The Steelers held practice on Wednesday in preparation for their week 16 show down with the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Some good news as DE Brett Keisel (knee) had full participation in practice on Wednesday. S Ryan Clark (foot), LB James Harrison (foot), RB Willie Parker (not injury related), S Troy Polamalu (foot), DE Aaron Smith (not injury related), T Marvel Smith (back), WR Hines Ward (not injury related) and LB LaMarr Woodley (knee) all did not participate on Wednesday. Marvel Smith is the only one of those listed not expected to be able to play this week as everyone else should be able Read more [...]

This week’s issue of Sports Illustrated features the Steelers defense with linebacker LaMarr Woodley on the cover hovering over Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco. The cover features the headline STEEL CURTAIN II - DEFENSE - That Same Old December Song in the NFL.

The Steelers have three players selected to represent the AFC in the 2009 Pro Bowl. Roaming the middle of the AFC defense will be two Steeler linebackers from the NFL’s top ranked defense. James Farrior, the captain of the league’s No. 1 defense will appear in his second All-Star game, while James Harrison settles in with his second consecutive Pro Bowl start. Strong safety Troy Polamalu earns his fifth consecutive AFC All-Star selection. Read more [...]

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin held his usual Tuesday press conference today on the South Side, two days after the win against the Baltimore Ravens. As the Steelers get ready for the Tennessee Titans, Tomlin said it is another big game as the Titans are in the pole position of the AFC. Tomlin praised head coach Jeff Fisher, running backs LenDale White who is the power guy and Chris Johnson the speed guy. Both backs have combined for over 1800 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns. Tomlin noted that quarterback Kerry Collins utilizes all of his receivers. On the defensive side, Tomlin praised Jevon Kearse Read more [...]

The Pittsburgh Steelers claimed the AFC North crown and a first round bye in the playoffs after beating the Baltimore Ravens 13-9 in Baltimore. The Steelers now control their own destiny for home field throughout the playoffs if they can win their final two games. Ben Roethlisberger led an 89 yard final drive that culminated with a controversial touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes with just under a minute remaining in the game. Both defenses controlled the game and neither offense could muster much of anything until the final scoring drive by the Steelers. Roethlisberger was 22 of 40 for 246 yards Read more [...]

Steelers Inactives

QB Dennis Dixon (3rd QB)
CB Fernando Bryant
T Tony Hills
LB Bruce Davis
T Marvel Smith
DE Brett Keisel
DE Orpheus Roye
DT Scott Paxson

Ravens Inactives

WR Marcus Maxwell
RB Ray Rice
QB Todd Bouman (3rd QB)
RB Jalen Parmele
WR Terrance Copper
DB Evan Oglesby
T Oniel Cousins
G David Hale

The Steelers wrapped up practice preparations on Friday for the week 15 Sunday game versus the Baltimore Ravens. DE Brett Keisel (knee) was not able to practice again on Friday and is no listed as out this week along with T Marvel Smith (back). RB Carey Davis (calf) was able to practice fully on Friday and is listed as questionable on the injury report. LB James Harrison (knee) and S Troy Polamalu (calf) both also practiced fully on Friday and are listed as probable on the injury report and barring any set backs both should be able to play.  RB Willie Parker, DE Aaron Smith, CB Deshea Townsend Read more [...]

The Steelers practiced again on Thursday in preparation for the Baltimore Ravens. RB Carey Davis (calf), DE Brett Keisel (knee) and T Marvel Smith (back) all sat out on Thursday. It is looking less likely that both Keisel and Davis will be available this week. Also not practicing on Thursday was LB James Harrison (knee) who was added to the injury report. S Troy Polamalu (calf) was limited on Thursday and should be good to go this week. RB Willie Parker (not injury related), CB Deshea Townsend (not injury related), WR Hines Ward (not injury related) and DE Aaron Smith (not injury related) all returned Read more [...]

The Steelers started practice preparations for the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday. RB Carey Davis (calf), DE Brett Keisel (knee), RB Willie Parker (not injury related), S Troy Polamalu (calf), DE Aaron Smith (not injury related), T Marvel Smith (back), CB Deshea Townsend (not injury related) and WR Hines Ward (not injury related) all did not practice on Wednesday.

Pittsburgh clinches AFC North Division and a first-round bye with win against Baltimore.

Pittsburgh clinches a playoff spot with:

1) PIT tie + NE loss or tie OR

2) PIT tie + MIA loss or tie + NYJ loss or tie OR

3) NE loss + NYJ loss or tie OR

4) NE loss + MIA loss or tie OR

5) NYJ loss + MIA loss

The Baltimore Ravens may be without running backs Willis McGahee and Ray Rice on Sunday versus the Steelers. McGahee is suffering from a shoulder stinger, while Rice has a badly bruised shin. The Ravens signed running back Jalen Parmele off the Miami Dolphins practice squad on Wednesday, signaling that at least one of the two will not be able to play. Running back Le'Ron McClain looks to get most of the work at this point.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin held is weekly Tuesday press conference today from the South Side to discuss the upcoming game versus the Baltimore Ravens and Sunday's game versus the Dallas Cowboys. Tomlin started by saying the Ravens record is still no reflection of how they are playing, they are better than their record. Mentioned that the Ravens have only lost once at home this year and that was to the Titans. Mentioned the Steelers have not won their the last five trips to Baltimore. Tomlin mentioned they run the ball well with Le'Ron McClain and control the clock well. Tomlin praised Ravens Read more [...]

The Steelers keep winning, but still not impressing the odds makers. The line for the Steelers Ravens game has opened with the Ravens being favored by as much as 2 points. The game is in Baltimore and both teams share similarities, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Some how I expect this to be a full tilt war and the Steelers enjoy not getting the betting public love. This one will be one to watch for sure.

Coach Mike Tomlin: What a beautiful game; and I mean that. I just told the team that. People get too preoccupied with style points. That was a beautiful football game because we displayed mettle and we hung together. Are we far from perfect? Yes. But this is our football team. Those guys fought, they believed in one another; and they didn’t blink in the face of adversity, most of which was caused by us; but that is life. That gives us something to work on as we move forward; it is great to do that with a victory against a top-notch opponent and it was great to do it in front of our fans. This Read more [...]

The Steelers were the ones on the right side of a defensive battle on a cold Sunday evening in Pittsburgh, winning at home 20-13 against the Dallas Cowboys. Cornerback Deshea Townsend intercepted a Tony Romo pass with just under two minutes left in the game and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown to put the Steelers ahead to stay. The defensive score came on the second play after the Steelers tied up the game 13-13 on a 6 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to tight end Heath Miller. The Cowboy defense stymied the Steeler offense most of the afternoon, holding them to just Read more [...]

Steelers Inactives

QB Dennis Dixon (3rd QB)
CB Fernando Bryant
T Tony Hills
LB Bruce Davis
T Marvel Smith
DE Brett Keisel
DE Orpheus Roye
DT Scott Paxson

Cowboys Inactives

QB Brooks Bollinger (3rd QB)
RB Marion Barber
WR Miles Austin
CB Mike Jenkins
G Joe Berger
T Doug Free
CB Courtney Brown
LB Steve Octavien

Well it is official now. The Dallas Cowboys traveled to Pittsburgh on Saturday and left starting running back Marion Barber home in Dallas. Barber did not practice all week after injuring his little toe on Thanksgiving day versus the Seahawks. This means rookie running back Tashard Choice will make his first start and recently promoted running back Alonzo Coleman will back up Choice on Sunday.

It is looking more and more like the Dallas Cowboys starting running back Marion Barber will be out this week versus the Steelers with a toe injury. Barber has not practiced all week and on Friday the Cowboys activated running back Alonzo Coleman off their practice squad to the active roster which is not a great sign.

The Steelers wrapped up Friday practice preparations for the Dallas Cowboys by releasing their official week 14 injury report. DE Brett Keisel (knee) and T Marvel Smith (back) as expected are listed as out after neither practiced all week. DE Travis Kirschke (back), CB Bryant McFadden (forearm), RB Willie Parker (knee, shoulder), S Troy Polamalu (calf), QB Ben Roethlisberger (knee) and DE Aaron Smith (knee) are all listed as probable on the injury report and all practiced fully on Friday as expected.

On Thursday the Steelers continued practice preparations for Sunday's game versus the Dallas Cowboys. DE Brett Keisel (knee), T Marvel Smith (back) and S Troy Polamalu (calf) all sat out again on Thursday. Keisel and Smith have long been ruled out, while Polamalu looks to return to practice on Friday. DE Travis Kirschke (back), CB Bryant McFadden (forearm), RB Willie Parker (knee, shoulder), QB Ben Roethlisberger (knee) and DE Aaron Smith (knee) all practiced fully on Thursday as expected.