Post-Gazette Sports Network: Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates, Penguins and more

Week 15 victory against the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. What should we make of the defense's performance after it got timely stops but allowed Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry to pile up big rushing totals? Have T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Jalen Ramsey, Alex Highsmith and Co. turned a corner? Or does coach Mike Tomlin's unit still have work to do? Did officials get it right on two key calls that benefitted the Steelers? Including one that reversed an Isaiah Likely touchdown thanks to a heads up play by Joey Porter Jr.? Can Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Jaylen Warren, Kenneth Gainwell and Calvin Austin III maintain the momentum they established in the passing game? And are the Steelers now clear division favorites? Our duo tackles those questions and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Adam Bittner and Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise react LIVE to the Steelers' NFL Week 14 with the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. This show is presented by FanDuel. Can Aaron Rodgers bounce back from three injury-riddled weeks and make magic on offense aside names like DK Metcalf, Jaylen Warren, Kenneth Gainwell and Calvin Austin III? What difference will newly activated receivers Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling make for OC Arthur Smith's unit? And will tight ends Darnell Washington, Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith be more involved? Our duo tackles those questions and ponders the defense as well. Can T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Nick Herbig, Keeanu Benton, Payton Wilson and Patrick Queen do a better job of containing the run? Or will Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry run wild like James Cook of the Bills did last week? And how will Jalen Ramsey and coach Mike Tomlin's secondary perform? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On the Saturday episode of The North Shore Drive podcast presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Brian Batko look ahead to Sunday's massive AFC North matchup with the Ravens. Should Teryl Austin and Mike Tomlin focus all of the defense's efforts on stopping the run and let Lamar Jackson pass if he chooses? Plus, is Aaron Rodgers fully cooked or does he have anything left in him to get the Steelers to the playoffs? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Pirates have made their first major move of the offseason, acquiring top-100 prospect Jhostynxon Garcia and pitching prospect Jesus Travieso from the Red Sox for right-hander Johan Oviedo, catching prospect Adonys Guzman and left-hander Tyler Samaniego. Pirates insider Colin Beazley analyzes the move with Noah Hiles and look at where Garcia might fit in best. Could he be an opening day outfielder? And does trading Oviedo mean anything about the future of Mitch Keller? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Post-Gazette insider Jason Mackey and host King Jemison recap a wild Penguins win in Tampa Bay on Thursday night and discuss Erik Karlsson's major turnaround this season. Jason and King start off by discussing the play of Tristan Jarry, who made 37 saves and likely stole the Penguins a win after their all-around lackluster performance. Is this version of Jarry here to stay? Is the kid line featuring Ben Kindel and Ville Koivunen here to stay, too, after both scored against Tampa Bay? And despite the win, what warning signs were present throughout the game for Pittsburgh? They then get into Erik Karlsson's improved play this season. What's behind it? Was he just not the right fit with Mike Sullivan? What has Dan Muse done to bring out this new, improved version of the defenseman? Is he more engaged, with a notable improvement in his positioning and puck control? What do the stats and metrics say? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, host King Jemison welcomes Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise to discuss Mike Tomlin's future and the Steelers' chances against the Ravens on Sunday. On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, host King Jemison welcomes Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise to discuss the future of Mike Tomlin as Steelers coach. How likely is it the Steelers will win? Is they too bad on both sides of the ball right now? Or could the Ravens' many faults rear their ugly heads, as well? Should Steelers fans even want their team to win these games down the stretch? Or should they want an extended bad run that could lead to a change in leadership or a better draft pick? Our duo answers those questions and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Gerry Dulac and Ray Fittipaldo have a practice report from the team's facility ahead of its NFL Week 14 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens. What should we make of the Steelers coordinators' comments on Thursday? Does Arthur Smith have the correct level of urgency? Have we reached the point of the season when he should focus on getting his best players on the field — i.e., Pat Freiermuth, Jaylen Warren, DK Metcalf, etc. — rather than focusing on situational football? What role will Adam Thielen play, and what can they even get out of the 35-year-old wide receiver? Is Teryl Austin's run defense ready? Or should we expect another performance like the one we say Sunday vs. Buffalo or in last season's wild card game against the Ravens? Will they be able to stop Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry? How can defensive backs like Joey Porter Jr. help the run defense? And is Yahya Black up to the challenge? Our duo answers those questions and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Abby Schnable break down Pat Narduzzi's newest recruiting class now that national signing day has passed. What are their takeaways from the class as a whole? What can we expect from the two Texas-born quarterbacks, Angelo Renda and Corey Dailey? Outside of those two, why did the class so heavily feature Pennsylvania and Florida players? Which players could make an impact right away in 2026? And how do this year's freshman, like QB Mason Heintschel, RB Ja'Kyrian Turner and DB Shawn Lee Jr. show that recruiting is still vital for Pitt, even in the age of the transfer portal? Our duo answers those questions and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On the Thursday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel, host Noah Hiles and Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo dive deeper into QB Aaron Rodgers' comments and preview Sunday's huge game against the Ravens in Baltimore. Noah and Ray take a look at Rodgers' comments, both from after the game on Sunday and then at his availability on Wednesday. What did he say, but more importantly, how did he say it? Can we read between the lines to ascertain anything about the state of the Steelers offense? What is left to say? Noah and Ray then move on to discuss the Adam Thielen waiver claim. Where does he fit into the Steelers offense? How much of a difference could the 35-year-old wide receiver actually make? Whose spot does he take — Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson or someone else? And how much playing time can we realistically expect for him Sunday? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Live around 5 p.m., Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise analyzes the Steelers' crucial NFL Week 14 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Specifically, he ponders which team is the bigger AFC North disappointment so far. Do Mike Tomlin, Aaron Rodgers, T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Jalen Ramsey, DK Metcalf and Co. deserve the most criticism for blowing an early-season division lead? Or are John Harbaugh, Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and Marlon Humphrey guilty of seemingly fumbling Super Bowl expectations? Paul tackles those questions, then gives his thoughts on the matchup itself. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Brian Batko and Ray Fittipaldo have a practice report from the team's facility ahead of its NFL Week 14 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens. What should we make of recent roster moves? Will Darius Slay be missed in the secondary? How well will Asante Samuel Jr. fill his spot on the roster? Where does veteran Adam Thielen fit into a receivers room that includes DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson and Marquez Valdes-Scantling? And how are T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Keeanu Benton, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Yahya Black and other front-seven members working to improve the run defense that was shredded last week by James Cook and the Buffalo Bills? Our duo tackles those questions and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On their weekly Serving Up Pitt volleyball podcast, presented by FanDuel, Post-Gazette insider Abby Schnable and former Panthers standout Cat Flood recap the season, especially the last couple of weeks. What was Dan Fisher's squad able to work on and course correct before heading into the NCAA tournament? How were the Panthers able to fix their serve-receive and their ability to close out sets? What were some of their highs, like beating Louisville twice, and some of their lows throughout the year? Plus Abby and Cat get into some awards talk after Olivia Babcock repeated as ACC Player of the Year and Bre Kelley earned Defensive Player of the Year honors. Could Babcock repeat as National Player of the Year? Cat also gives some perspective on the upcoming NCAA tournament as someone who was at Pitt for four Final Fours. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette/Daily Collegian Nittany Lions insider Isaiah Maldonado to react to a busy week of Penn State coaching news. This show is presented by FanDuel. Specifically, they focus on the state of the search after Kalani Sitake's reported extension with BYU that keeps him with the Cougars after he'd emerged as Penn State AD Pat Kraft's reported top choice. How much damage has this miss done to the program? Will Penn State now face a prolonged rebuilding job? Or can some of the improvement of the James Franklin era be salvaged? Putting Penn State in position to compete for Big Ten titles and College Football Playoff appearances within the next couple of years? And what should Kraft's future be in his role after apparently bungling the two-month head start on the search he'd given himself by firing Franklin midseason? Our duo tackles those questions, then possible remaining candidates including former New York Giants coach Brian Daboll, Louisville’s Jeff Brohm, interim coach Terry Smith and James Madison’s Bob Chesney. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Post-Gazette Penguins insider Jason Mackey welcomes King Jemison to the channel to discuss everything around the team, including King's upcoming feature on first-round draft pick Will Horcoff. Is the Penguins' start to the season sustainable? Are they a legitimate playoff threat in a very, very crowded Eastern conference? How has Dan Muse been able to surprise everyone, and what are the actual differences in the team between him and Mike Sullivan? Jason and King discuss what to do with the goaltending situation. Is Tristan Jarry an All-Star? And is now the time to trade him, with Edmonton rumors swirling, even though he's been fantastic for them this season? What message would that send to the dressing room? And are Arturs Silovs or Sergei Murashov ready to step into the No. 1 goalie's skates? Jason and King finish off by talking about Sidney Crosby's vintage torturous performance on Monday against the Flyers; players like Justin Brazeau and Noel Acciari likely re-entering the fold soon; and the Penguins' reinvigorated fourth line. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Abby Schnable break down the Panthers' 81-73 loss to Texas A&M on Tuesday night at Petersen Events Center in the ACC/SEC Men's Challenge. Why couldn't Pitt pay off a sometimes encouraging performance? Is Jeff Capel's team deep enough for ACC play beyond main guys like Cam Corhen, considering they only really played seven guys against the high-tempo Aggies? Where would this team be if not for Damarco Minor's buzzer beater to beat Ohio State? Is fatigue already setting in? And with overpassing a problem Wednesday night, how can they ensure Minor, Barry Dunning Jr., Omari Witherspoon, Brandin Cummings and others are being aggressive? Our duo answers those questions and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Christopher Carter to analyze T.J. Watt's recent play ahead of an NFL Week 14 matchup with the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens. Is Watt's play as bad as his critics seem to think? Or has he been better than he's given credit for with sky-high expectations? Are his most dominant days behind him? Or is he reliant on teammates including Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Cam Heyward, Keeanu Benton and Derrick Harmon around him to find room to make plays? And what does the Steelers defense need from him to reach the NFL playoffs? Our duo ponders those questions plus OC Arthur Smith's tight end usage. Why has Pat Freiermuth's role been so diminished? Is Jonnu Smith getting more playing time for valid reasons? Or is he just Smith's personal favorite? Why should the pass catching pecking order be behind DK Metcalf for names like Freiermuth, Smith, Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson and Darnell Washington? And to what extent have the TEs failed to live up to preseason expectations? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Live around 5 p.m., Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise weighs in on the Steelers' losing skid of five losses in their last seven games. This show is presented by FanDuel. Specifically, he gives his thoughts on whether the preseason concerns about old age are proving valid. Do guys like Aaron Rodgers, Jalen Ramsey, Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt still have the ability to life this roster to an AFC North title and NFL playoffs appearance? Or have their abilities to transcend losing streaks diminished. And is it reasonable to expect younger players including Joey Porter Jr., Patrick Queen, Jaylen Warren, Darnell Washington and others to step up in the closing weeks of the season? Paul tackles those questions, plus the highlights from coach Mike Tomlin's weekly news conference Tuesday. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Colin Beazley analyzes manager Don Kelly's coaching hires this MLB offseason. This show is presented by FanDuel. Will Bill Murphy be the right fit as pitching coach? Mentoring young hurlers including Paul Skenes, Jared Jones, Bubba Chandler, Braxton Ashcraft and Mike Burrows? Will third base coach Tony Beazley be a positive influence in his return to Pittsburgh? And what will bench coach Kristopher Negron bring to the equation? Colin tackles those questions; details GM Ben Cherington's changes to the 40-man roster ahead of the MLB winter meetings next week; and ponders what a potential lockout a year from now could have on the sport -- and the franchise. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On his weekly Chipped Ham & Football podcast, presented by FanDuel, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Ed Bouchette to sort through the team's losing skid. What are their chances in a crucial AFC North Week 14 battle with the Baltimore Ravens this week. Will T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Jalen Ramsey, Joey Porter Jr. and the defense have answers for Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry? Or will they struggle against the run like they did against Josh Allen, James Cook at the Bills? What is Mike Tomlin's future as coach if this collapse continues? Could his job be in any serious jeopardy? Or will manager Art Rooney II and GM Omar Khan continue to stand by him? What has Ed observed from Aaron Rodgers, Jaylen Warren, DK Metcalf and the offense? And what are the chances this team finishes with a losing season? Our duo tackles those questions and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Post-Gazette Pitt football insiders Stephen Thompson and Abby Schnable break down the possibilities for the Panthers' upcoming bowl game and which potential opponent they could face up against. Where should Pitt want to go, and who should they want to face? Is a rivalry matchup against Penn State a legitimate possibility? Are there any marquee programs out there they could meet up with? How can Pat Narduzzi's Panthers send Desmond Reid and the other seniors out on a high note while also getting freshmen like Mason Heintschel, Ja'Kyrian Turner and Shawn Lee Jr. more reps? Can Heintschel's connection with Kenny Johnson grow in Kade Bell's offense? Plus, Stephen and Abby preview Pitt basketball's Tuesday matchup with Texas A&M. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.