Steelers Daily News & Links: Flacco Beats Pickett, Mendenhall Tells All

Alan Saunders |

Updated: Dec 30, 2023

Steelers Browns — Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco passes against the New York Jets during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Steelers Daily News & Links: Your daily stop for all of the news and links from the Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL and around the Sports Now Group.

? Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall talked about his fumble in Super Bowl XLV that still haunts him to this day on The Pivot Podcast. Mendenhall says the fumble is attached to his name and the simple mention of the word evokes a feeling of anger in him.

Former teammate Ryan Clark also https://twitter.com/Realrclark25/status/1740904725015302525″>apologized

for a past comment that Mendenhall’s fumble was the reason the Steelers lost to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV. Mendenhall told him that his comments absolutely crushed him.

How can one negative play define a man that excelled on the football field his entire life? Just ask former @steelers running back @R_Mendenhall. He feels the ramifications of Hoos Super Bowl 45 fumble daily.

He says the play, “is attached to my name”. The simple mention of the… pic.twitter.com/VRtBoS9mHn

— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) December 29, 2023

? Steelers All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt joined his brother J.J. (2014) and Jared Allen (2011) as the only players since 1982 (when the individual sack became an official statistic) to record 17 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, 30 quarterback hits, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in a season.

T.J. Watt, 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Candidate

Sacks: 17.0, 1st
QB hits: 33, t-1st
Fumble Recoveries: 3, t-2nd
Forced Fumbles: 4, t-5th
Tackles for Loss: 16, t-6th#HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/zzwrwETXYX

— Michael Bertsch (@SteelersPRMike) December 29, 2023

New customers to ESPN Bet can get a free $250 bet with any new signup. Click the link and use promo code STEEL to get an extra $50 off, exclusively for Steelers Now readers.

? In just five games, Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco’s 13 touchdown passes https://twitter.com/MySportsUpdate/status/1740590272117866814″>are

more than five NFL teams, including the Steelers, who have 12 touchdown passes this year. Flacco also has the https://twitter.com/SN_Ohio/status/1740804597193617688″>same

amount of touchdown passes in five games this year as Kenny Pickett in 24 career starts (25 games).

? Joe Flacco is the https://twitter.com/NFLonCBS/status/1740775639345717744″>only

quarterback to throw for 300+ yards and multiple touchdowns in four consecutive games this season. The Browns are also the https://twitter.com/search?q=browns%20four%20quarterbacks&src=typed_query&f=top”>first

team in NFL history to make the playoffs after starting four different quarterbacks in the same season.

? Friday marked the 49th anniversary of the Steelers’ 24-13 win over the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship Game, punching their ticket to the franchise’s first Super Bowl. The Steel Curtain held the Raiders to 29 yards on 21 carries.

21 Raider carries, 29 Raider yards

The Steel Curtain in Oakland

The #Steelers' 1974 AFC Championship

December 29, 1974 pic.twitter.com/If6fxHYiM7

— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) December 30, 2023

? Steel City Star looked back at the Steelers’ only win in Seattle, which took place on Oct. 23, 1983.

The only time the Steelers won in Seattle was 40 years ago.

In that game, Keith Willis was the defensive star.

He recorded a career-high 3.5 sacks while also forcing 2 fumbles. pic.twitter.com/QB14BNQEZM

— Steel City Star (@steelcitystar) December 30, 2023

? Happy Birthday to former Steelers running back Trey Edmunds, born on December 30, 1994 in Danville, Virginia. Edmunds, the brother of Steelers first-round pick in 2018 Terrell Edmunds, was with the team for four seasons (2018-2021) before he was released on July 26, 2022. Edmunds was predominantly a special teams player during his tenure with the Steelers. He rushed for 92 yards on 22 carries in 2019.

? With Sunday’s matchup being a rematch of Super Bowl XL, Fox Sports posted a throwback to one of the best gadget plays in Super Bowl history… Antwaan Randle El to Hines Ward for a 43-yard game-sealing touchdown.

Throwback to one of the best gadget plays in Super Bowl history… Antwaan Randle El to Hines Ward 🔥

Catch Steelers vs. Seahawks on New Years Eve at 4 PM ET on FOX

(🎥 @NFLLegacy) pic.twitter.com/1uDQ4NQoRt

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 28, 2023