North Shore Drive podcast - Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates, Penguins and more

On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to react to the Steelers' NFL Week 13 win against the Bengals in Cincinnati. Did Russell Wilson and the offense prove they're finding the balance they've long sought? What does it mean that Wilson is getting so many different targets involved in the passing game, from George Pickens, to Calvin Austin III, to Pat Freiermuth? How much credit does Najee Harris deserve for his efficiency in the running game? And are Broderick Jones, Dan Moore Jr. and the offensive line finding their groove after shutting down dangerous Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson? Our duo tackles those questions, then talks defense. Did turnovers forced by T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig make up for some missed opportunities for the pass rush in previous games? How should we balance the big plays on defense with the fact that they gave up over 30 points? And are Joey Porter Jr.'s five penalties in the game a concern? Then later, Chris and Ray wrap the show by analyzing Pickens' unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and ponder where the Steelers fit in the AFC North race with the Ravens after they lost to the Eagles on Sunday.

On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey reacts to the Steelers' NFL Week 13 victory against the Bengals in Cincinnati. How important was it for coach Mike Tomlin's team to prove it could win a shootout, with Russell Wilson outdueling Bengals QB Joe Burrow? And does that ability make this team an AFC contender with the Chiefs and Bills? Jason tackles those questions, analyzes rough days with penalties for George Pickens and Joey Porter Jr. and praises the offensive line as well as T.J. Watt, Nick Herbig and the ferocious pass rush that forced Burrow into two strip sack fumbles and an interception.

Post-Gazette sports writers Adam Bittner and Paul Zeise react live after the Steelers' NFL Week 13 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. How did George Pickens, Russell Wilson, Najee Harris and the offense bounce back from an uneven Week 12 outing against the Browns? Were Joey Porter Jr., Minkah Fitzpatrick and other members of the secondary about to contain Bengals stars Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins? How did T.J. Watt, Nick Herbig and the pass rush perform? And how did OC Arthur Smith decide to deploy his Justin Fields package this time?

Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Gerry Dulac and Ray Fittipaldo react to the team's NFL Week 13 victory against the Bengals in Cincinnati, in which QB Russell Wilson passed for over 400 yards. How dangerous can this offense be with Wilson at the helm? And to what degree has he transformed this unit in his image in just six games under OC Arthur Smith? How important were RBs Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris to Wilson's big day? And how much credit does Wilson deserve for getting lots of targets involved, including George Pickens, Calvin Austin III and Pat Freiermuth? Our duo tackles those topics and also reacts to the defensive performance, noting big days from players including T.J. Watt, Nick Herbig and Donte Jackson in slowing the dynamic Bengals trio of Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Christopher Carter break down the Panthers' 34-23 season-finale loss to Boston College on Saturday afternoon, with Stephen reporting from Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Mass. It's time for a postmortem — what all went wrong in the Panthers' season-ending five-game losing streak? What areas does Pat Narduzzi need to shore up heading into next season? How did Narduzzi's postgame comments miss the mark? How can Pitt fix its offensive line depth problems that have plagued it for multiple seasons now? What will this team look like next year? And what kind of bowl game appearance should the Panthers be expecting? Our duo tackles those topics and more.

Post-Gazette/Daily Collegian Penn State insiders Joel Haas and Lyle Alenstein break down the Nittany Lions' 44-7 win over Maryland on Saturday afternoon from Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa. Was this latest blowout a good sign of things to come as the Nittany Lions prepare for an unlikely Big Ten title game appearance? How did star tight end and Mackey award candidate Tyler Warren perform in the regular season finale? Did Drew Allar and Andy Kotelnicki's offense do enough to make a run against No. 1 Oregon? What did Nick Singleton do to get the run game going? And what does this win — and Ohio State's stunning loss to Michigan — mean for Penn State's College Football Playoff positioning? Our duo tackles those topics and more.

Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Christopher Carter break down the Panthers' 91-90 overtime win over Ohio State on Friday afternoon, with Chris reporting from Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio. Could this big nonconference road victory, keyed by Zack Austin's buzzer-beating 3-pointer, be a resume builder for the Panthers come March? How did Pitt get so much production from its depth pieces, led by Austin and Papa Kante? What led to point guard Jaland Lowe's 28-point performance? How did Pitt muster up the resiliency to come back from as many as 12 points down in the second half? And did the team pass its first test without Damian Dunn, who will be out for a month-and-a-half with ankle and hand injuries? Our duo tackles those topics and more.

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news around 5 p.m. EST. Should the Steelers worry about losing OC Arthur Smith this offseason? His name has already been linked to some open college and NFL jobs, and many more vacancies are expected to open soon. What grade should he get for the job he's done in the wake of Matt Canada's struggles? And how much more potential does this unit have with pieces like QB Russell Wilson, QB Justin Fields, WR George Pickens, TE Pat Freiermuth and RB Najee Harris, who are all still healthy late in the season? Paul tackles those questions, reacts to Thanksgiving Day action around the NFL, and previews a packed slate of weekend games, including the Steelers traveling to battle the Bengals, the Buffalo Bills facing the San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles clashing with the Baltimore Ravens. If you haven’t already, subscribe to the sports department’s YouTube channel so you don’t miss a video with our reporters, columnists and their special guests.

On the Friday mailbag edition of his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey breaks down the reasons why the Bengals scare him ahead of Week 13 when the Steelers visit Cincinnati on Sunday afternoon. Jason also talks about the Penguins needing to build on Wednesday's performance before getting into reader questions, including who he believes is the franchise's best all-time goalkeeper. Then, he tackles a number of baseball topics, including the cap/floor in MLB's next CBA, Johan Oviedo's future role, Nick Gonzales at shortstop and the Pirates' 2025 starting rotation. For more sports, visit post-gazette.com.

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko to preview an important NFL Week 13 showdown with the Bengals. Is it time for TE Pat Freiermuth to feast on this Cincinnati secondary again after dominating it at Paycor Stadium last season? And should we be expecting more from names including Najee Harris and Mike Williams? Later, our duo gives their picks of favorite Thanksgiving foods and key matchups from around the NFL, including Chargers-Falcons, Cardinals-Vikings, Eagles-Ravens and Bills-49ers. Then they give their predictions for the Steelers game as coach Mike Tomlin, QB Russell Wilson and Co. look to bounce back from the loss to the Browns.

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news around 5 p.m. Eastern. Specifically, he gives his thoughts on a report from the Athletic's Diana Russini that the team plans to re-sign QB Russell Wilson. Is that the right move, given what we've seen from him so far? Or should GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin wait for more results? And what would such a move mean for Justin Fields' future in Pittsburgh? Should the front office attempt to keep him as well? Or look elsewhere for a backup? Paul answers those questions and more ahead of a crucial NFL Week 13 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals. Then later, he weighs in on the Thanksgiving Day slate of games that includes Bears-Lions, Giants-Cowboys and Dolphins-Packers.

On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey offers his thoughts on the struggling Penguins. Why are the next few games crucial if expectations remain to get Sidney Crosby, Evgani Malkin and Kris Letang into the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs? And how much heat does GM Kyle Dubas deserve for the club's slow start amid intense speculation about coach Mike Sullivan's job? Then later, Jason talks Steelers and Penguins. What should we make of coach Mike Tomlin's handling of WR George Pickens' latest sideline outburst vs. the Browns? How critical should we be of his late-game use of Justin Fields in NFL Week 12 at Cleveland? And who should Pirates GM Ben Cherington target to play right field as the MLB free agency hot stove gets fired up?

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to talk Steelers ahead of a crucial NFL Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. What can coach Mike Tomlin and OC Arthur Smith do to fix the red zone issues that have surfaced the last few games? Or is better execution from key players including Russell Wilson, Najee Harris, George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth the simple answer? Later, our duo turns attention to the defense. Is T.J. Watt doing enough as the pass rush has struggled to get to opposing quarterbacks in recent weeks? Or does he need to do more to lead the group that includes Nick Herbig and Preston Smith in the absence of Alex Highsmith? And how should we evaluate the work Minkah Fitzpatrick has been doing in the secondary? Should he be making more big plays? Or is the way he denies offense wide swaths of the field valuable in its own right?

On his weekly Chipped Ham & Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider welcomes ESPN Bengals reporter Ben Baby to preview the teams' NFL Week 13 matchup. What has gone wrong for the Cincinnati secondary this season? And is it one that Russell Wilson, George Pickens, Pat Freiermuth and OC Arthur Smith's passing game can exploit? How does Pickens match up with Bengals CB Cam Taylor-Britt specifically? And how dangerous is Trey Hendrickson as he's having a T.J. Watt-like season? And how much does the return of Tee Higgins help a Bengals passing game that was already humming with QB Joe Burrow and WR Ja'Marr Chase ahead of a battle with Watt, Cam Heyward, Minkah Fitzpatrick and the Steelers defense? Out duo tackles those questions and more.

On their weekly Pitt football mailbag video, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson answer reader questions. Among them: Did coach Pat Narduzzi leave the door open to Eli Holstein returning from injury in 2024? Either for the regular season finale this week against Boston College or the Panthers' bowl game? What is RB Rodney Hammond's future with the program? And on the basketball side, who does coach Jeff Capel need to step up amid the injury to Damian Dunn with a big game against Ohio State looming?

On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey looks ahead to the Steelers' NFL Week 13 matchup with Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and the Cincinnati Bengals. Is Joey Porter Jr. the defense's key player as it looks to shut that duo down twice in the final six games? Do we need to see more from him with other tough games looming against the Eagles, Chiefs and Ravens? Could the Steelers lose OC Arthur Smith to the New York Giants, who are looking for a new coach? And how much concern should fans have about George Pickens following his latest outburst in Cleveland vs. Greg Newsome II and the Browns? Jason tackles those topics, then talks some Penguins. Has the franchise become little more than a nostalgia tour for stars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang as their careers wind down on a hapless team?

On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey ponders the Steelers' NFL Week 13 matchup with Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and the AFC North rival Bengals this week in Cincinnati. Can coach Mike Tomlin, DC Teryl Austin and players including safety Minkah Fitzpatrick fix pass defense issues that crept up in the Week 12 loss to Jameis Winston and the Cleveland Browns? And how will the Justin Fields package be deployed at QB, particularly in big moments late in the game? Will he be given the chance to throw again? Or will OC Arthur Smith save those opportunities for Russell Wilson? Later, Jason ponders a report about Russell Wilson's future in Pittsburgh and reacts to the Pirates' moves to non-tender players including Connor Joe and Bryan De La Cruz.

On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko to react to receiver George Pickens' latest outburst in his team's NFL Week 12 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Was the scrap with Browns CB Greg Newsome II just the latest example of Pickens failing to lose with grace? Or does coach Mike Tomlin have a bigger behavioral issue on his hands? How do Pickens' maturity issues compare to headaches created by predecessors like Antonio Brown and Chase Claypool? And is Pickens feeling the pressure of being the Steelers' one consistent receiver to this point, with Calvin Austin III, Mike Williams and Van Jefferson all struggling to draw regular targets? Our duo tackles those questions and more in the later segments. Including: Should we worry about the defense in late-game scenarios now that it's yielded final drive touchdowns in three of its last six outings? Is the unit too reliant on T.J. Watt to make game-clinching plays? Should Russell Wilson and the Steelers really be underdogs to Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and the Bengals this week? What should we make of Week 12 results involving the Chiefs, Texans and Broncos? And what should we watch for in the AFC North rival Ravens' Monday Night Football matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers?

Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Christopher Carter break down the Panthers' 37-9 loss to Louisville on Saturday afternoon, with Stephen reporting from L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium in Louisville, Ky. Simply put: What happened to the Panthers' once promising season? How exactly did the wheels come off during this four-game losing streak? What does Eli Holstein's injury mean for the Panthers for the rest of this season — and beyond? Why has Kade Bell's high-powered offense slowed down in recent weeks? And what does this mean for Pat Narduzzi's program heading into next season? Our duo tackles those topics and more.

Post-Gazette/Daily Collegian Penn State insiders Joel Haas and Lyle Alenstein break down the Nittany Lions' 26-25 win over Minnesota on Saturday afternoon from Huntington Bank Stadium in Minnesota. How were the Golden Gophers able to give the Nittany Lions such a scare? How did Drew Allar perform? Why can't the Nittany Lions running backs seem to put together a solid game? What led to James Franklin's gutsy fake punt call on the game-sealing drive? And what does this result mean for Penn State's College Football Playoff chances? Our duo tackles those topics and more.