January 12, 2021 2:33 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – The Pittsburgh Penguins will not have fans for their four January home games at PPG Paints Arena, the team announced Monday. Gatherings at indoor arenas in Pennsylvania is currently limited to 500 people because of COVID-19. That number includes players, coaches and hockey operations staffs from both teams, Penguins and PPG Paints Arena game-night staffs, as well as media, broadcasters and broadcast crews. The very limited remaining capacity will be restricted to family and friends of the players and team, the Penguins said. “We look forward to welcoming fans back to PPG Paints Arena as soon as state safety protocols and capacity-limits allow for it,” said Kevin Acklin, chief operating officer of the Penguins. “We will remain in regular contact with state and local authorities, as well as the NHL, and will make an announcement when fans are permitted to attend. The health and safety of our fans and players will always be our top priority.”
January 11, 2021 3:53 am
UNDATED (AP) – The task for the Cleveland Browns was simple. They had to win in a stadium where they had dropped 17 straight and do it without their head coach. Mission accomplished as the Browns built a 35-10 halftime lead before completing a 48-37 win over the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Baker Mayfield threw for 263 yards and three touchdowns, including a screen pass that Nick Chubb turned into a 40-yard score. Chubb’s TD catch halted Pittsburgh’s momentum after the Steelers had pulled within 12. Kareem Hunt added 48 yards and two touchdowns on the ground while Cleveland’s defense forced five turnovers to hand the Steelers a staggering loss. For the Browns, it was their first postseason victory in 26 years and their first playoff road win since December 1969. The Browns played without first-year head coach Kevin Stefanski, Pro Bowl guard Joel Bitonio and top cornerback Denzel Ward after all tested positive for COVID-19. The 48 points were the most the Steelers have given up in the playoffs, surpassing the 45 they gave up to Jacksonville in the 2017 playoffs.
January 11, 2021 3:56 am
The New Orleans Saints kept Chicago out of the end zone until the final play after the Baltimore Ravens stifled the NFL’s top running back. Drew Brees threw for two touchdowns and Alvin Kamara ran for 99 yards and a score in the Saints’ 21-9 victory over the Bears. Brees tossed an 11-yard TD pass to Michael Thomas to open the scoring. He later connected with Latavius Murray for a 6-yard score late in the third quarter, shortly after the Bears committed a neutral zone infraction on fourth-and-3 at the Chicago 13. Brees also had his first career playoff rushing TD until replay showed he failed to cross the goal line. Kamara capped the scoring with a one-yard run midway through the fourth quarter. The Saints kept the Bears out of the end zone until Mitchell Trubisky hit Jimmy Graham for a TD as time expired.
January 11, 2021 3:57 am
KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) – The PGA of America has cut ties to President Donald Trump by voting to take the PGA Championship event away from his Bedminster golf course in New Jersey next year. The vote comes four days after the Trump-fueled riot at the nation’s Capitol as Congress was certifying the election victory of President-elect Joe Biden. This is the second time in just over five years the PGA of America removed one of its events from a Trump course. It canceled the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in 2015 at Trump National Los Angeles Golf Club after Trump’s disparaging remarks about Mexican immigrants.
January 10, 2021 7:56 am
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Browns got some good news ahead of their game at Pittsburgh: They have no new positive COVID-19 tests after nearly a week of issues leading into their first playoff game in almost two decades. But they’ll face the AFC North champions without coach Kevin Stefanski or Pro Bowl guard Joel Bitonio because of virus issues. Cleveland is making its first playoff appearance since the 2002 season.
The Browns are facing two other major droughts: They’ve lost 17 straight at Heinz Field and haven’t won a road playoff game since 1969.
January 10, 2021 7:54 am
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — — Quarterback Josh Allen and safety Micah Hyde teamed up to make the Buffalo Bills’ losing past history. In a season in which the Bills busted numerous slumps, Allen became Buffalo’s first starter in a quarter century to win a playoff game. And Hyde ensured the Bills wouldn’t endure another second-half collapse as happened last year in a wild-card loss to Houston, or last-second touchdown. With Buffalo the AFC East champions for the first time since 1995 and hosting their first playoff game since ’96, Allen threw two touchdown passes and scored another rushing in leading the Bills to a 27-24 win over the Indianapolis Colts in a wild-card game Saturday. Hyde batted down Philip Rivers’ desperation pass as time ran out in helping Buffalo snap an 0-6 postseason skid by winning its first playoff game since a 37-22 win over Miami on Dec. 30, 1995. The past was very much present in Allen’s mind when reflecting on how Buffalo squandered a 16-0 third-quarter lead in a 22-19 overtime loss to Houston in his first career playoff appearance.
January 10, 2021 7:58 am
LANDOVER, Md. — — New team, same swashbuckling playoff success for Tom Brady. Brady threw for 381 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers past Washington 31-23 in their NFC wild-card game Saturday night for their first playoff victory since the 2002 season. Brady was critical of his play and the offense’s performance in the red zone but relished picking up his 31st career postseason win. In his 42nd postseason start and first not in a New England Patriots uniform, Brady made the most of a lack of early pressure to build a lead against the NFL’s second-ranked defense that held up. Brady had to outduel Washington’s Taylor Heinicke, who had a breakout performance in just his second pro start and first in the playoffs in place of injured starter Alex Smith. Heinicke — signed in early December to the practice squad — ran for 46 yards and a touchdown and threw for 306 yards and a score. But Heinicke wasn’t enough to overcome Brady’s off-and-on brilliance. While Bill Belichick and the Patriots watch from home with their playoff streak snapped at 11 following a 7-9 season, Brady has the opportunity to play in another Super Bowl — in his new home stadium.
January 9, 2021 9:37 am
The Pittsburgh Penguins have cancelled their practice and scrimmage scheduled for Saturday. Potential exposure to COVID-19 was cited as the reason. No word yet on how upcoming practices/scrimmages will be impacted. This does not mean anybody has tested positive for COVID-19.
January 9, 2021 5:00 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cam Sutton is ready for his time in the spotlight. Sutton will make the first playoff start of his career when the Steelers host Cleveland in the wild-card round Sunday night. Sutton is filling in for veteran Joe Haden, who is on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Sutton has bounced between positions frequently during his four seasons in the NFL. He says the experience has made him a better all-around player because it has forced him to understand the responsibility of all 11 players on the field.
