Steelers' most exciting storyline might be hiding in plain sight
Pittsburgh Steelers fans weren't in the mood for another 'Tomlin Tuesday.' After a painful Week 12 loss against the Chicago Bears, it was more of the same from Mike Tomlin behind the podium—schematics and 'things of that nature' (as he so frequently says).
Tomlin's press conference was also met with discouraging injury news. Starting left tackle Broderick Jones has already been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills with a neck injury, while first-round defensive tackle Derrick Harmson has been ruled out with a knee injury that popped up during the Bears' game.
Thankfully, Steelers fans got the one piece of encouraging news that could help save their backsliding 2025 season.
When asked about the availability of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Coach Tomlin noted that he has 'great optimism' that his starting quarterback will be able to suit up on Sunday. Tomlin noted that he's 'comfortable with his general trajectory.'
The Pittsburgh Steelers need Aaron Rodgers this week against the Buffalo Bills
While fans were optimistic that Mason Rudolph would offer a spark off the bench in Week 12, that's not what we witnessed. The 30-year-old backup quarterback passed for just 171 yards on 31 attempts while throwing a touchdown and an early-game interception.
Rudolph finished the game with just 5.5 yards per attempt. What's worse is that, on the season, his completed air yards per pass attempt are just 1.1 yards past the line of scrimmage. On 49 passes this season, Rudolph has just 56 yards that are not yards accumulated after the catch. And we thought Rodgers was conservative.
Rodgers, who turns 42 in a few weeks, is dealing with a fractured left wrist, but he wanted to suit up in Chicago last Sunday. Though Tomlin made the call to start Rudolph, it sounds encouraging that Rodgers could be ready to go by game time... and they need him.
With a Steelers loss and a Ravens win over the Jets in Week 12, Baltimore has not jumped into first place in the AFC North. Pittsburgh can't afford to fall to a 6-6 record after Week 13, so upsetting the Bills would be an enormous victory for this team.
Unfortunately, this is unlikely to happen with Rudolph at the helm. Rudolph has started two games against Buffalo—one in Pittsburgh's Wild Card game in January 2024, and the other with the Tennessee Titans in October 2024. In these two contests, Rudolph is 0-2 and his teams have been outscored 65-27.
With Rodgers, there's a least a shot at an upset. It's not that the Buffalo Bills have an impenetrable roster; it's that Pittsburgh's starting quarterback must be able to exchange blows with superstar Josh Allen.
The Bills are coming off an upset loss against the Houston Texans, who possess the league's top-ranked defense. In comparison, facing the Steelers will be a much easier matchup for Allen and company. For Pittsburgh to emerge victorious this week, it may require a 30-point game by the offense.
The last thing the Pittsburgh Steelers can afford to do is allow the Baltimore Ravens to go a game up on them during the final stretch of the season. This is a huge upcoming Week 13 contest, and after what we witnessed from Mason Rudolph this season, Aaron Rodgers is clearly their best hope at saving the 2025 season. Let's hope Tomlin's optimism is a good sign toward a return.
Christian McCaffrey just hilariously responded to Brock Purdy criticism
Every San Francisco 49ers fan watching the Monday Night Football game against the Carolina Panthers was just waiting for this one to be over. The positives were mostly on the defensive side of the ball as the Niners came away with what ended up being an ugly win.
A week after returning from injury, quarterback Brock Purdy turned the tables on his box score. Last week, Purdy tossed three touchdowns in his first game since Sept. 28.
Against the Panthers, though, he threw three interceptions -- all coming in the first half.
After the game, running back Christian McCaffrey was asked by reporters if he says anything to Purdy following the mistakes he made during the game. His response was hilarious -- but right on point.
"No, absolutely not," McCaffrey said. "He's as poised (as they come) ... nobody needs to tell him anything. It's like, if I make a mistake or I have a drop, you know, somebody says, 'catch the ball!' It's like, I just want to knock them out."
Christian McCaffrey isn't having the Brock Purdy overreactions and neither is Kyle Shanahan
"There's really nothing to say. It's a long game and anything can happen. You don't say anything to him," McCaffrey finished.
McCaffrey wasn't the only one who didn't seem fazed by Purdy's missed throws. Head coach Kyle Shanahan didn't seem thrown off when he spoke to sideline reporters at halftime, and he wasn't thrown off after the game.
“He just had three throws he’d love to take back. They were all three good decisions. He was just a hair late on them, and when you’re a hair late on stuff, you can’t throw it behind them. He threw it behind them, and all three guys made him pay," the head coach told reporters.
This is definitely the right mentality to have, for now, at least.
The obvious question becomes, if Purdy continues to struggle like this, do the 49ers go back to Mac Jones?
Boy, would that be quite a scene.
In the end, Shanahan isn't afraid to do what's necessary. He has always abided by the rule that you play the best players, regardless of draft pedigree or how much is on each paycheck. He plays no favorites, and 49ers fans have to love and respect that about him.
Hopefully, this was just an anomaly and Purdy is able to bounce back. If not, we'll have a real situation on our hands.
