This past weekend may have been crazier than last and that is saying something. So many big games were played and saw some major upsets as well as potentially the fall of a dynasty. We will give you the full weekend recap with our reactions to all the major games.
Steelers– The Steelers win at home against the Miami Dolphins. A big tribute to their success, before the game even started, has to be the fact that the Dolphins are used to playing in a much hotter and nicer climate. The Dolphins showed an offensive spurt at the start of the game, but once the Steelers read their defense the first time, they continued to stop them on every play. The chemistry continued to spark between Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf when Rodgers gave him, let’s just say not the best pass, the ball was more behind DK than anything, but DK not only caught it but juked away the defenders and kept plowing through the defense to the endzone. Now the person who needs more recognition during this play is Calvin Austin who blocked Miami Dolphins Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Minkah was probably going to get the tackle, but Calvin Austin did not let him. The Steelers play the Detroit Lions in Detroit on Sunday. This will be a hard game for the Steelers as what feels like in forever they are the away team. The Lions’ brutal offense is likely going to slice right through the so-called “steel curtained” defense. I just don’t think the Steelers hold the ability to have that nickname anymore. Nowadays the Steelers defense is literally made of people who every time they played each other they caused problems and fought each other.
Penguins– In both of the games the pens played, Saturday and Sunday, they have blown two huge leads. Saturday’s game against the San Jose Sharks, they led 5-1 with fifteen minutes left in the 3rd period and ended up losing the game 6-5 in overtime, with John Klingberg scoring the game winning goal for the sharks. The collapse of the Pens late in games needs to be studied because the amount of games that they have blown with big leads is insane. They allowed 2 goals, one minute in between both, under 3 minutes to play in the game. Those 2 goals in the final minutes were the determining factor that sent the game to overtime. That just can’t happen. Maybe they will learn from their mistakes for Sunday against the Utah Mammoth; So yeah that didn’t happen at all. Heading into the 3rd period the Pens led the game 3-0. Everything was going right for them, with the defense playing great, with goalie Sergei Murashov having a good day up to that point with him making a ton of great saves. The Mammoth would then score 4 straight times in the first 7 minutes of the 3rd period to take a 4-3 lead. Pens looked stunned and looked like they couldn’t get anything going defensively. Late in the 3rd, Justin Brazeau came up big scoring for Pittsburgh to tie the game at 4 and sent the game to overtime. Back to back Overtime games for the penguins; What could go wrong? Well 42 seconds into the overtime period Dylan Guenther scored the winning goal for Utah and won their 16th game of the season. The Pens now 14-8-9 are sitting in a very weird spot. They have lost 5 straight with 4 of them being in OT or in a shootout. They sit 1 point outside of a wildcard spot but if they don’t figure out these late game woes it will not be a pretty rest of the season.
Pitt Basketball– The Panthers traveled to their old Big East rivals, Villanova to take them on in a non conference matchup and one of the last for both teams before conference play. Pitt came out fighting with them keeping it close with the Wildcats and the main takeaway from the early minutes was that Pitt was hitting their shots and they were winning the rebounding game. They led the game 28-24 and that would be their largest lead of the game. They would keep going back and forth until Villanova pulled late in the first half, creating turnovers to give them a 41-32 lead. That was probably one of the most solid first half’s Pitt has played this year and showed some good signs especially shooting wise. Barry Dunning started the second half scoring 8 straight points to cut the Villanova lead to 4. The Wildcats then could not be stopped at all and they went on a huge run to give them a 17 point lead. The Panthers tried to create some kind of comeback, but it was too little too late as they would lose by 18. The wound gets bigger for Pitt and it is frustrating for all fans. They can’t seem to find any rhythm and it feels like that Ohio State game was just a fluke. They will play Penn State next week and I am praying they beat the Nittany Lions. I can’t see Penn State beat them in basketball, I just can’t. Hopefully they can pull something out and beat the Nittany Lions next Saturday but will first have to play Binghamton, Wednesday night.
Shaler Boys Basketball – North Hills- The boys basketball team traveled to North Hills to face the Indians Wednesday. The Indians made it a dog fight taking down Shaler 83-80. Shaler came out of the gates hot, dismantling the Indians defense with some tuff shots from Jordan epps and Deron Nixon, Shaler had a 20 point lead going into the half. However in the second half Shaler’s lead was destroyed by North Hills who played a much better offensive half scoring around 30 points on the fastbreak. The game came down to the wire but it was really Shaler’s lack of defense and transition defense that led to the loss. Armstrong – Shaler headed to Armstong Friday night what was set to be a huge game for both Armstrong and Shaler being the first game of section play. From the jump it was clear Shaler had much more talent and athleticism than Armstrong. Shaler played great second half defense that overwhelmed the Riverhawks in the transition and in the half court. Again Jordan Epps and Deron Nixon made some really tough shots to help elevate the Titans above the Riverhawks. Overall this was a great performance for Shaler who played much better defense in the transition taking home their first section win of the season beating the Hawks 65-41. The Titans will take on Aquinas at home tonight.
Shaler Girls Basketball– The girls varsity basketball team defeated the Pine Richland Rams in a thriller 45-40 in overtime. It was a back and forth game all throughout the game and was pulled to OT. The girls would pull it out by 5 in a close battle in overtime to improve to 5-1 on the new season. They will play Chartiers Valley Tuesday night at home to try to get to 6-1.
Other NFL – The Chiefs are eliminated from playoffs after losing to the Chargers. Patrick Mahomes might not see the field for a while, due to a torn ACL. Could this be the end of an unwanted dynasty? I sure hope so. Let’s just say the Chargers are my new 2nd favorite team in the league now, first being the hometown Steelers of course.
The Ravens took down the Bengals in a dominating victory 24-0. Ravens controlled the game from the start and Joe Burrow and the Bengals could never get anything rolling on offense. Cincinnati barely was able to rush for 100 yards, as they were shut down by the Ravens relentless defensive line. Burrow threw 2 interceptions, both being inside ravens territory with one of them inside the ravens 10 yard line. Both turnovers cost the Bengals points and that was the determining factor. Ravens ran all over Cincinnati with Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson both having some big plays on the ground that led to points. We needed Cincinnati to win, so they didn’t help us out at all. Now Baltimore, 7-7 on the season will head into next week against New England in a huge game on Sunday Night Football. For the Ravens they need to win at least one of the next two games with the second game coming against Green Bay. If they would lose both and the Steelers would win one more game, the AFC North Title would be heading back to the Burgh for the first time since 2020.
The Bills defeated the Patriots 35-31, after trailing 24-7 at halftime. Josh Allen did Josh Allen things as he put on his Superman cape as he wheeled them all the way back to get to 10-4. The Patriots controlled the game the whole first half with them up 21-0 with five minutes left in the first. Drake Maye, a MVP candidate, played outstanding all game with his amazing playmaker ability and his great arm he was able to hit his targets and get in the end zone. At half it looked all Patriots and that they’d get to 12-2. In the third quarter, New England fell flat, not able to create anything. Josh Allen on the other side threw two touchdown passes to cut the score to 24-21. In the fourth quarter the Bills would score a touchdown early to take the lead 28-24. The reusing drive the Pats struck with a 65 yard rushing touchdown by Tre’Veyon Henderson to take a 31-28 lead. The Bills would drive all the way down the field with under 7 minutes to play to take the lead again 35-31. That would end up beginning the game winning touchdown and the Bills would pull off one of the best comebacks in recent history. This game was crazy and I was happy to see the result. If the Bills can finish strong and get some help they would win the division and the Steelers, granted they knew they would win the division first, would most likely face New England at Acrisure Stadium in the wild card round.
College Basketball– NC State vs Kansas was one of the best games of the weekend. This game featured two teams who have not played up to their talent so far this season but they both may have found how to play like how they should, this past Saturday. In the first half you couldn’t ask for much better with both teams going back and forth on made shot after made shot. Kansas would lead by 7 with a little under 5 minutes to play in the first half, but NC State stars Tre Hollam and Derrion Williams made crucial baskets to get the game back to a tie game heading into the second half. The second half was mostly the same story. Two solid teams going back and forth and that lead Kansas had in the first half would end up being the largest lead in the whole game. It stayed around a 2 point game or tied all 2nd half which eventually led to Overtime. It remained close throughout the whole overtime period until star Flory Bidunga struck with a huge dunk under a minute left to lift the Jayhawks the win.
Nebraska Vs Illinois – The #23 cornhuskers put on a show in Illinois taking down the #13 Illini in a shootout. With Wisconsin having a lot to prove just being ranked in the top 25 a week ago, they had a chip on their shoulder. The standout player in this game was Pryce Sandfort who exploded for a 32 point game, he ran the offense extremely well and the ball moved through him the whole game. Nebraksa had great ball movement from the jump and always made the extra pass for a better shot. In the first half this game looked like it could be a blowout with how well they were shooting the ball, but Illinois had a great second half of basketball making tough shots and playing elite defense. In the end with the game tied up and only seconds remaining on the clock Jamarques Lawerence caught the ball on the wing, took a dribble and pulled the 3, drilling it leaving less than a second on the clock. Giving Nebraska the win stunning the college basketball world and stunning the home crowd. Nebraska now sits at #15 and Illinois sits at a respectable spot being #18 in the top 25.
