Steelers Daily Links: Cleats for a Cause, Remembering Falcons Tie

The Pittsburgh Steelers are wearing cleats for a cause this week, remember the Steelers’ epic tie with the Atlanta Falcons in 2002 and fallout from Thursday Night Football.

🏈 The Buffalo Bills easily beat the New England Patriots, 24-10 on Thursday Night Football. It was Buffalo’s first win in the AFC East. New England is now 6-6 and has lost two straight. The Steelers need to keep rooting for the Pats to lose to preserve their narrow playoff odds. Shouldn’t be a tough ask for most fans.

🏈 Pitt and Central Catholic alum Damar Hamlin was ejected for this hit on Patriots wide receiver Jakobi Meyers in the fourth quarter.

Bills safety Damar Hamlin was ejected after this hit on Patriots wide receiver Jakobi Meyers. 🏈 #TNF pic.twitter.com/2JkpALjJ3U

— The Comeback (@thecomeback) December 2, 2022

🏈 For the seventh consecutive year, the NFL is allowing players to represent a charity through the My Cause My Cleats initiative. Players will be permitted to wear them in Week 13 and Week 14. Kenny Pickett will support the Mya Lin Terry Foundation, which provides grants for families dealing with pediatric cancer. It’s a charity that hits close to home for Pickett, as Mya Lin Terry was his younger cousin. She was diagnosed with cancer at an early age, battling the disease for five and a half years before she lost that battle when she was only 10 years old.

🏈 Pat Freiermuth helped 961 KISS Radio with the annual Stuff-a-Bus Toy Drive to collect gifts for families in need before Christmas.

🏈 The Steelers are 3-1 with T.J. Watt this season and 1-6 without the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. In addition, the Steelers have produced 11 takeaways and 14 sacks when Watt plays compared to five takeaways and eight sacks when he’s absent. The Watt effect is real.

🏈 Kenny Pickett is tied with Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray for the fewest yards per completion this season at 9.14.

🏈 The Steelers are tied with the Atlanta Falcons for the most receptions of 20+ yards allowed this season (45). Pittsburgh ranks 30th in passing yards allowed (263.7), while Atlanta ranks 28th (255.6). Kenny Pickett and Marcus Mariota could have big games on Sunday.

🏈 With the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception coming up later this month, the NFL Twitter account shared a quote from Franco Harris on the play. “When I see the film and see how low the ball is, I say, ‘Well, nobody catches a ball like that, that low, you don’t bend over like that,” Harris said. “You either dive for it, go down.’ If I would have done that, the game would have been over. If I would have broken stride, I would have been tackled and never made it to the end zone.”

🏈 Deshaun Watson looked rusty in his first practice as the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback after serving a 11-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Watson will make his season debut on Sunday against his former team the Texans in Houston. Around ten women, along with their attorney, Tony Buzbee, will be inside a suite at NRG Stadium for the 1 p.m ET game, according to The Athletic.

🏈 Cam Heyward lost a bet with Chris Wormley over the Michigan-Ohio State game, as the former Buckeye wore a Michigan sweatshirt on Thursday while speaking with the media. Wormley is a Michigan product.

🏈 93.7 The Fan producer Donny Chedrick chronicled the Steelers’ unforgettable 34-34 tie with the Falcons in 2002.

This is how the greatest tie in NFL history ended.

Steelers-Falcons 2002

• Steelers led 34-17 in 4th quarter, then Michael Vick happened…
• blocked FG gave PIT one last play
• Maddox: 28-41, 473 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT
• Burress: 9 rec, 253 yds, 2 TD
• Ward: 11 rec, 139 yds, TD pic.twitter.com/OW5LatocdZ

— Donny Football (@DonChed54) December 1, 2022

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STEELERS SCHEDULE

🏈 The Steelers locker room will open to the media at 10:45 a.m. Practice starts at 12:15 p.m. and runs to 2:15 p.m. — Alan Saunders, Nick Farabaugh, Ed Thompson

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