Let's get to it:
MATTHEW JOHNSON FROM CASHIERS, NC: Lots of questions about Mike Williams and understandably because fans want to see wide receivers catch the football. I on the other hand want to see them block, especially late in the game during crucial situations. Ben Skowronek seems to not only put forth that effort blocking in the running game, but on a couple of plays I saw him engaged with the his defender late in the play. How many snaps did he get during the Ravens game?
ANSWER: Ben Skowronek played 20 snaps on offense in the game against the Ravens and then another 18 snaps on special teams, and he was on the field because he is physical and a good blocker as a wide receiver. Coach Mike Tomlin kind of predicted such a matchup when talking about Baltimore safety Kyle Hamilton and how the Ravens deploy him within their defense.
"You put three wideouts on the field, and they go nickel, and they play (Hamilton) at nickel," said Tomlin. "They average giving up 3.8 yards per carry on the run in those situational moments, and it's really because Hamilton is more physical and more productive in the box than most slot receivers. He's too much for slot receivers to handle in the run game, and that's an advantage that he gives them. He's position flexible. He's obviously a safety, but he's nickel capable, and oftentimes too much to handle for interior receivers. I think that could be an interesting thing to watch in the game, how our interior receivers work to manage their nickels, whether it's him or Marlon Humphrey. Both of those guys are unique in their ability to shed and tackle and play the run game on the inside."
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DREW PUMAREJO FROM ELIZABETHTOWN, KY: Has Baltimore placekicker Justin Tucker ever missed two field goals in one game against the Steelers?
ANSWER: Since entering the NFL in 2012, Justin Tucker has appeared in 206 regular season games. He has missed two field goals in a game three times during his career – on Nov. 22, 2015, in a win vs. St. Louis; on Dec. 22, 2018, in a win vs. the Chargers; and on Nov. 17 in the loss to the Steelers.
ALAN BRAMMER FROM MUNCIE, IN: It seems like we play the Browns on Thursday night a lot. Is that by design? Does the league put a lot of rivalry games on TNF?
ANSWER: The Steelers have played 26 times on Thursday Night Football, and they are 12-14 in those games. Of those 26 games, 11 have come against division opponents, and 5 of those 11 have been against the Browns. The Steelers are 3-8 vs. division opponents on Thursday night, including 2-3 vs. Cleveland. And of those 26 Thursday Night Football games, 14 have been on the road.
JOHN CURLEY FROM CHAPTICO, MD: At the time of a catch, if the receiver hits the ground, maintains possession and is not touched by a defensive player, is he able to get up and continue running?
ANSWER: Yes, that's the NFL rule, that an offensive player with the ball must be touched down by a player on defense. In college football, in the scenario you described that offensive player would be down where his knee hit the ground after the catch.
STEPHEN KEISTER FROM KINNELON, NJ: Would a football organization (such as the Steelers) ever unilaterally seek to increase compensation for an outstanding player on a rookie contract, in order to build goodwill for the future?
ANSWER: According to the rules of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, teams cannot extend or renegotiate a player on a rookie contract until that player completes his third NFL regular season.
OWEN HIGGS FROM PLANO, TX: Is Steelers Wire a club sponsored website? It seems like clickbait to me. Headlines indicate that they have an inside scoop, and when you read the "article" there's absolutely no substance.
ANSWER: Steelers Wire is not a team-sponsored website.
CRYSTAL JAMES FROM WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY: Hi Bob, I love reading your postgame articles. If the Steelers and Ravens are tied at season's end and each has won one of this season's head-to-head meetings, are total points in the head-to-head games a factor in determining homefield in the playoffs?
ANSWER: Here are the tiebreakers that would be used to break a tie between two teams within the division. You should understand that if the Steelers and Ravens split their home-and-home series and one of the teams has a better overall record after that, there is no tie and therefore no need for tiebreakers.
•Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs)
•Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division
•Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games
•Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference
•Strength of victory
•Strength of schedule
•Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed
•Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed
•Best net points in common games
•Best net points in all games
•Best net touchdowns in all games
•Coin toss
FRITZ SCHERZ FROM VERONA, NY: Of the various jerseys the Steelers have worn, do you have a favorite?
ANSWER: My favorite would be the bumblebee jerseys that the Steelers wore as throwbacks from 2012-16, because they never failed to elicit a reaction from the fans. On the one end of the spectrum there was a lot of hate shown, but I can tell you I still see people wearing them in the stands during games. Classic love-hate relationship with a jersey.
JOHN QUINN FROM HERSHEY, PA: The Steelers have a big decision with the offensive line next year. How do you think Dan Moore Jr.'s contract is going to shake out?
ANSWER: It would seem to me that the big decision with the offensive line was made in the previous two drafts when the Steelers used a No. 1 pick in 2023 on Broderick Jones and a No. 1 pick in 2024 on Troy Fautanu.
CHRIS GALLOWAY FROM DALLAS, TX: Do you think Dan Moore Jr. is becoming too valuable to let go via free agency?
ANSWER: What I actually believe is going to happen is that Dan Moore Jr. is going to be too expensive to keep once he gets to free agency.
KEN WALDROP FROM ONTONAGON, MI: It seems like we have gotten the better of the deal in the Diontae Johnson for Donte Jackson trade. Is Donte Jackson a free agent at the end of the season?
ANSWER: Donte Jackson will be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in March 2025.
MIKE DARROW FROM MANHATTAN BEACH, CA: On missed penalties that are clearly not judgement calls, why can't the review booth call down and enforce the penalty?
ANSWER: It's those pesky rules getting in the way again. NFL rules prohibit instant replay from being used to legislate penalties. Penalties must be called by the on-field officials, or in a lot of cases this season, missed by the on-field officials. That's the rule.
