In Tuesday’s “First Call,” the Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for a Carolina Panthers team that has a very specific playoff path.

And they are looking to get there by staying on the ground.

Carolina may also have dodged an injury concern at wide receiver. A pair of former Penguins helped the Minnesota Wild get a nice win Monday night. Plus, the Robert Morris hockey teams are gearing up for their return to the ice.

Expect more of the same

The Steelers rush defense has yielded 333 yards the last six quarters against the Baltimore Ravens and Atlanta Falcons. Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers just ran for 223 yards on 46 attempts during a 30-24 victory in Seattle.

So expect more of the same offensive approach from the home team this weekend when the Steelers visit Charlotte.

The Panthers ran out of their “Arby’s” package — named after the fast food chain — during that game. It’s an eight offensive lineman front that got the nickname because, as guard Brady Christensen said, they’ve “got the meats.”

Via ESPN.com, the Panthers have employed jumbo packages of six-plus linemen 56 times for 185 yards this season. That ranks third in the NFL in such sets behind only Cleveland and Detroit.

Setting their course

Believe it or not, at 5-8, the Panthers control their playoff future. That win over the Seahawks means Carolina can claim the NFC South title outright and make the playoffs if they win their final four games. After the Steelers, the Panthers play the Lions, Buccaneers and Saints. All of those teams are currently below .500.

The Panthers would own the tiebreaker over Tampa Bay and the 5-8 Atlanta Falcons if they all finished with the same record.

However, according to ESPN’s playoff predictor, the Bucs still have an 82.3% chance of winning the division, followed by Carolina at 14%, Atlanta at 3.2% and New Orleans at 5%.

What to say about D.J.?

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, D.J. Moore’s knee injury isn’t all that bad. He reports the Panthers wide receiver is now considered “day-to-day.” A source tells Schefter the injury is “nothing significant.”

Meanwhile, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported that Moore was sent for an MRI to gauge the severity of an ankle injury he sustained during the game versus the Seahawks.

In 13 games this season, Moore has 46 receptions for 605 yards and four touchdowns. He leads the team in all those categories. But on Sunday he only had three targets and no catches.

Familiar faces

A pair of former Penguins impacted a win for the Minnesota Wild Monday. They beat the Edmonton Oilers 2-1.

Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 20 of 21 shots in net. And Freddy Gaudreau scored the game-winner in the second period.

— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) December 13, 2022

The Wild now have 32 points, good for third in the NHL’s Central Division. They have won seven of their last 10 games.

Very happy anniversary

It’s now been a year since Robert Morris got its hockey programs back. They were cut from the budget in May 2020. Both the men’s and women’s teams will return to play next season. On Monday, the school also announced the creation of a scholarship through the programs.

The Hauck Family Hockey Endowed Scholarship will be awarded to one male and one female student-athlete, who must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00.

The teams have put season tickets for 2023-23 on sale. They are also selling for the RMU Celebrity Hockey Faceoff. It’s Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. Funds raised go towards the RMU men’s and women’s hockey teams’ relaunch.

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