced fumble. The linebacker group accounted for five of the season-high six sacks on Alex Smith. Jason Worilds had two, James Harrison had 1 ½ and Lawrence Timmons had 13 tackles on the day for an all-around outstanding day from the linebackers. Must have made Coach Peezy proud.
Taunting, really?
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert takes a weekly look at questionable officiating calls made throughout the NFL weekend. This week’s edition he included the 15-yard, automatic first down giving unsportsmanlike conduct penalty Steelers CB William Gay was given for “taunting”. Seifert’s conclusion is that the only thing that could have possibly justified the penalty is if Gay was overheard using improper language, as that’s something the officiating crews are paying special attention to this season. Otherwise, it was as bogus to him as it was to all of us.
AB All day, everyday
Antonio Brown made Steelers history on Sunday by becoming the first player to record over 1,500 receiving yards in a season. He’s currently in a four-way tie with Hines Ward, Louis Lipps, and Buddy Dial for most touchdowns in a single season. But, according to Bob Labriola, Brown can be closing in on an NFL record this season as well. With two receptions this Sunday night against Cincinnati, Brown would have 124 and become No. 2 in NFL history for the most receptions in a single season. Marvin Harrison holds the record for the most receptions in a season with 143.