The Pittsburgh Steelers may be interested in bringing back a familiar face. There’s an interesting trend about the officiating crew for the team’s game against Baltimore on Sunday.

The Penguins’ schedule is about to play into their hands. Now, can they actually do something with it? That’s a different conversation.

And the NHL appears to have a true juggernaut team.

We get into all these topics in Wednesday’s “First Call.”

Rowe, Rowe, Rowe back to Pittsburgh?

The Steelers are apparently considering a reunion with a former defensive back.

According to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, the organization worked out former safety Eric Rowe on Tuesday, along with Marquise Blair.

#Steelers worked out Marquise Blair and Eric Rowe

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) November 12, 2024

Rowe did some good things with the Steelers after jumping on the roster late last year.

Beset by injuries to the secondary, Rowe joined the franchise for three games, recording 29 tackles (22 solo), one forced fumble, one interception and two passes defensed.

Second @steelers INT of the night!

????: #CINvsPIT on NBC????: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/yewPow3ekF pic.twitter.com/9gpm6FKVnR

— NFL (@NFL) December 23, 2023

It’s possible that Rowe could become a replacement for Terrell Edmunds, who was released last week after Cam Sutton was activated from suspension. Rowe could go to the practice squad.

Rowe is 32 years old. After the Steelers didn’t bring him back for 2024, he hasn’t played anywhere this season. Prior to arriving in Pittsburgh, Rowe was a Carolina Panther and won two Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots in 2016 and 2018. Rowe also spent time with the Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles.

Blair has latched on with multiple teams. He was a 2019 second-round draft choice of the Seattle Seahawks. During a second stint in Seattle this year, he played in the franchise’s season opener and was later on the Jets’ practice squad.

Identity known

Clay Martin is going to be the lead official for the Steelers-Ravens game on Sunday at Acrisure Stadium. That’s according to FootballZabras.com.

Referee for Ravens at Steelers — Clay Martin https://t.co/PytAtMFXSH #BALvsPIT pic.twitter.com/9CCWJUu57j

— Fᴏᴏᴛʙᴀʟʟ Zᴇʙʀᴀs???????? (@footballzebras) November 12, 2024

This may actually be good news for fans (and media members like the one posting this piece) who always complain about T.J. Watt getting held too much without any flags.

NFLpenalties.com tracks Martin’s crew as dropping 42 holding flags this season (nine dismissed). That’s the second most in the NFL behind Alex Kemp’s crew (43). Furthermore, Martin’s crew has worked only eight games this season, tied for the fewest in the NFL with John Hussey’s group.

That website shows that no team has been assessed more holding penalties than the Ravens at 21. That has cost them 209 yards in penalties. The Steelers have been hit 14 times. They are 12th in the league.

Martin’s crew hasn’t worked a game involving either Pittsburgh or Baltimore this year.

More sports

• Tim Benz: Turns out the NFL may have done the Steelers a favor with their back-loaded schedule • Penguins' Kyle Dubas: Trading Lars Eller adds assets, clears ice time for younger players • While Mike Tomlin downplays return with Ravens, Diontae Johnson is ready for any increased snaps against Steelers

Wake up call

In the wake of the Lars Eller trade, if ever there was a time for the Penguins to get on the winning track and string together a few victories, this is it.

The Pens (6-9-2) only have 14 points in 17 games. They host the Detroit Red Wings (6-7-1) on Wednesday, followed by a trip to Columbus (5-8-2) on Friday and a home game against San Jose (5-9-3) on Saturday. Then the Tampa Bay Lightning (7-6-1) are at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday night.

That’s four straight games — with three at home — all against teams that are scuffling through the start of 2024-25 just as much as they are. None of those teams have more than 15 points. None of them are currently in a playoff slot.

Pittsburgh’s 4-2 win over Washington (10-4-0, 20 points) on Friday night is the club’s only victory over a team with more than 15 points all season.

The Penguins beat the Red Wings in the second game of the season 6-3.

Enjoy it while you can

After that stretch is over, the Pens have to host the Winnipeg Jets on Nov. 22.

That could get ugly. The Jets are a machine right now. They doubled up the New York Rangers, 6-3, on Tuesday night. Kyle Conner had two goals and an assist.

Kyle Connor takes advantage of a Mika Zibanejad turnover and hits double digit goals on the season with a pure snipe ???? pic.twitter.com/JMADI4NEFS

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) Nov. 13, 2024

Conner is up to 11 goals on the season. The only player with more is Sam Reinhart of the Florida Panthers.

That’s Winnipeg’s seventh straight win. At 15-1-0 on the season, the Jets have the NHL’s best record.

LISTEN: Weekly hockey podcast with Brian Metzer of the Penguins Radio Network. Discussing the Lars Eller trade, goaltending and the 7-1 loss to Dallas.

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