BANGED UP STEELERS LOOK TO STAY HOT AGAINST BILLS
Battle of AFC wild card favourites features two of the NFL’S best defences
It really is remarkable how the Pittsburgh Steelers have managed to thrive despite all the injuries they’ve had to key offensive personnel this season.
Now comes a prime time chance for them to show everybody how they’ve done it.
The team that lost its future Hall of Fame quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, in the second game of the season, then went from 0-3 to 1-4 before a magical turnaround, had some more bad news on Friday. Neither its best receiver, Juju Smith-schuster, or its best tight end, Vance Mcdonald, will be available for Sunday night’s massively important showdown with the Buffalo Bills.
The team’s best running back, James Connor, is questionable but tentatively expected to play, although it’s hard to imagine he’ll be effective even if he does. Connor, who has a bad shoulder, has carried the ball just five times since he exploded for 145 yards on 23 carries in an Oct. 28 win over the Miami Dolphins.
Next on the Pittsburgh depth chart is Jaylen Samuels, who missed practice on Wednesday with a groin injury, but has declared himself good to go on Sunday.
To be honest, Mcdonald wasn’t likely to make a big difference anyway. In 12 games he has 33 catches for 245 yards and three touchdowns, and only the San Francisco 49ers have allowed fewer receiving yards per game to opposing tight ends than the Bills.
But Smith-schuster is a very good player (1,427 receiving yards last season) the Steelers will miss. He suffered a knee injury Nov. 14 against Cleveland and — led by third string, undrafted rookie quarterback Devlin Hodges — the Steelers are 3-0 since.
Meanwhile, Smith-schuster appeared to be on target to play this week, but he aggravated the injury during Thursday’s practice.
“It wasn’t a setback,” he told reporters on Friday, adding he doesn’t have a timetable for his return. “You know, just more soreness. I pushed myself too hard.”
Most would probably pick the visiting Bills (9-4) to take care of the Steelers (8-5) in a tilt between the two current wild card spot holders.
But I’m thinking like Mike Florio of Profootballtalk, who in detailing the matchup between a third ranked defence (Buffalo’s) and a fifth rated defence, wrote: “Once again, the Steelers aren’t the better team. Once again, the Steelers will play like they are.” Florio took Pittsburgh to win 16-13.
ON SECOND THOUGHT
It was sickening to see members of the 5-9 New York Jets line up for Lamar Jackson’s game-worn jersey after getting thumped 42-21 by the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday. Jackson couldn’t decide who would get his stinky shirt, so he signed white replicas and handed them out to the adoring Jets. The whole jersey-swap fad is goofy in the first place, but why would Jets receiver Robby Anderson pose for a photo with Jackson, right after the 22-year-old quarterback just ensured your lousy team will miss the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season? Instead, the Jets should be hanging their heads in shame … Speaking of which, cornerback Janoris Jenkins was waived by the New York Giants on Friday, two days after he called a fan a “retard” on Twitter. On Thursday, Jenkins said the usage of the word was “slang” and “just part of my culture.” Giants coach Pat Shurmur said Jenkins was cut because he refused to admit what he did was wrong.
BETWEEN THE LINES
Already the first team to 12 victories and armed with the NFL’S sixth rated defence, the Baltimore Ravens had to take notice when the Arizona Cardinals parted ways with Terrell Suggs on Friday. The 37-year-old Suggs, who has 37 tackles, 5.5 sacks and four forced fumbles, was released after coach Kliff Kingsbury talked to him about hooking up with another team while the Cardinals take a look at younger guys. “T-sizzle” spent 16 years with the Ravens before moving to Arizona, where he played college ball, as a free agent this season. Surely, another team will claim him before Baltimore’s turn, if only to keep the already great Ravens from becoming even greater … In three of the last four games, Rams running back Todd Gurley has rushed for 97 (25 carries), 95 (19 carries) and 79 yards (23 carries), scoring a touchdown in each win. The fourth game, they were beaten 45-6 by Baltimore, and Gurley had six carries for 22 yards. In the Rams’ first eight games of the season, Gurley averaged 13 carries. Why has Gurley started getting the ball more? “Me not being an idiot,” coach Sean Mcvay said to reporters. From Gurley: “He said it, I didn’t.”
THIRD AND SHORT
The Dolphins announced they have signed receiver Devante Parker to an extension that reports have pegged at fouryears and US$40 million, a number that apparently includes $21.5 million in guarantees and an $8 million bonus. A firstround pick in 2015, Parker has posted career numbers this season with 55 catches for 882 yards. Yup, $40 million.
EXTRA POINTS
The audition continues. QB Eli Manning will start for the second consecutive week in place of the injured Daniel Jones when the New York Giants host the Miami Dolphins. Manning, 38, doesn’t sound like a guy who wants to retire or be a backup next year, and in tossing two touchdowns on Monday night against the Eagles — going 11-of-19 for 179 yards in the first half — he could have piqued the interest of some needy teams.