First and 10: Victory Monday

Alan Saunders |

Updated: Sep 13, 2021

The Steelers earned a break.

Head coach Mike Tomlin gave his team Monday off after upsetting the Buffalo Bills on the road on Sunday afternoon. That’s a usual step for mid-season road win, but a little bit unusual for a Week 1 victory.

Perhaps Tomlin was emboldened in resting his team by the schedule makers doing the Steelers a favor. While Pittsburgh is savoring its 1-0 start, its Week 2 opponent has yet to start its season.

The Las Vegas Raiders will host the Baltimore Ravens tonight at 8:15 p.m., meaning they won’t start their prep for Pittsburgh until Tuesday, either. The Raiders will also need to make a cross-country flight at some point this week, while adjusting their internal clocks to a 1 p.m. kickoff that will feel like it’s at 11 a.m. It’s probably at least part of why they’re a touchdown favorite at home.

That’s more than enough advantage to give the celebrating Steelers a Monday off.

Miles Killebrew and Ulysees Gilbert III are scheduled to speak with the media via Zoom at 10 a.m., ostensibly to discuss their role in the game-changing punt block touchdown on Sunday.

News and notes from around the Pittsburgh Steelers and the National Football League.

STEELERS HEADLINES

? T.J. Watt didn’t show any rust in wrecking the Bills. Alan Saunders

? Steelers synergy: Defense gives offense time to get to game. Saunders

? Diontae Johnson makes big turnaround in return to Buffalo. Saunders

? Few have shut down the Bills offense like the Steelers did. Saunders

? Takeaways: Pass rush is special, OL a worry, more. Nick Farabaugh

? Steelers start five rookies, play six early in opener. Saunders

? Steelers Injury Updates: Robert Spillane injured shin in warmups. Saunders

? New CB Ahkello Witherspoon, rookie among Steelers inactives. Saunders

VIDEO CONTENT FROM PITTSBURGH SPORTS LIVE

STEELERS HISTORY

? 2019 Former Steelers WR Antonio Brown was cleared to start the season with the New England Patriots, despite an ongoing investigation into sexual assault allegations. Saunders

? 1969 Former Steelers defensive lineman Ernie Stautner was inducted into the Pro Football Hal of Fame.

Stautner was a second-round pick out of Boston College in 1950 and played 14 seasons with the Steelers, retiring after the 1963 season. He made nine Pro Bowls and was a nine-time All Pro with the Steelers.

He was the first Steelers player to have his uniform number retired and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1969 and to the Steelers’ inaugural Hall of Honor class in 2017.

Stautner coached with the Steelers, Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Texans and Denver Broncos after his retirement, winning two Super Bowls with Dallas.

? 1942 Pro Football Hall of Hamer “Bullet” Bill Dudley made his Steelers debut in a 24-14 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Dudley was the team’s first-round draft pick out of Virginia in 1942, and he became the second player in the franchise’s young history to rush for 100 yards in a game against the Eagles.

In the game at Forbes Field in Oakland, Dudley carried 13 times for 107 yards and a touchdown. Byron “Whizzer” White had recorded the team’s first 100-yard rushing performance in 1938.

Dudley went on to led the NFL in rushing with 696 yards and was named first-tee All-Pro as a rookie. He missed the next three seasons while serving in the Army as pilot.

The Steelers traded Dudley in 1947. He finished his career with the Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins.

After retiring, he worked for the Steelers and Lions as a scout. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966. He died in 2010.