Post-Gazette Sports Network: Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates, Penguins and more

Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Gerry Dulac and Ray Fittipaldo react to the Steelers' NFL Week 17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at Acrisure Stadium. Can coach Mike Tomlin, OC Arthur Smith and DC Teryl Austin fix what's doomed their team in three consecutive losses? Why did Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce look so dominant against Minkah Fitzpatrick, DeShon Elliott, Donte Jackson and the Steelers'...

Post-Gazette sports writers Adam Bittner and Paul Zeise react live after the Steelers' NFL Week 17 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs at Acrisure Stadium. Were T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Minkah Fitzpatrick and coach Mike Tomlin's defense able to bounce back from a shaky performance against the Ravens? What difference did the return of George Pickens, DeShon Elliott, Donte Jackson and Larry Ogunjobi...

Pitt insider Stephen Thompson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is joined by Toledo insider Kyle Rowland of The Toledo Blade to break down all things college football ahead of Thursday's Pitt-Toledo matchup in the GameAbove Sports Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit, MI. The guys discuss current injuries for both teams, look ahead to possible starting lineups, and provide their picks for the game. For more...

On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey talks about the Steelers' current laundry list of injuries and the much-needed impact of George Pickens' return. He also discusses the importance of getting DeShon Elliott and Donte Jackson back in the lineup and how the running game will be key to defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in Pittsburgh on Christmas Day, on Netflix,...

On his weekly Chipped Ham & Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes former Steeler Derek Watt to preview a big week for his football family. How will T.J. Watt perform amid his injury in a crucial NFL Week 17 matchup on Christmas against Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs? Does he deserve the NFL's defensive player of the year (DPOY) award for...

On their weekly Pitt sports mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson answer reader questions. Among them: What did Jeff Capel's men's basketball team do differently during this nonconference season that has the Panthers set up so well in the NET rankings? Will that help when it comes time to seek a bid to the NCAA tournament? What should fans expect from the m...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news around 5 p.m. Eastern. Should the Steelers considering bringing back Diontae Johnson to bolster their receiving corps, even with George Pickens returning from injury and Calvin Austin III showing promise? Is T.J. Watt healthy enough to make the big plays this defense needs in NFL Week 17 vs. the defending Super Bo...

On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to analyze the defense's many issues ahead of an NFL Week 17 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs. Does this group need more splash plays from stars including T.J. Watt, Minah Fitzpatrick and Cam Heyward to regain elite sta...

On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey reacts to the Steelers' NFL Week 16 loss to the Ravens in Baltimore with 10 post-game thoughts. How encouraging Patrick Queen's message of accountability, and to what degree is he emerging as a leader on this defense? Why was Russell Wilson's QB play encouraging despite his pair of costly turnovers? Has the Ravens' Lamar Jac...

Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Brian Batko and Ray Fittipaldo report from the team's South Side facility ahead of their NFL Week 17 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day. Could some key players including George Pickens, DeShon Elliott, Donte Jackson, Justin Fields and Larry Ogunjobi return from injury? What's the status of newly injured names like Joey Porter Jr. and Ben Skowronek?...

Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Gerry Dulac and Ray Fittipaldo react to a costly NFL Week 16 loss to the Ravens in Baltimore. Can coach Mike Tomlin fix his struggling defense amid injuries to T.J. Watt, Joey Porter Jr., DeShon Elliott, Larry Ogunjobi and Donte Jackson? Is the defensive line a problem with names including Dean Lowry and Isaiahh Loudermilk not producing? How much blame does QB Russel...

Post-Gazette sports writers Adam Bittner and Paul Zeise react live after the Steelers' NFL Week 16 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Did Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren and the running game bounce back after a tough outing against the Eagles? How did Russell Wilson, Mike Williams, Pat Freiermuth, Calvin Austin III and the passing game perform without the injured George Pickens...

Penn State insiders Joel Haas and Lyle Alenstein react to Penn State's dominant College Football Playoff victory on Saturday at Beaver Stadium. How far can James Franklin and Drew Allar take the Nittany Lions after finally earning a signature win? Will this victory silence their critics? Or is a Fiesta Bowl win against Boise State in the next round essential to that narrative as well? Can any defe...

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Christopher Carter and Steelers insider Brian Batko look ahead to another massive game on Saturday as the Pittsburgh Steelers visit the Baltimore Ravens for an AFC North rivalry rematch. How can the Steelers survive their current injuries to upset the Ravens and win the division crown? Also, wha...

On the Friday episode of First 10, Jason Mackey breaks down how a win on Saturday would give the Pittsburgh Steelers their biggest all season and maybe around the entire NFL so far this season. He also discusses how he doesn't like where Mike Tomlin and company currently stand with injuries as the postseason rapidly approaches. Jason also looks at last night's volleyball matches with Pitt-Louisvil...

On the Thursday episode of First 10, Jason Mackey looks ahead to the Steelers' chance to clinch the AFC North against the Ravens on Saturday. How can Russell Wilson and Arthur Smith shake off their slow starts and jump out to a lead? Plus, some thoughts on Pitt volleyball's Final Four showdown and a new take on Pirates acquisition Spencer Horwitz. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm....

Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Brian Batko and Ray Fittipaldo report from the team's practice facility ahead of a crucial NFL Week 16 matchup with the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens. How can OC Arthur Smith get Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren and the running game back on track after an ugly performance last week against the Philadelphia Eagles? Can he get more out of young offensive lineman such as...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh Sports news around 5 p.m. Is the Steelers' compressed schedule that forces them to face the Eagles, Ravens and Chiefs in an 11-day span fair? Or does the NFL need to reconsider stretches like this moving forward? How does Patrick Mahomes' ankle injury factor into expectations for coach Mike Tomlin, QB Russell Wilson and RB Na...

On their weekly Penn State football podcast, host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette/Daily Collegian Nittany Lions insider Joel Haas to preview the College Football Playoff first-round matchup with SMU on Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Is this Drew Allar's big chance to show a big audience what he can do in a do-or-die moment? Have he and coach James Franklin been slept on because casual fans only se...

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to analyze the Steelers defense. What led to the third-down issues last week against the Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, Devonta Smith and the Eagles? Can they be fixed ahead of a pivotal AFC North showdown with Lamar Jackson...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news. Specifically, he responds to George Pickens' claim that NFL officials have a "vendetta" against the Steelers after a few controversial calls the last few weeks in games against the Bengals, Browns and Eagles. He also ponders the state of the Steelers defense as it prepares to face Lamar Jackson, Derrick...

On his weekly Chipped Ham & Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes Giana Han of the Baltimore Banner to preview the NFL Week 16 clash with the Ravens. Can the defense slow down Lamar Jackson again, coming off one of his best performances of the season? Especially with the status of T.J. Watt and DeShon Elliott up in the air? Who else is trending up for the Ravens?...

On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey analyzes the impact of defenseman Marcus Pettersson's injury on the Penguins' recent 6-2-1 hot streak. Is that success sustainable without him? Can Owen Pickering hack it on the top defensive pairing with Kris Letang? What does Pettersson's absence mean for Erik Karlsson, who's now skating with the struggling Matt Grzelcyk?...

On their weekly Pitt football mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson answer reader questions. Among them: Is RB Desmond Reid's return a good sign for coach Pat Narduzzi and OC Kade Bell as NCAA transfer portal season gets into full swing? Will others including Eli Holstein and Kyle Louis stay put as well? And what are the guys' picks for the College Football...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news around 5 p.m., with a specific focus on the Steelers' NFL Week 15 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Is QB Russell Wilson taking too much of the blame? Why do some fans still want to see Justin Fields? How can OC Arthur Smith get more out of targets including Calvin Austin III, Mike Williams, Pat Freiermuth and Van...