Breakfast With Benz category, Page 140
Tim Benz: Steelers’ turnover-happy defense, opportunistic offense key ‘Feats of Strength’ vs. Jaguars
Welp, the Steelers did it. They had three straight “trap games.” But they managed to avoid all the traps. In Dallas. At home against the Cincinnati Bengals. Then, on Sunday, they plowed through Jacksonville with a 27-3 victory over the Jaguars. The teams have a combined 6-23-1 record. So it...
Tim Benz: ‘MAC school’ potholes for Steelers to avoid in Jacksonville
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was emphatic when trying to dismiss the notion that his 9-0 team could be stepping into a “trap game” against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday afternoon. “We are not a Big Ten team playing a MAC opponent this week. Every time we step into a...
First Call: Steelers’ playoff lock jinx? Penguins get Mario Lemieux’s hard sell on alternate jersey
It’d take a meteor hitting the Earth to prevent the Steelers from making the playoffs this season. Or just a bad flashback to 2018? Hmm. The Steelers were hoping for a little help from the Las Vegas Raiders against the Kansas City Chiefs this week. That’s looking like a long...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans bristle over run game debate, Cincinnati attacks on Bud Dupree, question ILB snaps
Here’s how I know things are going well for the Pittsburgh Steelers. I start digging through my tweets, emails, column replies and various other interactions, and I actually have to … dig. No, seriously. I had to work a little bit, just to find a few juicy complaints for “U...
First Call: Antonio Brown’s bike incident could have personal conduct consequences, WPIAL star up from Ravens practice squad
Wednesday’s “First Call” has some troubling news for former Steeler Antonio Brown. A former WPIAL player is up from the Baltimore Ravens practice squad. And a Bengals signing bust. Oh, boy, A.B. Former Steeler Antonio Brown may be in more trouble than we thought. Well, that’s depending on how much...
Jaguars coach Doug Marrone gushes about Steelers memories, Rooney family
Recent memories that Steelers fans have of Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone are mainly negative. He was the guy on the sideline as they plowed through Heinz Field with upset wins twice in 2017. Once in the regular season 30-9, then again in the playoffs 45-42. Meanwhile, Marrone’s earliest...
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin won’t let James Robinson be a surprise for Steelers defense
During his Tuesday press conference, I think Mike Tomlin finally had an appreciation of what it’s like to be a sports talk show host. On light content days, sometimes you’ve got to say a whole lot about not much to fill the time. Hence his glowing monologue about Jacksonville Jaguars...
Duquesne players counting on experience to guide them through tricky season
There’s nothing easy about life for college sports in 2020. Just look at the Pitt and Penn State football teams. Now college basketball is trying to launch amid the coronavirus pandemic. In the case of Duquesne, the pre-conference schedule is still being worked out. The UPMC Chuck Cooper Fieldhouse isn’t...
Tim Benz: Steelers, Chiefs need to avoid AFC ‘middle class’ uprising
Having a strong middle class is usually a good thing. Not if you are the 2020 Pittsburgh Steelers or Kansas City Chiefs, though. Elsewhere in life, that’s true. Economics. Politics. Education. You know, less important stuff than the AFC playoff picture. However, there seems to be a rising middle class...
First Call: New reports of an off-field Antonio Brown incident, Steelers won’t get Jaguars starting QB
Former Steeler Antonio Brown is already back in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. A Baltimore Raven is catching some flak from his own fans. Even less reason for Steelers fans to worry about the Jacksonville Jaguars. And a bus is the reason why coaches of the Kansas City...
Unfiltered: Tim Benz and Mark Madden discuss Steelers’ big win over Bengals and what’s coming upVideo
Tim Benz and Mark Madden return for this week’s edition of “Unfiltered” on TribLive’s Facebook page to talk about the Pittsburgh Steelers win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday at Heinz Field. The Black and Gold remain unbeaten with a thorough drubbing of the Bengals and improve to 9-0 on...
First Call: Bengals fans lash out at Bud Dupree, Patriots’ trick play burns Baltimore, Browns gut gamblers
Monday’s “First Call” features some Bengals fans wagging their fingers at Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree after their team lost at Heinz Field. The New England Patriots spring another trick play on the Baltimore Ravens. The Cleveland Browns ruined a bet. And the Jacksonville Jaguars gave the Steelers a few things...
Madden Monday: Can Steelers fans start obsessing about Chiefs the same way they did with Patriots?
It’s time to stop wondering “how” and time to start wondering “how many.” In other words, forget how the Steelers managed to get to 9-0. Now let’s focus on how many in a row they will win before that streak is snapped. It’s time to stop asking “when” and start...
Tim Benz: Big Ben, 3rd down ‘D’, special teams among Steelers ‘Feats of Strength’ during Bengals beatdown
Now that was a 60-minute game for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Well, maybe 50-55 minutes. But close enough as they smoked the Cincinnati Bengals, 36-10, Sunday afternoon at Heinz Field. For perhaps just the second time this season — despite nine wins in nine tries — the undefeated Steelers were better...
First Call: Mike Tomlin reveals plan for Ben Roethlisberger, Mike Sullivan confirms plan for Kasperi Kapanen
What are the Pittsburgh Steelers planning to do with Ben Roethlisberger on Sunday? We find out in Friday’s “First Call.” We also get some Penguins news, a little rumble surrounding the Baltimore Ravens, and some good news for a Penn State/WPIAL alum. Here’s the plan According to Jay Glazer of...
With or without Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers pass rush will be enough to beat Bengals
For the unbeaten Pittsburgh Steelers (8-0), Sunday’s home game against the Cincinnati Bengals (2-5-1) appears more dangerous than it did a few weeks ago. • The Steelers looked highly vulnerable scratching past a bad Dallas Cowboys team that is now 2-7. • The Steelers have practiced all week without quarterback...
Tim Benz: We need the Steelers, NFL to stay afloat now more than ever
We see where this is going, don’t we? Chicago is issuing stay-at-home orders. Ohio is imposing tougher statewide mask mandates. Greece is in full lockdown nationwide. In the sports world, college football games all over the map are being canceled or postponed. Pitt is “pausing” its football program’s activities because...
First Call: Mike Tomlin on blocked kick issues; early Bengals trash talk; massive Steelers bet
Wednesday’s “First Call” gives us Steelers coach Mike Tomlin explaining his team’s poor blocking on place kicks on Sunday in Dallas. We also get some bad Cincinnati Bengals trash talk and even worse karma. Plus, perhaps the greatest golf shot you’ll ever see. Figure it ‘aht! The Steelers place-kick protection...
Tim Benz: Steelers should’ve played in Dallas without Vance McDonald
Going for a late fourth down during Sunday’s win in Dallas wasn’t the only questionable decision Mike Tomlin made on Sunday. Deciding to take tight end Vance McDonald on the trip is also worthy of second-guessing. Well, IF that’s who we are talking about when it comes to the mysterious...
U mad, bro? Steelers fans hate media criticism of 8-0 team, yet torn on Mike Tomlin
“U mad, bro?” Never mind. I know the answer to that question already. Everybody is mad. All the time. About everything. We just had an election. One side is angry about the result. The other side is angry the result is being disputed. Instead, let’s just talk about something that’ll...
First Call: What? ESPN writer says Ben Roethlisberger ‘hasn’t been hugely important for the Steelers’
Tuesday’s “First Call” got me a little fired up. I have issues with ESPN’s midseason NFL awards, as some Steelers were snubbed. We look at eyebrow-raising numbers about the quarterback the Steelers are facing this weekend. And equally impressive gambling notes for the upcoming game. Also, some props for the...
How a November Masters tournament will be different this week
Explain to me how all of this is going to work for the 2020 Masters. The Champions Dinner via Uber Eats? Will the green jacket still be draped on the winner’s back by last year’s champion? Or will it just be placed on a hanger? Will I be watching while...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ issues in Dallas a reality check. Not a wake-up call. Not a fluke.
Some Steelers fans may be struggling to make sense of what they just watched against the 2-7 Dallas Cowboys. A 24-19 escape in a game that should’ve been a breeze. Hey, these are covid times. Nothing really makes sense. Even the Steelers’ 8-0 start. Think about all of those great...
Unfiltered: Tim Benz and Mark Madden discuss Steelers’ shaky win over CowboysVideo
Tim Benz and Mark Madden return for this week’s edition of “Unfiltered” on TribLive’s Facebook page to talk about the Pittsburgh Steelers win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in Arlington, Texas. The Black and Gold remain unbeaten, though it didn’t appear that would be the case for much of...
First Call: Cowboys complain about refs after loss to Steelers; familiar Antonio Brown moment in Tampa debut
Monday’s “First Call” gives us some grousing from the Dallas Cowboys after their loss to the Steelers. The officials made some close calls against them, and they aren’t happy about it. We also check in on the Steelers’ next opponent, the Cincinnati Bengals. We get an update on Cleveland Browns...
