Steelers Daily News & Links: Rudolph among NFL’s Best, Harris Praised

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.

? Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph started only three games this season. Yet he had the same amount of starts with a 110+ passer rating (3) as Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert.

? Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has the highest grade against playoff teams this season (94.5), according to Pro Football Focus. Allen completed 66.5 percent of his passes for 4,306 yards with 29 touchdowns, 18 interceptions, and a 92.2 quarterback rating in the regular season. He also had a career-high 15 rushing touchdowns. Allen leads the league in total touchdowns (44) and total yards(4,830) this season. 

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? Steelers All-Pro outside linebacker T.J Watt thanked his teammates and coaches for helping him become the NFL sack leader once again.

“Not possible without my coaches and teammates‼️‼️‼️,” Watt wrote on X.

? Donny Football of 93.7 The Fan posted a throwback of when the Steelers’ backups ended the Bills’ playoff dreams in Week 17 of the 2004 season. A rookie named Willie Parker ran for 100+ in the win. Steelers legend James Harrison, who was unknown at the time, recovered a fumble and scored.

? Snow is expected in Buffalo on Sunday for the Steelers-Bills Wild Card Round game. AccuWeather is projecting a high of 24*F with 3.5 inches of snow and winds of 28 mph, including gusts of up to 50 mph.

? Najee Harris is the highest-graded player on the Steelers offense since Week 15 (85.0), according to Pro Football Focus. Harris was named FedEx Ground Player of the Week for his performance against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 17. He had an encore performance against the Baltimore Ravens in the regular-season finale, rushing for 112 yards on 26 carries (4.3 average) and a touchdown. It was the first time in Harris’ career that he’s rushed for over 100 yards in back-to-back games.

? Happy Birthday to former Steelers offensive tackle Jamain Stephens, born on January 9, 1974 in Lumberton, North Carolina. Stephens was selected by the Steelers in the first round out of North Carolina A&T in the 1996 NFL Draft. Stephens only lasted three seasons in Pittsburgh and was cut on the first day of training camp in 1999 for failing the conditioning test. Stephens showed up overweight and failed to complete a series of 40-yard runs that were traditional on the first day of camp under Bill Cowher. He nearly collapsed after the 11th of 14 scheduled runs, then barely walked through the remaining ones. Cowher was so disgusted by this embarrassing display that he cut Stephens hours later. 

? NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks believe the Steelers are winning right now because of their rookies.

NEWS FROM AROUND THE SPORTS NOW NETWORK

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: It’s always a battle, but the Penguins triumphed over the Flyers, 4-1.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: It looks like the second-base battle will be a key spring storyline for the Pirates.

Pittsburgh Sports Now: Pitt football is well represented in the NFL playoffs.

West Virginia Sports Now: West Virginia lands a transfer safety from Old Dominion.

Nittany Sports Now: PSU great and Hopewell native Paul Poszluszny has been selected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Pittsburgh Soccer Now: Pittsburgh Riverhounds top goal-scorer Albert Dikwa remains unsigned.