I fully expected the Steelers to be 3-1 at the quarter point of the season. I just didn’t expect them to lose in Chicago and win in Baltimore. After last week’s debacle in the Windy City I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Black and Gold in Baltimore. Truth be told, I thought the Steelers would lose, since they almost always lose there. Hats off to the Steelers for controlling the play early and not folding when the Ravens got close in the second half. It was a big win for the Steelers. They’re 2-0 in the division and right where they need to be. And with the Pats losing again, they’re also sitting in a good position in the AFC standings too.
• Le’Veon Bell is back. I don’t know if Bell was just rusty from missing training camp, or if he still wasn’t completely healthy after his offseason surgery, but it’s obvious he was on his A Game against the Ravens. Bell picked his spots and ran with authority once he found the hole on his way to a 144 yard day that included two touchdown runs. The Steelers’ passing game is still a little off, so having an effective Bell is crucial for the Steelers. I also liked the way backup James Conner, the rookie from Pitt, came in to spell Le’Veon. Conner could really help keep Bell fresh while also contributing with his hard running style.
• IUP steamrolled Seton Hill on the road and can now look ahead to the showdown with California. It will be homecoming and Miller Stadium will be rocking. IUP put on an offensive clinic against the Griffins, rolling up 640 yards in total offense. They are firing on all cylinders. IUP has had some heartbreaking losses to Cal over the years. They won’t lose this time!
• Penn State beat Indiana at home, as expected. Still, the Nittany Lions offense struggled for much of the game. Penn State is winning, but quarterback Trace McSorley hasn’t been as consistent as he was last year when the Nittany Lions came out of nowhere to make it to the Rose Bowl. If the Penn State offense can get it together this team will be dangerous.
• Saquon Barkley can now be touted as a Heisman Trophy candidate. Penn State’s do it all running back returned the opening kickoff against Indiana 98 yards for a touchdown. He also threw for a touchdown in the game. The Hoosiers did a great job in shutting down Barkley on the ground, but he still had over 200 yards in total offense. Can you say, “Saquon for Heisman”?
• Pitt beat Rice on the road, which came as no surprise. Pitt won, but the Panthers still won’t say who will be their starting quarterback going forward. This is clearly a rebuilding year for the Panthers.
• Indiana High put it all together to win for the first time on Homecoming. Congrats to the Indians for their victory over Ambridge. Indiana finally put it together both offensively and defensively. It was great to see the kids win and have fun. Hopefully there are more wins down the road.
• The Pirates’ long nightmare of a season is over. It will go down in the books as a major league disappointing season. The Pirates fell apart in the second half of the year. There are too many people to blame to write in his blog. Let’s just say the Pirates let their fans down. If they want to keep those fans, they need to improve the ballclub over the winter. That means spending money, something this ownership group has been reluctant to do. I’m glad I’m not in the Pirates’ ticket sales department.
• The Pirates say that Andrew McCutchen will be back in center field in 2018. That was announced on the final day of the season. Still, many of the Pittsburgh media are convinced Cutch will be traded in the offseason. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is dealt, nor would I be surprised if Cutch plays out his contract as a Bucco. The offseason will certainly be interesting inside the front offices on Federal Street.
• The Pens start their quest for a third straight Stanley Cup this Wednesday at PPG Paints Arena. On paper the Pens have the team to go for another title, and they’ll be even better once they trade for a third line center. It’s tough to repeat in the salary cap era. Some believe it’s nearly impossible to win three times in a row these days. That should be motivation for guys like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
• OJ Simpson is now out of prison. Hopefully we’ll never hear from him again, but I know that won’t be the case. Perhaps now the Juice can continue his quest to find the killer of his ex wife and her friend.
