November 21, 2021 7:49 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kenny Pickett knew a year ago. Something in the Pittsburgh quarterback’s gut told him coming back for one more season offered the opportunity to do something special. Something that looked and felt an awful lot like Pitt’s 48-38 victory over Virginia on Saturday, when Pickett, rising star wide receiver Jordan Addison and the 20th-ranked Panthers put to bed the idea that this is the “Same Old Pitt” for now, and maybe for good. There will be no chaos in the ACC’s Coastal Division this year. Not with Pickett re-writing the Pitt record book and Addison making a compelling case that the conversation on who the best receiver in the country is starts with the skinny sophomore with video game moves and understated swagger. Pickett and Addison connected for four touchdowns, the last a 62-yard catch-and-run with 2:10 remaining that sealed a second Coastal Division title in four years for the Panthers (9-2, 6-1 ACC), a play symbolic of the inherent trust between the two that’s made them one of the most dynamic combinations in the country.
November 21, 2021 7:48 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Coaches preach about preparing for all contingencies. Rarely has it been more accurate than what Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin and Los Angeles’ Brandon Staley are dealing with going into Sunday night’s pivotal AFC matchup. Both entered the weekend with key players on the COVID-19 list. However, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was cleared Saturday to start after passing the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols. Pittsburgh will still be without star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who is out after being put onto the COVID-19 list Monday. Chargers outside linebacker Joey Bosa was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday as a close contact after Jerry Tillery had a positive test. Bosa was removed from the list on Saturday after testing negative for five straight days. Roethlisberger’s uncertain status during the week forced Los Angeles to prepare for both Roethlisberger and backup Mason Rudolph, though Staley doesn’t consider the added prep an issue.
November 21, 2021 7:50 am
TORONTO (AP) — Tristan Jarry made 26 saves for his second straight shutout, and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat Toronto 2-0 on Saturday night to snap the Maple Leafs’ five-game winning streak. Jake Guentzel and Jeff Carter scored for Pittsburgh. Jarry continued a string of strong performances to extend his shutout streak to 151 minutes and six seconds. Jack Campbell stopped 29 shots for Toronto, which had won 10 of its last 11 entering Saturday. The Penguins, who have dealt with a COVID-19 outbreak and a number of key injuries, won consecutive games for the first time this season; they beat Montreal 6-0 on Thursday.
November 20, 2021 4:17 am
(WPXI) – The sale of the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Fenway Sports Group is one step closer to being official. Various media outlets are reporting that the boards of the FSG and the Penguins have approved the sale of the team. The board of the National Hockey League still have to vote. They are awaiting a final approval from the NHL, per a source close to the Penguins. Under the deal, Mario Lemieux would remain a minority owner.
November 20, 2021 4:15 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph is preparing as if he will start against the Los Angeles Chargers. Starter Ben Roethlisberger remains on the COVID-19 list after testing positive last week, but could play if he is cleared in time for kickoff. Offensive coordinator Matt Canada says he is in contact with Roethlisberger regularly and that Roethlisberger has been in attendance for virtual meetings with the offensive staff. Rudolph says he is hopeful he gets another opportunity, but will work hard to make sure Roethlisberger has what he needs if he returns to action.
November 19, 2021 3:50 am
MONTREAL (AP) – Teddy Blueger scored two goals and the Pittsburgh Penguins snapped a three-game skid, pounding the Montreal Canadiens 6-0. Tristan Jarry stopped all 24 shots for the Penguins. Pittsburgh exploded in the first period with goals from Sidney Crosby, Danton Heinen and Jake Guentzel. Blueger and Brock Gill scored in the second, and Blueger added a late third-period goal. Cayden Primeau allowed five goals on 31 shots in two periods for the Canadiens. Samuel Montembeault replaced Primeau at the start of the third, allowed one goal and made 11 saves.
November 19, 2021 3:53 am
ATLANTA (AP) – Mac Jones threw a 19-yard scoring pass to Nelson Agholor for the game’s only offensive touchdown and the New England defense took care of the rest. The result was a 25-0 shutout of the Atlanta Falcons for the Patriots’ fifth straight victory. New England wasn’t nearly as dominating as four days earlier, when the Patriots blew out the Browns 45-7. But it was good enough against a feeble Falcons offense that hasn’t scored a touchdown in nearly nine quarters. Nick Folk booted four field goals and Kyle Van Noy had two sacks and a late interception return for a touchdown.
November 18, 2021 3:45 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick played in Sunday’s home tie with the Detroit Lions, but he entered the COVID-19 protocol the following day. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that he “doesn’t anticipate” having Fitzpatrick in the lineup for Sunday’s road game against the Los Angeles Chargers. He also said that the Steelers may use multiple players to replicate the talented Fitzpatrick’s multi-faceted role on the defense. Fellow safety Terrell Edmunds expects to step up with Fitzpatrick possibly sidelined.
November 18, 2021 3:45 am
UNDATED (AP) – One of the talented quarterbacks in the Atlantic Coast Conference is going to get snubbed when football awards are announced. Look at this lineup: Virginia has Brennan Armstrong, who is third in the country with 3,557 passing yards. Pittsburgh has Kenny Pickett, who vaulted himself into the Heisman Trophy conversation with 32 touchdown passes this season. Wake Forest has Sam Hartman, who may wind up leading the Demon Deacons into the Atlantic Coast Conference title game. N.C. State has Devin Leary, who has thrown for 29 touchdowns. When the All-ACC team comes out, at least one of those quarterbacks will be missing.
November 18, 2021 3:50 am
UNDATED (AP) – Toronto left-hander Robbie Ray bounced back from a dismal season to win the AL Cy Young Award and Milwaukee righty Corbin Burnes returned from a bout of COVID-19 to win the NL’s top pitching prize. In the Year of the Pitcher, Burnes led the majors with a 2.43 ERA and Ray topped the AL at 2.84 and both put up impressive strikeout totals. Burnes edged Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler for the award, while Max Scherzer finished third. Burnes endured a bout of COVID-19 in May, returning after two weeks to finish with 234 strikeouts in 167 innings and an 11-5 record, as the Brewers went on to win the NL Central. Ray beat Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, who finished second in the voting, and Chicago White Sox righty Lance Lynn. Ray actually took a pay cut after a rough 2020 but bounced back to lead the majors with 248 strikeouts and and 193 1/3 innings, going 13-7.
