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On location in Charlotte: Steelers 37, Panthers 19 270
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Getting ready for kickoff … Game: Steelers (1-1) vs. Carolina Panthers (2-0), 8:32 p.m., Bank of America Stadium TV, radio: NBC (national), 102.5 WDVE Online: Game Center / Multimedia / Official media notes If you missed it earlier in the week, I had columns on both the offense and defense. UPDATE 7:12 p.m.: The Steelers’ inactives are G Ramon Foster, RB Dri Archer, QB Landry Jones, WR Martavis Bryant, OL Wesley Johnson, CB B.W. Webb, NT Daniel McCullers. Among Carolina’s inactives are old friend WR Jerricho Cotchery
OK – gotta switch jerseys…
OK temptress!
1.Can we force a turnover?
2. Will Foster’s absence cost us?
3. Will Lance Moore make a difference?
4. Did Haley make it to game on time?
5. Will”Rocky” Gilbert get planted again?
6. If they lose, what changes can be made?
This night could be an interesting one. No question this is a get the pulse of the psyche of the team game. Will the Steelers show up crisp and focused or will mistakes and not on the same page Steelers be the case.You never know how a game will go,
Whenever I read, “Carolina Panthers,” just for a nanosecond I think “Who?” and then I think, “Oh yeah, that IS a NFL team!”
Ugliest uniform in sports.
No way these unis are uglier than Jacksonville or Tampa.
You can’t vote, friend. Conflict of interest living in the Carolinas.
Bumble bee
Don’t like the matchup tonight, but it should be a good game. Two teams that come right at you. Let’s go Black and Gold!
Seconded.
Were you at the Pitt game, Laddy?
I was AW. Did a doubleheader with the Buccos yesterday and went 0-2.
Me too. But ended up even on the weekend with the Bucco win today and Friday.
Don’t screw it up. That’s all I have to say for the Stillers tonight.
This will be a close one.
Penalty one second down. That’s not a good start.
I only have one question. Did everyone that was supposed to be on the team charter actually make the flight ? That would be a good start. They haven’t even been able to get that right.
Really. Does this team need a den mother to make sure these kinds of things don’t happen?
Will we get a real no-huddle or a Haley calls the play in anyway no huddle?
Nope.
2 stupid penalties already.
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Shows lack of discipline, and poor coaching.
Just unreal.
Ok, 2 penalties. Any completions? Sorry no feed yet…
Yeah, Carolina is 4/4 for 52 yds passing, if that’s what you meant.
Yeah, this should go well. We had an extra 3 days to prepare. What could go wrong? They’ll have all the kinks worked out. Oh …
The Panthers 2014 first round pick easily beat our 2013 first round pick.
Ok 2 plays and they’ve out gained us
Please nudge me if someone dressed in white makes a play.
Steelers D getting pushed around again.
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Does that count??
The D has not made a single stop yet. That’s on a play, never mind stopping a drive.
Uh, no. But thanks for trying. Cam took a shot from Worilds though. Those ribs are still tender.
Don’t hold your breath waiting on that nudge.
Steel Sieve defense holds them to FG. Going to be a long night.
Did I mention the Padres beat the Giants again? There’s that.
Our d is picking up where it left on since the Ravens game.
More like the start of the second half v CLE
Trivia question. Name the two out of three major Pittsburgh sports franchises that has, or will have made, the postseason in their respective sports for the last two consecutive seasons?
Hint: The legendary football franchise is not one of them!
Bell makes 10 yds literally out of nothing & we get a hold completely away from the play.
4 or 5 penalties already.
Yep, coaches have them prepared.
It’s going to be a long night.
Todd Haley has succeeded in stretching the field horizontally. He must be getting input from Matt Cavanaugh.
AND PUT LANCE MOORE IN FOR GOODNESS SAKES. Sorry for raising my voice.
Man right now the Steelers are stinking up the place
Brutal
Big loss by McLendon!
Wow. Nobody seems to know what anybody else is doing.
Tomlin should have been let go two years ago – this is pathetic – Bruce Arians is 3-0 in Az…
Waste the best years of Ben’s career – I will win a TON of money betting against the Steelers tonight – but be VERY UNHAPPY about it.
Let go BEFORE he had a non-winning season?
Yep – and thanks for the down votes – he loses too many games to teams that are easily beatable – and never wins a big game against a team they probably should not beat – You are so brilliant AW – name me ONE game he won that they were not expected to win – ONE!
How about the game in Baltimore 2 years ago with Charlie Batch at QB against the Ravens who would win the Super Bowl shortly there after ?
The Ravens were 7.5 point favorites.
OK Milo – that is one – but how many games did the Great Tomlin lose that year to inferior teams – 4 by my count – what say you?
Don’t change the subject.
Gay with a nice stop
Collinsworth has a low threshold for “going very well so far for Pittsburgh.”
Another good shot on Newton could make this very interesting.
I think the 1st one already has.
We’ll, that’s one way to pick up yards
Once again, Haley took the whole 10 days to create more really cool screen passes. But, I can see why. The line can’t keep 3 or 4 guys off Ben if he’s back there for more than 2 seconds.
Bruce Arians is 3-0 with Drew Stanton as his QB
He ruined my day at Heinz Field some years back. Stanton, I mean. Ran around like a maniac.
Good three and out!
Best chance to win might be 9-6.
Five penalties on us
Plus, at least 1 that was nullified by offsetting penalty on Carolina.
I see the standard is substandard…obviously. Why am I even bothering?
BRANDIEEEEEEEE! Good to see you Muppet.
Oh LAAAAAAAAAAAADDDDDDD NIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNEEEEEEE!
Great, another 10+ penalty night in store for the black-n-gold…
Is there any discipline on this team?
Perhaps we need to go back to midget football?
One step forward, two steps back. Do the Tomlin Two step!
Wasting time outs makes me crazy!
Lad is gonna get mad!!!
It just speaks to indecision from the O-Coordinator. I think when he puts 4 wide receivers in he has trouble deciding which one to throw the screen to!
could be the qb….
Which is worst-wasting timeouts or hoarding them like they carryover to next half or game ?
I hear you Oshie, but when you come to the end of the half and don’t have any it often costs you. Plus having to use them because you can’t get the play in on time smacks of lack of preparation.
“These pretzels are making me thirsty.” – G. Costanza
Ben being Ben.
WOO HOO!
THEY WOKE UP !!!!
Hmmmmm.
Sigh. Good effort, though.
Things can change
Panthers were clearly offside on that Wheaton play.
I saw that too.
Murphy’s offense.
Whatever can get flagged will get flagged. Fundamentals people!
Hey, Brandie.
Jimmmmmmmmmiiiieeeeee!
Like that call
9-6 still in play. I don’t understand why you don’t at least challenge that when the closest ref called it a TD.
Agreed Jim. Hard to see how the ref on the back goal line near the goal post had a better view.
Looks like some of the defense is trying to keep Pittsburgh in this game. Not quite ready to stick a spork in ‘em!
This consistently soft coverage drives me crazy. Is it just because the secondary is so poor that they won’t play tight?
Have you ever watched a steelers game before? Dick LeBeau D is based on soft coverage no big plays keep it in front of you. Never press. Ever.
Next time Myelough busts out Archie Bunker, I’m going Weezie Jefferson!
Reds 2, Cards 1 top of 6.
Choke! Gasp! Hack! Wheeze!
Go Reds! Painful!
3-1.
From Mike Pereira: Steelers should have been penalized 5 yards for illegal touching on the Wheaton play & replayed 3rd down. BUT, he says it should have been pass interference on Carolina. He says they messed the whole thing up.
I thought there should have been a penalty there. For the touch not pass int. I thought it decent coverage unless it was a chuck beyond 5.
Down goes Newton by Li’l Ironhead. Interesting.
Still trying to figure out why Lance Moore can’t get into the game. He missed the plane, didn’t he ?
Here here.
Absolutely stupid penalty there!!!!!
WHERE IS THE DISCIPLINE????
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Frustrating Plan. I like defending your guy, but you have to pick your spots better.
The Stanford guy.
Discipline? On a Steelers team coached by Tomlin?
I think they buttered up Bell’s jersey again tonight.
This offense…if the dink and dunk was producing points then fine. But, uh, it’s not.
These penalties are just mind boggling. Do the coaches teach these guys any fundamentals at all? There “obviously” is no repercussions either when you do something completely moronic like Decastro just did. Tomlin’s team is gonna lead the league in penalties this year.
First off, the good news in my view is steelers playing competitive football. That’s a giant step……on the other hand, penalties & discipline!
Carolina with 10 yards rushing in the 1st half. Oh my.
Steelers D line is just slightly better than secondary so attack the weaker unit?
*
Or maybe the Panthers figure it’s better to let their QB stand in there and take hits rather than handing the ball off?
These guys don’t zone block and that’s what has been giving the Steelers fits.
Rather enjoying this football game, yinz guys. Lots of moving parts. Lots of possible storylines and/or column fodder.
Lots of penalties. Both teams.
Big series here as always coming out of halftime.
Thimmons fell backwards into Shazier’s ankle.
They’re checking his knee. Great.
Don’t like to see Shazier hurt but I like having Spence to fill in.
We’ve reached that inevitable point of 90% of nfl games where a penalty is called on nearly every play.
A Jarvis Jones sighting.
Hey Jones hasn’t had a bad year. Periods been much worse.
That was supposed to be “Worilds has been much worse.” My kindle autocorrect at work.
Empty hand. Steelers ball.
TD here would be huge. Cam can’t move around and Rivera won’t pull him.
I’ll take the 2-score lead, but couldn’t we at least pretend like we wanted a TD?
Man, there are a lot of Steelers fans there! Big ovation for that Carolina encroachment and Steelers TD!
Incredible.
Ben to Brown!
Don’t want to jinx anything, but has anyone noticed Marcus Gilbert tonight ? Me neither.
Shhh….
Really. And I thought about it before it hit post. I shouldn’t have done that. My apologies in advance if anything bad happens.
Steelers fans are louder than the Panther fans
That was a beauty! And listen to that home crowd…oh sorry…sure sounds like it though.
AB TD.
Nice to see Carolina committing stupid penalties !!!
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Great play by Ben and Brown.
Offense looking good tonight.
Just need some stops.
We really need a big receiver for the goal line.
Hmmm. Sure didn’t think this D would be holding the Panthers to just 3 points so far and in line to win at such a hard to win place. You just never know in professional sports.
Agreed, I had this as a loss when looking at the schedule before the season started.
Pay the man.
And, just like that we are running out of defenders.
Troy just put Taylor out of game
Sorry, Thimons puts Taylor out
…out for the season.
Probably his last down as a Steeler.
arm broke…
They’re falling like flies. Shazier, Jones & now Ike.
That might be a career ender for Ike. That’s too bad.
I thought the same thing
Milo.
I bet Ike comes back. You see a lot of guys with casts play and it’s not like 24 can catch with two hands…
Wow, that looked bad watching his hand flop after the hit.
This is ugly. Dropping like fly’s.
Hold them to a FG
Graham “Waiting for Gano” makes it 16-6.
Nice!
I always think of Graham “bat” G(u)ano Jim.
“If that is your real name?”
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One of my favorite lines.
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Great movie.
I like it, Lad. Haha!
Can the NFL just do away with the charade known as kickoffs already?
That’s a case of a ref looking to call a penalty on a team. They overlook stuff all the time.
Yes!! These refs would call traveling on lebron James. Nfl needs to watch it on the penalties.
Any doubts if the Steelers drafted the right guy?
Bell >>>>> Lacy !!
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Awesome run!
You beat me to it. Lacy is having a rough year.
Eddie Lacy.
.
Pffft.
Remember when a lot of us complained when the Steelers chose Bell over Eddie Lacy?
Speak for yourself, Dom.
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Best part was Collinsworth lauding LB Thomas Davis immediately before the long run. Called Davis the Lance Briggs to Kuechly’s Brian Urlacher. Seconds later Bell blows right by Davis.
I don’t think that last one was pass interference
The NFL is ruining their product calling all of these penalties. That was hardly a push off.
If the play by az in the sb was a push off then so was that.
AN Will catch all the tds
Ben, Brown & Bell have just been stellar tonight. & suddenly the protection is perfect.
Another nice drive. Great play by o-line tonight. But refs need to eat done whistles or the nfl will become less watchable.
AB is the real dael!
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To echo a thought from DK earlier this year……… they need to get Ben’s extension done, NOW!
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Where was this team in Baltimore?
Glad they are here tonight.
Sign Russ!! Oops.
I’ll take the end result (AB TD) but why the heck isn’t Haley sending Blount out there to pound away from one yard out on a winded defense after Bell gassed them?
Ok, so are we all agreed that no one here said anything but good things about this team and the coaching staff so far tonight?
I wish we could erase posts.
You are cut off, Jim.
Hope you have a designated driver also.
.
Nothing but diet Lipton iced tea, I swear.
This is a good DL even without Hardy, that the Steelers are pushing around.
Bell’s 81 yard gain was the 4th longest run in Steelers history. Bobby Gage 97, John Henry Johnson 87, Frenchy Fuqua 85.
Bobby Gage had another gear.
Shocked Bam Morris didn’t make this list.
Bong Morris.
He always ran better on grass.
These are the Steeler type games I remember.
Good news out of St. Louis…Reds up 7-2 going into the 9th.
I’ve been calling for more playing Tim for William Gay – not the way I’d hope it happens. Careful what you ask for…
Cortez Allen . . . UGH
Two straight misses by Allen.
I can’t believe they let Lewis walk and kept Allen. He is brutal.
I believe Lewis had only one decent season before he was let go.
Yes, but he was damn near the defensive MVP that year. It was a horrible mistake.
Cortez Allen may be the worst player in the league.
Dumb series.
Rule violator
Guilty.
wow!!!
Unbelievable!
UNBELIEVABLE!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Awesome !!!!
Ok, this Carolina squad looks pretty bad in every facet tonight. I hope it is because we are playing so well.
Ron Rivera wants to kill Greg Hardy right now. And not a jury in the world would convict him.
Shamarko Thomas was a beast covering that punt! Wonder if he can play corner… Hmmmm
He’s a safety right bro. But I get your point
That was a heck of a punt, by the way.
That was a bomb. He’s kicking like he did at LSU now.
No doubt, big punt.
Yes, we may finally have a punter.
Wing boomed it.
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Love lefty punters.
Might be the last time we see Ike play.
Cam Newton ‘s a class act.
If you consider stealing computers & getting kicked out of Florida & then shopping his services to the school that would pay him the most money a class act, then yes he is.
But Milo, it wasn’t Cam shopping his services around. It was his dad. Cam had no idea it was happening. At least that’s what the ncaa said. And the ncaa is always right.
I think Ron Rivera has less confidence in Derek Andersen than Clint Hurdle had in Vance Worley in the 9th inning today.
I’m sorry Shazier got hurt but having Spence who knows the defense has made a bit of a difference. We’ve put a lot of pressure on the QB for the first time all year
Love Spence.
I haven’t heard much of that bias broadcasting by Chris Collinsworth so far tonih
*tonight
I’ve always thought he was fair to the Steelers.
Me too.
Running the football with a lead is sooooo damn much fun!
Maybe Munchak does know what he’s doing. There are some big holes for these backs tonight.
Gotta say, Wallace has filled in really nicely. Great game for him. Decastro looks like a great one.
The Doobie brothers are bringing in tonight.
“it”
Let’s hope “it” is not in their lockers.
They are “lighting up” this defense
Bell is Da Man!!!
We’re embarrassing one of the top defenses in the league.
Coaching?
A double win, but we lost Ike
Lots of gang tackling tonight.
Fire in their eyes
Was that a veiled desean Jackson reference ? Lol
Ben is through for the night.
damn, Timmons is hurting people left and right out there tonight
Timmons is a wrecking ball, took out Shazier’s knee, broke Ike’s arm and just took out that rb.
Man, I hope his knee is just sprained. It will be terrible if he’s done for the year.
That wax figure of Jerry Richardson is very life like.
Is it sobbing and slobbering and asking for patience to let a convicted criminal play?
He’s not a nice person.
Would give Bob Irsay a run for his money.
Steve Biscotti has them both by a wide margin.
We’ll soon be longing for a few drops by Ike.
What a catch. Glad Ron Rivera would rather see a gimpy Cam Newton play instead of Anderson.
Bruce Gradkowski vs Derek Anderson. It’s the last Thursday of August all over again.
LMAO. Nice Milo.
Umm … Someone please refresh my memory. Is Blount’s deal for more than 1 year?
I think it is for 2 Jim but don’t take that to Vegas.
2 Years
Yes.
You’re talking salary, not that other stuff, right?
.
Two years.
Yes, I was referring to his deal with the Steelers.
Blount is apparently just going to hurdle someone on every play now. I’d be ok if Tomlin put a stop to that.
Cheech & Chong both have rushed for over 100 yards. The last time the Steelers had 2 backs go over 100 was Earnest Jackson & Walter Abercrombie.
I think they averaged close to 9 yds per carry.
Good win. Hope the injuries aren’t bad but it doesn’t look good for Ike.
Steelers haven’t used their IR-Designated for Return spot yet, have they? I can’t remember
I don’t believe so but I can’t say for sure
Tomlin confirmed it’s a broken forearm.
8-10 weeks to heal but don’t know if he could play by then. Thinking mid to late December at earliest.
Lots of injures tonight, this game was a nice win but costly.Ike, Shazier and could be gone for awhile.
Steelers looked very good tonight.
Kudos to Tomlin and Haley for sticking with what was working ……….. the running game.
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Thanks to Milo, Jim, and CMat for the laughs tonight.
This was fun.
Back at ya, plan.
Stat I like; Antonio Brown – 10 targets 10 catches.
A little beast.
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Before the season, said baton passed from Heath to AB as my new team fave.
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Love that he compliments other team’s players on good coverage or good tackles. Don’t see that in today’s game.
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A pro’s pro.
This is when it’s a lot of fun to watch the wrap-up on nfl network.
Running game was a thing of beauty. Defense took a big step forward but these injuries are troubling. dLine stepped it up. Great to see Moats come in and get a sack. Spence played well too.
Cortez Allen is a big steaming pile of crap.
Cortez Allen needs to look in the mirror, the guy has been awful all year.